First Time Lunatics User

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Stuart
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Message 1646790 - Posted: 26 Feb 2015, 9:12:27 UTC

Howdy,

I've just installed the Lunatics Installer and I am now asking myself wot do I do now?

Am I supposed to get a new GUI or something?

Or, did my setup options essentially do everything that needs doing and that's all?

The Lunatics Downloads section has additional downloads and I wondering whether I have to load those too.

As far as documentation goes, all I seem to be able to find is release notes. I was wondering whether there is a layman's user guide of sorts lying around anywhere.

Would appreciate some help.

ta,

S.
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Stuart
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Message 1646791 - Posted: 26 Feb 2015, 9:19:51 UTC - in response to Message 1646790.  

... Process Lasso says I've got new programs running Seti, does that mean it's all down?

ta,

S.
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Richard Haselgrove Project Donor
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Message 1646798 - Posted: 26 Feb 2015, 9:35:55 UTC - in response to Message 1646791.  

Yes, all complete.

The installer simply installs (supplies, delivers) replacement SETI programs and the control logic to make BOINC use them. It's completely self-contained - no further downloads are necessary.

But by following this path, you've effectively disabled BOINC's inbuilt mechanism for downloading new SETI programs if and when needed. That doesn't happen very often - maybe once every year or two - but when it does, we make a new version of the installer available as soon as we can afterwards. You should continue to keep an eye on these message boards while you're running SETI (all new versions of the installer are announced here), and you'll also find that there are volunteers ready and willing to help you out with any questions or problems.
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Stuart
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Message 1646839 - Posted: 26 Feb 2015, 11:35:54 UTC - in response to Message 1646798.  

Thanks Richard (I named my son Richard!)

Should I tinker with the Priority Class of the processes or should I leave that alone?

Thanks again.

S.
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Richard Haselgrove Project Donor
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Message 1646845 - Posted: 26 Feb 2015, 11:59:04 UTC - in response to Message 1646839.  

The applications are designed to run smoothly and effectively at the default priority levels. For SETI, I wouldn't use a tool like Process Lasso for manipulating either priority or affinity at the application level: although many assertions have been made over the years about the mystical power of these incantations, people who really know how processors work (we have an incognito Intel senior designer/tester in our midst) have found little or no factual benefit.

You have NVidia GPUs: the developer has provided priority control (*) at the thread level via the file 'mbcuda.cfg' - you might like to experiment by uncommenting the line

;processpriority = abovenormal

in that file. As always when running applications at higher than design priority, or overclocking hardware, watch out for side-effects like overheating, invalid results, or monitor stutter, and be prepared to back off if problems start to manifest themselves. In particular, some NVidia cards have proven to be sensitive to any weaknesses in the host PSU when pushed hard for extended periods.

(*) This applies to the MB (setiathome_enhanced) tasks currently in circulation. Similar facilities, although with a different implementation, are available for the Astropulse application, but since that sub-project is currently inactive, I suggest you concentrate on one thing at a time while you learn more about the processes involved in running third-party applications.
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David S
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Message 1646953 - Posted: 26 Feb 2015, 18:12:47 UTC - in response to Message 1646845.  

The applications are designed to run smoothly and effectively at the default priority levels. For SETI, I wouldn't use a tool like Process Lasso for manipulating either priority or affinity at the application level: although many assertions have been made over the years about the mystical power of these incantations, people who really know how processors work (we have an incognito Intel senior designer/tester in our midst) have found little or no factual benefit.

You have NVidia GPUs: the developer has provided priority control (*) at the thread level via the file 'mbcuda.cfg' - you might like to experiment by uncommenting the line

;processpriority = abovenormal

in that file. As always when running applications at higher than design priority, or overclocking hardware, watch out for side-effects like overheating, invalid results, or monitor stutter, and be prepared to back off if problems start to manifest themselves. In particular, some NVidia cards have proven to be sensitive to any weaknesses in the host PSU when pushed hard for extended periods.

(*) This applies to the MB (setiathome_enhanced) tasks currently in circulation. Similar facilities, although with a different implementation, are available for the Astropulse application, but since that sub-project is currently inactive, I suggest you concentrate on one thing at a time while you learn more about the processes involved in running third-party applications.

Well, I learned a couple of new things today. Now I have to consider whether to try processpriority on my 440.
David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

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Stuart
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Message 1647043 - Posted: 26 Feb 2015, 22:17:06 UTC - in response to Message 1646845.  

Thanks Richard.

I think I will leave process priority alone for a spell. If I keep this up I'm gonna develop an obsession that will have no end!!


I'll leave it for a month or so and see what happens. I can't really decide on much until I see Astropulse files coming through anyway.

Thanks again,

S.
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Stuart
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Message 1648063 - Posted: 1 Mar 2015, 1:57:23 UTC

A great uplift in power guys, thanks.
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Message boards : Number crunching : First Time Lunatics User


 
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