[leelegend]

Thanks to Dropadrop for the terminal version, but here is easy way for windows users

1. download vmware from here http://www.vmware.com/download/server/
(see junebugs advise below, regarding versions, i have had no problem with 1.01)
and get a serial number


2. download ubunto desktop from here http://www.ubuntu.com/products/GetUb...currentrelease
make sure you download the correct version for your hardware, its a big download so make sure!!
you will need the 64bit version: 64-bit PC (AMD64) desktop CD
this works with all AMD64 and new intel chips with 64bit instructions, make sure you enable virtulisation/64bit in the bios if there is a option.
burn the ISO to a CD.

3. Install VMWare, nice and easy windows installer

4. Load VMWare and create a new virtual machine (wizard), select "other" option and select "other 64bit" from the drop down.
select all of the default options, but make sure you select 2 processors
select the right amount of disk/memory for your machine (i currently install with 5gb of disk and 500mb ram
on the "network type" screen, i have been selecting "NAT" option, as it saves messing about with network settings, and just bridges your windows internet connection......

5. Put your previously burnt CD in the drive and "start virtual machine"
VMWare will start and hopefully boot off of the CD, you might need to restart the virtual machine again, so that it notices the cd.
once ubunto loads, try to surf the net, if that works you are ready to install.
ALTERNATIVELY (pscout), you can specify booting from the ISO image from within the VM machine settings that you created above, this is a lot quicker as it comes from the HD.

6. Run the Ubunto installer.....i just pick all of the default settings, you are running within a virtual machine, so it wont mess with your windows install whatever you pick....superb!!!
install away and reboot the virtual machine on completition (not the whole machine!).....take out the cd

7. restart the virtual machine (should be a lot quick now its running off of a hard drive!), surf the net again, to check all is ok.

8. in the Applications drop down menu (in ubunto) go to Accessories, select "terminal", and type:
sudo apt-get install ia32-libs
and answer yes to it request for disk space.
MAKE SURE NO OTHER INSTALLER IS RUNNING eg..patchs/updates, i would suggest running the above line first to save problems later

9. INSTALL folding at home SMP from typing the following:
mkdir -p ~/folding/FAH
cd ~/folding/FAH
wget http://folding.stanford.edu/release/FAH_SMP_Linux.tgz
tar xzf FAH_SMP_Linux.tgz

GET IT RUNNING WITH:
./fah5 - needs to be run each time you load linux (unless you setup a autorun)

There are further instructions for creating a batch file and flags etc here:
http://folding.stanford.edu/FAQ-SMP.html

i hope this helps....i have not used linux up until trying this, and i had it up and running in a couple of hours

TIP....ALT/CTRL PUTS THE MOUSE CONTROL BACK TO WINDOWS
TIP....use ctrl+c to stop the client (thanks Pacifist)

i am getting 9minutes a frame on a AMD X2 4400. Let me know if i have missed any steps.
you can also run a single windows CPU instance to soak up any left over idle process (probaly about 10-15%)
i am going to experiment with a SMP/GPU combination next weekend

lee

[dropadrop]

Seems like a simple guide

I would install vmware tools since you get an updated disk, network and graphics driver. Never tried installing it with a graphical interface but the idea is fairly simple. This can get more complicated due to there being no ready installer for debian / ubuntu:

What you need to have installed:
*kernel headers
*gcc

Both of these might be installed by default, so you could try like this:

- from vmware menu select vm -> install vmware tools

(This is equivalent to inserting a cd into your drive)

You have to use the terminal, don't be scared

If the distro automatically mounts cd's, browse into it, otherwise you need to mount it by hand:

ls /mnt

(if there is a folder called cdrom under mount use it, if there is nothing just use mnt)

mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

Now you should have a "cdrom" containing the vmware tools installer mounted and accessible. In the folder there is a file ending with .tar.gz copy it somewhere

mkdir /home/your_user/vmware
cp /mnt/cdrom/*.gz /home/your_user/vmware
gunzip /home/your_user/vmware/*.gz
tar -xf /home/your_user/vmware*.tar
cd /home/your_user/vmware (maby there is one more folder you need to enter)
sudo ./vmware-install-tools.pl (I might remember the name wrong)

This will start the tools install process. If it complains about missing kernel headers you need to install them. Same for gcc.

sudo apt-get install gcc
sudo apt-get install kernel-headers (this name might vary, some distros call it kernel-devel)

Then try starting the installer again.

At the end of the install it might advise you to run a few commands...

Once install has gone through successfully you have to run:

sudo vmware-config-tools.pl (running the extra commands might also come after this, can't remember)

[Patched]

Whats the hit on tpf?

and thanks for the guide, I won't have to dual boot to linux on my main rig if I get this working. ati drivers for linux SUCK. The gpu fan kicks in like it's in 3d mode 24/7.

[leelegend]

nnnnnoooooo dont be linux'ing my simple guide!!!! - create your own, very difficult guide for hardcore linux nuts!!

patched: there is a hit, probably about 1-2 minute a frame, i have accepted that, just to get around the dual booting!

you can also run a single windows CPU instance to soak up any left over idle process (probaly about 10-15%).

lee

[Patched]

another question, does this work with 32bit windows or do I have to use 64bit windows since it's 64bit linux?

[leelegend]

nope 32bit is fine....i have it running on Small Business Server 2003 at work and on WindowsXP Home at home

as long as the processor can run 64bit instructions....which it would be if it has dual core (intel or amd)

lee

[dropadrop]

Originally Posted by leelegend

nnnnnoooooo dont be linux'ing my simple guide!!!! - create your own, very difficult guide for hardcore linux nuts!!

lee

Sorry...

Can you try to install vmware tools and see if the instructions could be simplified (does it have gcc and kernel headers installed, does it automatically mount a cd on your desktop when you select vm -> install vmware tools)

[leelegend]

"vmware tools are not available to guest operating system"

lee

[Shelnutt2]

You don't need to burn the iso to cd. There is a way to mount the iso if its sitting on your harddrive. I don't remember and I'm not at home right now..I'll post up when I get home and get the steps.


Nice guide, but I dual booting is better!

[leelegend]

you can mount a ISO from within the setup of the CD Drive in VMWare, but i was trying to keep it simple....

you get better tpf from dual booting, but i use Dreamweaver, photoshop etc at home, so its a pain to keep rebooting

lee

[Shelnutt2]

Originally Posted by leelegend

you can mount a ISO from within the setup of the CD Drive in VMWare, but i was trying to keep it simple....

you get better tpf from dual booting, but i use Dreamweaver, photoshop etc at home, so its a pain to keep rebooting

lee

Can I recomened something to you then?

There is a nice program called xen. You can virtualize windows

[Junebug]

Very nice write up!

I might suggest that you recommend folks download version 1.00 of VMware server, as it seems more stable than the newer (1.01) version

[leelegend]

June: i have had no probs with that version, but you have mentioned it....so all good.

Shel: sounds awful, the least time i can spend in linux the better

lee

[Sleepy_Steve]

My folding to-do list just got longer...
And my folding excuses list just got shorter...

THANKS!!!!

[leelegend]

no worries....hope it works out for you!

lee

[LandShark]

nice guide Lee!! tks (from a linux noobie)!!! will give it a try later when I have time!!

[leelegend]

seriously mate....i use a mac all day, so even a pc took a bit of learning
but i got this up and running in no time

lee

[PaciFIST69]

Thanks lee, even though this came about 12 hours too late for me

Also I might add use ctrl+c to stop the client.
And whenever I closed the VM, I had to retype:

cd ~/folding/FAH
./fah5

But that might just be me, I really don't know what I'm doing here

Basically all my trouble came from my overclock being too high, even though it's 100% stable in windows. Has anyone else had trouble with overclock related crashes?

[dfonda]

Nice...Just what the Doctor ordered, now I need a guide to explain the guide to me because I'm so challenged.

[Hack30]

Originally Posted by dfonda

Nice...Just what the Doctor ordered, now I need a guide to explain the guide to me because I'm so challenged.

I heard that! Me too!

[dropadrop]

Originally Posted by PaciFIST69

Thanks lee, even though this came about 12 hours too late for me

Also I might add use ctrl+c to stop the client.
And whenever I closed the VM, I had to retype:

cd ~/folding/FAH
./fah5

But that might just be me, I really don't know what I'm doing here

Basically all my trouble came from my overclock being too high, even though it's 100% stable in windows. Has anyone else had trouble with overclock related crashes?

It just means you have not tested enough under Windows.. Your processor can have alot of areas which are not used under your normal windows operation. That part of the processor is stable does not yet mean it's fully stable. The first thing that would come to mind are the registers only available under a 64bit operatingsystem. If you never installed a 64bit operatingsystem before, you never used that part of your processor.

There's alot of differant way's to test processor stability. My favorite is to try to find way's that are as varied as possible. Others prefere to get it stable at what they usually do. The problem with this latter approach is that you can allways be suprised when trying something new.

[leelegend]

i have swapped to a bridged connection....the NAT was giving me trouble

lee

[Sorin]

Unfortunately I've had to resort to VMware to get any of the Kubuntus working on my system. I'm getting...BLEGH....11:17 per frame on 3027. Is it one of the slower work units than the ones you guys are doing, with 8-9 minutes on a virtual machine? Or do I just suck (I'm on an Opteron 170 at 2.5GHz). And to boot, it's only using about 80% of the processor, according to the task manager in Kubuntu. Is that normal, even for a real machine (as opposed to a VMware one)?

[leelegend]

sounds fine....dont worry about it, it changes with spec and work unit
have a look at the points for the 3027, and make yourself feel better
it would take days for a normal unit!!

lee

[Sorin]

I did before I posted that, so I'm hoping it's normal and that the other ones would be faster for me. Because it has the highest point value (716), I figured it's ok to be a couple of minutes slower, since maybe it's slightly more complex or uses slightly more resources.

At least I'm not losing out on points, since it comes out to almost exactly the same ppd as a pair of 1495/1499 (about 11-12/frame for me on those). Although I wish it'd use more than 80% of the processor!

[Patched]

Kubuntu from a Live CD, WU 3027 and an opteron 2.4 I get around 9min 15sec at 80% CPU. It looks like vmware takes a nice hit on tpf for you.

[dropadrop]

It should not take a huge hit... Maby try turning powersaving off (if you have it on).

[Sorin]

Originally Posted by Patched

Kubuntu from a Live CD, WU 3027 and an opteron 2.4 I get around 9min 15sec at 80% CPU. It looks like vmware takes a nice hit on tpf for you.

??? My opteron is at 2.5, and on 3027 I'm getting around 11:20/frame. Although that's with VMware....still. (Also at 80%).

edit: so is the 80% thing normal, regardless of whether VMware, LiveCD, or fully installed?

[leelegend]

i only get 80% usage from VMWare, so i suppliment it with a windows CPU client

lee

[dropadrop]

Yep, atleast I'm only getting about 80% cpu-usage on a 2 cpu host with the smp-client.