Overfoldix [email protected] Linux - ALPHA NOW AVAILABLE!

[David]

So am I right in thinking that Overfoldix allows you to boot from a CD and fold with a minimal Linux kernel? (So, what I am asking is, no hard drive required?)

And does it require a certain type of network card?

And here's an idea.... is it possible to split the program up into a bootable floppy (to get into Linux) and then a Folding floppy? So the procedure would be something like this:

1. Boot with disk 1 and get minimal Linux running
2. Swap to disk 2 and start folding

I suggest this because I can get my hands on as many old, cheap floppy drives as I need, but bootable CDROM's are a lot more expensive.... which is probably the case for everyone.

This may be a boom for our team... less cash expended on equipment for folding boxes = more folding boxes.... BUT the thing is it needs to be easy. I myself have a decent amount of Unix experience but zero Linux experience. If this is truly something we can recommend to people around here, I'd say we'd probably need this to be as easy as possible and maybe write up a pretty little how-to document for it (which I would be willing to help out with), with screenshots.

SB

The bootable iso essentially emulates a 2.88MB floppy. I could try splitting it onto disks, it might work but I would need to add a few bits and pieces to it to make it work. I'll concentrate on getting a beta working - then I'll get something sorted out for a pair of floppy disks

Thanks for the suggestion - I will remember it.

 

[David]

Well I used Easy CD creator 5s just double clicked the ISO image.

OK network issues.

Well in the end I think DHCP is needed but until such a thing can be done you need a better script for start up.

One there is no default gateway. For most poeple there going to need to be able to define there gateway.

route add default gw (ip address of router) (interface) mine looks like

route add default gw 192.168.1.1 eth0

This then will send any trafic not intended for your local network to the gateway(most often your router)

Once I got my default gateway up I was able to ping out to the net and even pinged an assignment server.

My problem then was folding could still not get an ID from the server so I was stuck. Not being sure how there software is writen (Do they hard core the ip address or do they resolve it) I tried to get the resolver running with no luck.

Here I also ran into some problems. If folding needs to be able to us the resolver to get the IP address then you need your script to write an resolv.conf at startup with the proper name server(DNS).

It was getting late and I ran out of time to help resolve these issues more. I will give it another look over the weekend to see if I can find the problem with the resolver or foldingathome client.

I can see this being usefull and its a great start. I will try and get you some more feedback soon

I have been using linix/unix systems for about 10 years for networking and such so if you need any help let me know.

Thanks very much for all the brilliant suggestions. I have used linux only as of June 2001 - and I have no experience at setting up linux for networking. I'll have a crack at sorting out the DNS/Gateway problems you mentioned tonight or tomorrow morning.

Thanks again for the suggestions - I could use some help from a UNIX Guru .

On the topic of networking - I should be expanding my knowledge on networking in linux over the next few weeks - setting up a school webserver. SuSE kindly donated a copy of their 7.2 Pro distro.

Thanks again.
David

 

[David]

Sickboy: I am trying to develop an easy interface - typing startnow will start the folding. Unfortunately they NEED to know their settings - I cannot guess them. Although I could try using a 10.x.x.x address if they are behind a gateway...?


EDIT: Tiscali...midday friday my butt - grrr. *mumble, mutter*

 

[David]

Grrrrr.....
The FTP access should have been back 15 hours ago!!

Well i haven't been sitting on my backside doing nothing all that time - I've added a simple resolv.conf and also added a facility for a gateway.

 

[robertm]

I assume you will have a new number on the end of the zip file to donote the change so when I see a new version I will give it a try and let you know

 

[David]

I assume you will have a new number on the end of the zip file to donote the change so when I see a new version I will give it a try and let you know

When I get a chance to upload it it will be ofdx-0.1d.zip

 

[David]

I take it you know the login name and password? if you dont, give me a PM and I'll let you know. The latest version is ofdx-0.1d.zip, adding a resolv.conf - asks for a nameserver - and gateway - asks for the IP.