thinking of borging but...

cokecan · 12 Mar 2007 at 12:16

will the F@H service run without anyone being logged onto the PC?

I ask because i'm thinking about borging a few PC's where i work but their not actually logged on all the time, but instead sitting at the log on screen (ctrl + alt + del screen)

any help or thoughts you could offer would be great

thanks

happytechie · 12 Mar 2007 at 12:51

if you install is as a service set to log on as a user that has been given the start service privelidge that the service will run whenever the machine is powered on irrespective of who is logged on or off the machine.

Please check with the relavent authorities before borging work PCs, it's not worth loosing your job over

cokecan · 12 Mar 2007 at 12:52

im an IT tecci at a school and the main IS manager is into all this stuff to, so thats not a problem

i'll have a play and see if i can get one working

BillytheImpaler · 12 Mar 2007 at 12:54

Yep, this is what the service install is supposed to do. It will run all the time, regardless of if anybody's logged in or not.

It's the GUI client that only runs when a user is logged in.

Berserker · 12 Mar 2007 at 13:01

If you don't plan on interacting with the clients, you can set them to use the local system account. No need to fiddle about with 'run as service' privileges then. Best only done if you're an admin on the box though as you might have trouble with file permissions otherwise.

VeNT · 12 Mar 2007 at 13:03

any of them dual cores?
if so hold off a bit as VP has announced the windows SMP clients moving on nicly!

cokecan · 12 Mar 2007 at 13:19

all the machines i was going to install it on are only P4 2.66ghz jobbies. nothing special, but their on all day long so seems like such a waste, especially when their not being used.

so, if i install the service as normal it should start crunching but can i check them using F@Hmon from this computer? as in the guide it says that if you add the networked computer in the same way you add your own computer you should be able to check on its progress (basically pointing it to the networked F@H folder i created to house the console etc)

SiriusB · 12 Mar 2007 at 14:19

Install the console client as a service and it will run as soon as the machine starts and will only stop when the machine is switched off. People logging in and out will not affect it.

If you make the clients folder shared on the network you can access it from FahMon on another machine on the network. Again who is logged on or not shouldn't affect anything.

cokecan · 12 Mar 2007 at 14:50

perfect, thats just what i was hoping for. i'll go and see if it works

thanks guys

SiriusB · 12 Mar 2007 at 16:41

How many machines are you thinking of borging? Just wondering if you have considered the extra leccy bill

joeyjojo · 12 Mar 2007 at 17:47

SiriusB said:
How many machines are you thinking of borging? Just wondering if you have considered the extra leccy bill

You beat me to it

Processors can use a considerable amount more power when under load rather than idle. Also, remember that all this power goes to heat

Berserker · 12 Mar 2007 at 17:56

It's about 50W for a P4 give or take. The bigger problems might be heat issues and leaving the PCs on.

Pumpkinstew · 12 Mar 2007 at 18:31

Summer is coming. You don't want your IT room turning into an oven.

VeNT · 12 Mar 2007 at 18:36

Pumpkinstew said:
Summer is coming. You don't want your IT room turning into an oven.

but just think about the saving on heating over the winter!

Pumpkinstew · 12 Mar 2007 at 18:43

I've just realised he works in a school. He won't be there during the twelve week break over the summer.

Problem solved. :cool:

Berserker · 12 Mar 2007 at 18:46

Except that schools tend to turn everything off and re-image/upgrade/service/etc. then.

I know this is the case for at least one other school-bound member of the team.

MGP · 12 Mar 2007 at 19:02

You need to set the service user account as something that will have access privileges to the internet. The standard local service account setup by the f@h install may not have those rights. f@hmon is easy, again if you setup the share folder permissions for an admin only no-one else will see what is going on, especially if the folding folder has a cryptically named share

VeNT · 12 Mar 2007 at 19:15

Berserker said:
Except that schools tend to turn everything off and re-image/upgrade/service/etc. then.

I know this is the case for at least one other school-bound member of the team.

maybe he could setup an MSI for the install and do it that way?

cokecan · 13 Mar 2007 at 10:49

ok ive got it installed on my own PC here and 4 others in the IT suite im in to test with. everything seems to be workin great so far. it downloaded the WU's fine, i can check them all with F@Hmon from this PC. just need to see if they ever finish a WU and send it back to stanford

so Rich, if your reading this, you may need to take me off the single machine crunchers list for a bit

as for the lecci bill, arn't schools on a reduced rate or something during school hours (8 till 4)??

unfortunitly i will be here over the summer, as has been said re-imaging, replacing, upgrading etc. but thats a good few months away yet so should be able to get some points out of this before then

thinking of borging but...

Man of Honour