Any native Linux folders care to share your numbers?

ChrissyT88

ChrissyT88

ChrissyT88

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Hi guys,

Over the holidays i wont have much use for windows apps (and am getting sick of VMs!), so was thinking of going native linux. I downloaded Fedora 10 last night and have got it up and running. I have been running Ubuntu 8.04 in VMs, and was planning on going for Ubuntu 8.10, but read that there is quite a massive points drop for people using quad core CPUs over 8.04. I would use Ubuntu 8.04, but last time i tried, i could not get my soundcard to work, so though i would try the new Fedora. On the plus side, soundcard support seems to be good - on the downside, this new Fedora seems to suffer from the same problems as Ubuntu 8.10. Been running for a while now (single SMP client), and seem to be getting around 4200 ppd.

I understand that a quad at 3.3Ghz should be making about 5900 points on Ubuntu 8.04 and was wondering if any of you guys have any hard numbers to support this? If so, is this from 2 smp clients, or for a single client? I have noticed core usage is not all that high on Fedora 10 (60-80% load on each core), even with elevated priorities, so was wondering if these extra points were gained through adding another client a la windows?

Aside from anything else this thread could be good for people looking at folding under linux, so here are my numbers:

Distro: Fedora 10
Client Config: 1 SMP client
Points per Day: ~4200 (project 2669)

Cheers, advice/help would be appreciated
 
I know I'm not running native linux but found this interesting.

I'm running Ubuntu 8.10 in two VM's I didn't know that there was a points drop after 8.04? :confused:

Currently running two project 2669's at 3066 and 3072 PPD.
So Q9450 at 3.4GHz pulling 6138 PPD with two p2669's.

One thing I will say is that VMWare Workstation 6.5.1 and Ubuntu 8.10 appears to be much more stable than my previous experiments with VMWare and 8.04 :)

I couldn't comment on VMWare Server 2.0 as I've not played with it.
 
Oceaness - I cannot confirm any points drop myself, i havent tried it, but it appears to be a problem only when folding on all cores in native linux. Your numbers in the VMs match well with what i was getting, albeit your scores are better since you quad is faster clock for clock and clocked higher than mine!

I got on well with vmware workstation, but my trial expried, so i went back to using Server 2 and the VIclient interface - much better than the default VMware server interface! I am getting a bit fed up of having to start and stop VMs all the time though (not a 24/7 folder). Im just a little surprised that i am not seeing any difference (really) between native linux folding and the scores from VMware - i was under the impression that native linux was quite a bit better (goes to show that VMware is actually quite efficient).
 
Very pleased with this processor so far. VMWare is using about 95% of my CPU between the two VM's so it is very efficient.

Yeah I did install Server 2.0 very briefly but couldn't be bothered with the web based frontend and couldn't be hassled with installing the VIclient.

I'm not a 24/7 foler either (much as I'd like to be ;)) I have the two SMP clients set up as services within each OS, so all I have to do is turn on the VM's and give em a couple of minutes to start up and away they go, I dont have to log in to the guests or anything. I just leave them at the login screens. Also not sure wether you can do it in VMWare server but I have the two VM's set up as low CPU priority when input is ungrabbed, so they dont get in the way of me using my computer.

Monitoring in FahMon via Samba.

Next step is to see if I can find a way to have the VM's boot on startup. I haven't looked into this at all yet but it would make life, nice and easy wouldn't it :D

I couldn't run native Linux I enjoy my games far too much :p
 
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Got a response on the foldingforum - a guy called hyperlife commented on my findings in Fedora 10 and said they were very much like what others had experienced in the new (native) Ubuntu on quads. I have put Ubuntu 8.04 back on (really, really messed up how my PC boots now... could take some fixing!), and whilst i dont have sound (will work on this later methinks), it its using the CPU properly (or better at least). I will give it a while and see what sort of points its pulling. Aim to try and get the GPUs going later too.

I didnt know there was a feature in VMware for the ungrabbed thing - quite a lot of features are in VMware server, and even more when you use the Viclient (affinity locks being the main one there!), so i'll keep my eyes open. I dont game that much, but when i do, i almost always need to have all four cores free (games just dont seem to like it) and have my GX2 in SLI (again, games, with the exception of Civ4 just crash), and since over the holidays i should be revising my arse off, i shouldn't have much of a need for windows! :D Well, thats the plan anyway - could not go full on native linux, its just not ready yet, but for folding its excellent.
 
A bit lost on what i need to do here guys so if you can help.

At the moment i use SMP client in windows vista.

But would like to try out what oceaness is doing.
What programs do i need ?
And if you can link them all the better.

From reading your posts i would need
Ubuntu 8.10 or 8.04 ?
VMWare ? but what version ?
And is that it ?

Thanks
 
Muppetkiller - all you need is VMware server 2 (or Vmware workstation trial - links to follow), an Ubuntu 64bit Live CD and a little bit of time.

VMware Server 2: http://www.vmware.com/products/server/ [free version]
VMware workstation Trial: http://www.vmware.com/products/ws/ [click trial]

You need to register with Vmware unfortunately, but its not too bad, they dont send too many emails etc, plus its worth it for FAH! Vmware workstation is quite a bit better than Vmware server, but obviously you will have to switch over when the trial runs out unless you want to pay. Vmware server can be made a lot better by using the VIclient - i would be more than willing to show you how to get this, its not too hard, and improves the (completely free) vmware server a lot. I suggest you use Ubuntu if you have never used linux before - most distros will be fine, but most of us use ubuntu and its quite easy to get to grips with. Ubuntu 8.10 should be fine for the VMs, but likewise 8.04 would be fine also. Get these here:

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

Just make sure you get the 64 bit version - fah will not work without it! All you need to do is install vmware (version of your choice) and create a new virtual machine. This process is not too difficult - pretty much following a guide, but you need to set up the machine to have 2 processors else the SMP client wont work. 512 mb of ram should be fine, and i advise you set up the VMs network as 'NAT' - this should become clear in the installation process. An 8gb virtual disk should be fine - you can tell VMware to boot from an iso of ubuntu (what you will download) or from a disk, and it will install as it would on an ordinary PC. There is a good guide as to how to set up the Linux SMP client on the stanford page, but it doesnt seem to want to work at the mo. Still, find it here:

folding.stanford.edu/English/FAQ-SMP (i think)
All you have to do is run the client within the VM and it should fold away and get you lots of nice linux-ey points!


SiriusB wrote a guide for this, which can be found here: http://smp.aeternum.co.uk/
This contains a bit more info - hopefully you can piece together the install process from what i have written and what SiriusB has documented. Hope this helps - its not that hard, probably takes 40 mins or so to do. It will only use 2 cores on your pc, so you can run 2 if you have a quad. My Q6600 @3.3 would get me ~5000 from two SMPs running this way, so its a lot better (and more stable) than the windows client.

If you need any help, post here - i know a few OCuK folders use VMware, so theres plenty of help available.


Ubuntu folding update: Version 8.04 works wonders for native SMP - running the client now and getting 6200 ppd from a single client on the Q6600. Clearly there is something wrong with the MPI part of the new linux kernel...
 
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ChrissyT88 said:
Ubuntu folding update: Version 8.04 works wonders for native SMP - running the client now and getting 6200 ppd from a single client on the Q6600. Clearly there is something wrong with the MPI part of the new linux kernel...
Click to expand...

That squares with what I got when I tried native Ubuntu 6 - about 5900ppd with a Q6600 at 3.1Ghz.

i take it its only worth going this route if you are running a quad core CPU
Click to expand...

The advantage is bigger on quads, but it does help with duals as well, particularly as you tend to get better WUs.
 
Thanks for all that info ChrissyT88.
Im downloading the programs now. I will prob try and set this up over the weekend when i get more time.

I have a Qx9550 but not overclocked. Just using standard Clients \t moment. Found standard clients and windows SMP giving me the same amount of points a day ( around 1800PPD ). So i hope i will be getting more in the near future.
 
Linux SMP will give you much better ppd than the windows clients (compare 6000 points from ubuntu with 1800 from windows!). Im not sure of it is still the case, but you used to have to have -advmethods enabled in the client config to get the best (A2 core) work units. Give it a go - nothing to loose save a few minutes (saying that, i just spent the WHOLE afternoon trying to install graphics drivers on linux.... ugh - no folding was accomplished either!).

"Mattus - good to see the figures match - trying to get the GPUs folding under wine soon, which will be fun - already cost me a whole day of folding though.
 
Got the GX2 folding through WINE - bit disappointed really. Each card gets a little less than the Vista client equivalent, and when both cards are crunching, the CPU client doesnt really pull any more points than running two VMs on Vista, and one card somehow managed to pick up an ATI card unit (p4743). Coupled with no decent fan control on Linux, i think i may be headed back to the VMs... shame really - i wanted this to work, but it seems a shame to throw away points from the gfx cards. Native linux is obviously great for the CPU, but needs some work on the graphics front. Still, experiment was probably worth it!
 
Ok i have it up and running. Just on 2 cores at the moment.
The only thing is what folding version should i be using?

When i load it up it tells me 6.1 ? im thinking that is old ?
 
6.02 is the right version - there is a (newer) drop in executable for the client if you are having problems, although this may have filtered through the system for download by now. It depends a lot on what setup guide (if any) you followed as to where the work files are kept. Assuming you followed the guide on stanfords web page (and installed the files in ~/folding), then the work files will be in /home/yourusername/folding.

You can set up a windows share to monitor this file from fahmon in windows to make it easier. Personally, i find this a real pain and a bit hit and miss, although i have got it to work. If you right click on the folder named 'folding' (or whatever you called it), and go to the 'share' properties tab, there should be an option to share the file on the network. You may need to install VMware tools to make this work. Google 'install vmware tools linux' for a good guide from vmware themselves. You may also have to change some settings in the VM's network seetings page - i think there is a checkbox to allow file sharing between the host and the VM, but im not 100% sure. Then you just need to add the client on fahmon like you would a normal network client - under the path name, you type \\VM-NETWORK_NAME\folding (i think - obviously replace vm-network-name with the name you told ubuntu to call itself on the network). That should work - it did for me, but as i sa, it was a bit hit and miss. Im sure there is a different way using the samba windows share option (maybe google it and see?), but i didnt bother - seems like quite a lot more work, and configuring native linux is taking up quite a lot of time!

Good luck - post back if you have any problems and i'll do my best to help.
 
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I use Samba it's easy to setup and works nicely.

Matus gave a really good explanation in another post that I shortened and saved for future reference lol :D

Mattus said:
sudo apt-get install samba smbfs

sudo gedit /etc/samba/smb.conf

Find the WORKGROUP setting and change it to the name of your network. Page down to the very bottom and add an entry for your FAH folder:

[fah]
path = /home/username/fah (change as necessary)
read only = no
browseable = yes

Save the file and quit.

Now you need to add a user and set a password:

sudo smbpasswd -a <username>

Now restart Samba:

sudo /etc/init.d/samba restart
Click to expand...

After it's set up just point FahMon at the computer name you gave the VM when you created it

i.e.
\\VM1\fah
 
I left it on all night, but came in this morning and found it on stand by. I know i did not tell the machine to do this or set this up to go on standby. The computer has been on for the past 3months 24/7 and last night it decided on doing this :)

I will try samba and see how it goes.

also when i look at the SMP folding it tells me were the file is.
\home\steve\folding
But when i look for the folder i cant find it. Im sure i will work it out tonight just need a bit more time, i always get their in the end :)
 
Ok a quick question.

I have one VMware + Ubuntu with the SMP client running.
As i have a quad core PC i now want to run it using my other 2 cores.
Do i install another copy of VMware + Ubuntu and run SMP client ?

Also each time i start up my SMP client i type ./fah6 -smp
should i have -local or any other comands when i start up my SMP client ?
I do this every time and it starts up were it had been stopped before so working fine, so far.

If so i will prob do this over the weekend when i get the time.

Also with just one SMP running with VMware + Ubuntu im getting about 3,000PPD with it. So it should be close to 6,000PPD more like 5,500 i would think as im also running 2 GPU's which are taking some CPU power.

If i overclock my CPU i should see an improvement on my PPD.
 
Not another copy of VMWare, just another copy of Ubuntu. Go into the VMWare console and find the option to create a new VM.

Commands - I use -verbosity 9, which makes the log files more detailed, but it isn't really necessary... just -smp is fine.

Points - yep, I'd say about 5,500.

Overclocking - do it :)
 
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