Where did the processor go

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Message 921410 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 5:39:53 UTC

I have a Pentium D which for a year or so now has happily crunched MB and AP on 2 processors. During the current WU stoppage I go a red letter notice saying I should update my boink system - which I did.
Now without any changes in preferences it tells me my preferences limit it to 1 CPU. It will no longer process AP even if available and will NOT utilize 2 processors regardless of preference settings.
I have since taken that machine away from SETI since it can not function as it previously had.

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Message 921423 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 7:15:22 UTC - in response to Message 921410.  

Can you post the contents of the global_prefs.xml file and if it exists, the contents of your global_prefs_override.xml file, please? It or they will be in your BOINC Data directory.
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Message 921435 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 8:11:52 UTC - in response to Message 921423.  
Last modified: 26 Jul 2009, 8:20:30 UTC

Can you post the contents of the global_prefs.xml file and if it exists, the contents of your global_prefs_override.xml file, please? It or they will be in your BOINC Data directory.

I'll try to post it soon - thanx

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Message 921437 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 8:21:57 UTC - in response to Message 921435.  

Why do you have preferences set for all 4 venues on this machine? You can check what venue it is using by going to the Your Computer list in Your Account, getting its details and scroll down to the location. You only have to set the preferences for that venue, there's no need to set them for all others. That only makes a big file with otherwise useless information.
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Message 921441 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 8:41:08 UTC - in response to Message 921435.  

Can you post the contents of the global_prefs.xml file and if it exists, the contents of your global_prefs_override.xml file, please? It or they will be in your BOINC Data directory.

I'll try to post it soon - thanx

here is the override

- <global_preferences>
<run_on_batteries>0</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>1</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>0</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>3.000000</idle_time_to_run>
<start_hour>0.000000</start_hour>
<end_hour>0.000000</end_hour>
<net_start_hour>0.000000</net_start_hour>
<net_end_hour>0.000000</net_end_hour>
<leave_apps_in_memory>0</leave_apps_in_memory>
<confirm_before_connecting>0</confirm_before_connecting>
<hangup_if_dialed>0</hangup_if_dialed>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
<work_buf_min_days>5.000000</work_buf_min_days>
<work_buf_additional_days>9.000000</work_buf_additional_days>
<max_ncpus_pct>90.000000</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60.000000</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<disk_interval>60.000000</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>100.000000</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>50.000000</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_min_free_gb>0.000000</disk_min_free_gb>
<vm_max_used_pct>75.000000</vm_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>60.000000</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>90.000000</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_up>0.000000</max_bytes_sec_up>
<max_bytes_sec_down>0.000000</max_bytes_sec_down>
<cpu_usage_limit>100.000000</cpu_usage_limit>
</global_preferences>


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Message 921445 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 8:53:24 UTC - in response to Message 921441.  

Ok, the override preferences, that you go to from Advanced GUI->Advanced->Preferences, will override any of the same preferences set through the web-site, for only the computer you set those preferences on.

The below one will set your amount of CPUs to use to one.
<max_ncpus_pct>90.000000</max_ncpus_pct>

The number used is an integer number, meaning that on a 2 CPU system, even 99% of CPUs is 1. Only 100% is 2.

So now you can choose to clear the override preferences and go back to using the web-site preferences (Advanced GUI->Advanced->Preferences->Click Clear), or to adjust that number of "On multiprocessors, use at most xxx% of the processors" to reflect 100, then click OK.

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Message 921446 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 8:54:22 UTC - in response to Message 921441.  

Can you post the contents of the global_prefs.xml file and if it exists, the contents of your global_prefs_override.xml file, please? It or they will be in your BOINC Data directory.

I'll try to post it soon - thanx

here is the override

- <global_preferences>
<run_on_batteries>0</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>1</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>0</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>3.000000</idle_time_to_run>
<start_hour>0.000000</start_hour>
<end_hour>0.000000</end_hour>
<net_start_hour>0.000000</net_start_hour>
<net_end_hour>0.000000</net_end_hour>
<leave_apps_in_memory>0</leave_apps_in_memory>
<confirm_before_connecting>0</confirm_before_connecting>
<hangup_if_dialed>0</hangup_if_dialed>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
<work_buf_min_days>5.000000</work_buf_min_days>
<work_buf_additional_days>9.000000</work_buf_additional_days>
<max_ncpus_pct>90.000000</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60.000000</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<disk_interval>60.000000</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>100.000000</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>50.000000</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_min_free_gb>0.000000</disk_min_free_gb>
<vm_max_used_pct>75.000000</vm_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>60.000000</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>90.000000</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_up>0.000000</max_bytes_sec_up>
<max_bytes_sec_down>0.000000</max_bytes_sec_down>
<cpu_usage_limit>100.000000</cpu_usage_limit>
</global_preferences>

here is the first one

- <global_preferences>
<source_project>http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/</source_project>
<source_scheduler>http://setiboinc.ssl.berkeley.edu/sah_cgi/cgi</source_scheduler>
<mod_time>1248588067</mod_time>
<run_on_batteries>1</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>1</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>1</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>3</idle_time_to_run>
<suspend_if_no_recent_input>0</suspend_if_no_recent_input>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<hangup_if_dialed>1</hangup_if_dialed>
<work_buf_min_days />
<work_buf_additional_days>1</work_buf_additional_days>
<max_cpus>4</max_cpus>
<max_ncpus_pct>100</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_usage_limit>100</cpu_usage_limit>
<disk_interval>60</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>100</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>50</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_min_free_gb>0.1</disk_min_free_gb>
<vm_max_used_pct>80</vm_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>60</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>90</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_down>0</max_bytes_sec_down>
<max_bytes_sec_up>0</max_bytes_sec_up>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
- <venue name="home">
<run_on_batteries>1</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>1</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>1</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>3</idle_time_to_run>
<suspend_if_no_recent_input>0</suspend_if_no_recent_input>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<hangup_if_dialed>0</hangup_if_dialed>
<work_buf_min_days />
<work_buf_additional_days>10</work_buf_additional_days>
<max_cpus>2</max_cpus>
<max_ncpus_pct>100</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_usage_limit>100</cpu_usage_limit>
<disk_interval>60</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>100</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>80</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_min_free_gb>0.001</disk_min_free_gb>
<vm_max_used_pct>80</vm_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>90</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>90</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_down>0</max_bytes_sec_down>
<max_bytes_sec_up>0</max_bytes_sec_up>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
</venue>
- <venue name="work">
<run_on_batteries>1</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>1</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>1</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>3</idle_time_to_run>
<suspend_if_no_recent_input>0</suspend_if_no_recent_input>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<hangup_if_dialed>0</hangup_if_dialed>
<work_buf_min_days />
<work_buf_additional_days>8</work_buf_additional_days>
<max_cpus>3</max_cpus>
<max_ncpus_pct>100</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_usage_limit>100</cpu_usage_limit>
<disk_interval>60</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>100</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>50</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_min_free_gb>0.001</disk_min_free_gb>
<vm_max_used_pct>75</vm_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>60</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>90</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_down>0</max_bytes_sec_down>
<max_bytes_sec_up>0</max_bytes_sec_up>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
</venue>
- <venue name="school">
<run_on_batteries>0</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>1</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>1</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>3</idle_time_to_run>
<suspend_if_no_recent_input>0</suspend_if_no_recent_input>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<hangup_if_dialed>0</hangup_if_dialed>
<work_buf_min_days>1</work_buf_min_days>
<work_buf_additional_days>0.25</work_buf_additional_days>
<max_cpus>2</max_cpus>
<max_ncpus_pct>100</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_usage_limit>100</cpu_usage_limit>
<disk_interval>60</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>100</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>50</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_min_free_gb>0.001</disk_min_free_gb>
<vm_max_used_pct>75</vm_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>50</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>90</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_down>0</max_bytes_sec_down>
<max_bytes_sec_up>0</max_bytes_sec_up>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
</venue>
</global_preferences>

I set all venues since I may have to change each machine I have to a different venue occationally and I do that quite often.


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Message 921448 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 8:56:15 UTC
Last modified: 26 Jul 2009, 9:08:48 UTC

To make sure you see it, I answered your problem already between your two posts, here.

I wrote:
Ok, the override preferences, that you go to from Advanced GUI->Advanced->Preferences, will override any of the same preferences set through the web-site, for only the computer you set those preferences on.

The below one will set your amount of CPUs to use to one.
<max_ncpus_pct>90.000000</max_ncpus_pct>

The number used is an integer number, meaning that on a 2 CPU system, even 99% of CPUs is 1. Only 100% is 2.

So now you can choose to clear the override preferences and go back to using the web-site preferences (Advanced GUI->Advanced->Preferences->Click Clear), or to adjust that number of "On multiprocessors, use at most xxx% of the processors" to reflect 100, then click OK.


When ever in the future you want to look at the local preferences again, but NOT use them, make sure to exit that window using the Cancel button. Clicking OK will save the overriding preferences and immediately use them.
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Message 921449 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 9:02:33 UTC - in response to Message 921441.  
Last modified: 26 Jul 2009, 9:04:57 UTC

<max_ncpus_pct>90.000000</max_ncpus_pct>

You have (inadvertantly?) told BOINC to use only 90% of your processors. With two processors, that results in using only one of them (the integral part of 1.8).

You'll have to set "On multiprocessors, use at most 100 % of the processors" (not to be confused with "Use at most 100 percent of CPU time") in your local preferences or press the Clear button, if you want to use the online preferences.

Gruß,
Gundolf
[edit]Okay, I could have known that Ageless would be faster on that :-)[/edit]
Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz)

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Message 921453 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 9:18:06 UTC

checking the preferences I see everything set to 100% - something must be gimiking up the files you mentioned. My preference setting are correct.

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Message 921455 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 9:23:49 UTC - in response to Message 921453.  
Last modified: 26 Jul 2009, 9:27:45 UTC

You need to clear the local preferences! Select BOINC manager's Advanced view, then in the Advanced menu "Preferences..." There you have to press the "Clear" button.

[edit]And then you have to restart the BOINC client to let it recognize the second processor.[/edit]
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Message 921456 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 9:26:28 UTC - in response to Message 921453.  
Last modified: 26 Jul 2009, 9:27:31 UTC

Do NOT check in the online preferences!

Instead:
Open BOINC Manager->Advanced view->Advanced->Preferences->Processor usage tab.
At the bottom of this window check the "Other Options", you'll need the number for On multiprocessors, use at most xxx% of the processors. It needs to be 100, so change it to 100, even if it shows as 100 already, then click OK. (or indeed, as Gundolf says, click Clear to remove the overriding preferences).
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Message 921457 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 9:32:37 UTC

Gotcha - Thanx, I don't use that feature, it was at 90 - changed and got the 2nd one up. thanx again. someone been messin wit my toys again.

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Message 921458 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 9:34:28 UTC
Last modified: 26 Jul 2009, 9:35:48 UTC

Once more with more vigor as a warning to all.

When ever you go to the local preferences, in either the Simple GUI Preferences, or Advanced GUI Advanced->Preferences and click OK there, you will save these preferences to disk and immediately start using them.

These preferences will override any of the same preferences found in the web-site preferences. This means that you can change the web-site preferences until you see blue in the face, but BOINC on that machine will just not use them, as it is using the local preferences only.

So when you want to make that one machine follow your preferences you will either:
1. have to adjust the local preferences and click OK again to save them once more.
2. or click the Clear button, which will delete the global_prefs_override.xml file and immediately switch back to the last web-site preferences you updated to.

Whenever you just want to look at the local preferences but not use them, make sure to exit that window with the Cancel button.
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Message 921518 - Posted: 26 Jul 2009, 18:54:54 UTC

Hmmm... so I was right. It was a configuration file issue as I had said in my PM to you. :)
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Questions and Answers : Preferences : Where did the processor go


 
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