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Message boards : Number crunching : Discussion of Boinc 7 Configurations

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Profile skgiven
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Message 24030 - Posted: 19 Mar 2012 | 0:54:07 UTC
Last modified: 25 Mar 2012 | 11:15:08 UTC

I'm starting this thread for anyone to discuss/ask questions about Boinc 7 (still alpha) configurations/settings.

There is a 'locked' sister HOW TO thread for quick reference in the FAQ area with the following content:


    Boinc version 7 is still undergoing Alpha testing and development. It is therefore not yet recommended, however there are some changes worth noting at this stage.

    Stipulating which GPU project is allowed to run

    Some projects offer both GPU and CPU tasks. You can now specify to include or exclude GPU tasks by project.
    On multiple GPU systems, you can also stipulate which GPU runs which project, using new Boinc cc_config.xml options.
    See the <exclude_gpu> configuration options at http://boinc.berkeley.edu/wiki/Client_configuration.

    For example, here's part of Jacob Klein's cc_config.xml <options> section. The GTX 460 GPU only runs GPUGrid.Net, while the 2 slower 9800 GT GPUs (which cannot handle GPUGrid.Net) run other projects:

    <use_all_gpus>1</use_all_gpus>

    <!-- ======= SETUP GPU 0: GeForce GTX 460 ======= -->
    <exclude_gpu>
    <url>http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/</url>
    <device_num>0</device_num>
    </exclude_gpu>
    <exclude_gpu>
    <url>http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/</url>
    <device_num>0</device_num>
    </exclude_gpu>

    <!-- ======= SETUP GPU 1: GeForce 9800 GT ======= -->
    <exclude_gpu>
    <url>http://www.gpugrid.net/</url>
    <device_num>1</device_num>
    </exclude_gpu>

    <!-- ======= SETUP GPU 2: GeForce 9800 GT ======= -->
    <exclude_gpu>
    <url>http://www.gpugrid.net/</url>
    <device_num>2</device_num>
    </exclude_gpu>



    The Network Usage work buffer options have changed

    They are now: "Minimum work buffer: Try to maintain enough tasks to keep busy for this many days" and "Max additional work buffer: In addition, maintain enough tasks for up to this many days."

    Here's how it works: When the resource's work level falls below [Minimum work buffer], the client will request enough work for the resource to stay busy for [Minimum work buffer + Max additional work buffer]. When it requests work, typically it will receive that [Minimum work buffer + Max additional work buffer] amount of work from only 1 project.

    Note: Using an extremely low minimum work buffer, like 0 or 0.005, discourages project variety on the client, since it will only request work when it is essentially completely out of work, and then usually just gets work from 1 project.

    For clients always connected to the Internet, to maximize bonus credit without putting undue stress on the servers while also ensuring variety of projects on the client, ideal settings are:

    Minimum work buffer: 0.20 days
    Max additional work buffer: 0.20 days


    For clients always connected to the Internet, to maximize credit bonuses without putting undo stress on the servers while not caring about variety, ideal settings are:

    Minimum work buffer: 0 days
    Max additional work buffer: 0.40 days


    - Credit to Jacob Klein


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Message 24033 - Posted: 19 Mar 2012 | 10:33:47 UTC
Last modified: 19 Mar 2012 | 10:38:49 UTC

Apart from what you have above it also only does scheduling checks once a minute, so may take up to a minute before it will do a schedule request. Earlier clients such as 6.12.34 would do one almost immediately.

Also the concept of project debt has been thrown out - expect different behavior to earlier clients.
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Message 24071 - Posted: 22 Mar 2012 | 4:50:54 UTC
Last modified: 22 Mar 2012 | 4:52:02 UTC

I've been interested in the functionality now provided by <exclude_gpu> ever since my old GT 240's became outdated here at GPUGrid. I decided to jump in and play around with BOINC 7.0.20 and the new functionality.

I slowly eased in by updating BOINC to (not yet recommended) version 7.0.20, followed by running for a while. I then updated cc_config.xml as shown in skgiven's example, followed again by running for a while. Finally, I installed a pair of my old GT 240's alongside my GTX 570. They've only been crunching together for 3 hours or so, but everything appears normal (besides slightly higher temps, as expected).

Will keep an eye on it. But, great feature to put some good (albeit, older) cards to use, even if it is outside GPUGrid.

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Message 24074 - Posted: 22 Mar 2012 | 11:20:37 UTC - in response to Message 24071.
Last modified: 22 Mar 2012 | 11:37:54 UTC

I've been interested in the functionality now provided by <exclude_gpu> ever since my old GT 240's became outdated here at GPUGrid. I decided to jump in and play around with BOINC 7.0.20 and the new functionality.


I have a couple of machines where the GPU is dedicated to GPUgrid work. I have been using the <exclude_gpu> on one of them running 7.x with some success. It also solved an annoyance with CPDN. My cc_config looks like:

<cc_config> <options> <http_1_0>1</http_1_0> <exclude_gpu> <url>http://climateprediction.net</url> </exclude_gpu> <exclude_gpu> <url>http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu</url> </exclude_gpu> </options> <log_flags> <sched_op_debug>0</sched_op_debug> <work_fetch_debug>0</work_fetch_debug> </log_flags> </cc_config>

The machine runs 3 projects, namely CPDN and Einstein on the CPU. The GPU (and a single core) are dedicated to GPUgrid.
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Message boards : Number crunching : Discussion of Boinc 7 Configurations

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