How to double the power?

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Profile Simu

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Message 674099 - Posted: 8 Nov 2007, 11:16:33 UTC

I want to know how can I run multiple instance of the seti@home service. This is a windows 2003 server. I can logon to the same computer through the "mstsc" program about 16 times but the program just runs one instance on it.

Help me crunch a lil more!!
After all everyone has the same wish, gimme more!

Rohit.
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Message 674133 - Posted: 8 Nov 2007, 12:43:09 UTC

Looking at your computer I see:

Owner Simu User profile image
Created 8 Feb 2007 10:11:25 UTC
Total Credit 45,359
Recent average credit 172.84
CPU type GenuineIntel
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz [x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 3] [fpu tsc pae nx sse sse2 mmx]
Number of CPUs 1
Operating System Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Enterprise Server Edition, Service Pack 2, (05.02.3790.00)
Memory 2047.38 MB
Cache 976.56 KB
Measured floating point speed 1590.4 million ops/sec
Measured integer speed 2258.11 million ops/sec
Average upload rate 1.35 KB/sec
Average download rate 29.05 KB/sec
Average turnaround time 0.48 days
Maximum daily WU quota per CPU 100/day
Tasks 12

Try setting in general preferences the correct number of cpu's, assuming you have more than one.
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Message 674162 - Posted: 8 Nov 2007, 14:42:41 UTC - in response to Message 674099.  

I want to know how can I run multiple instance of the seti@home service. This is a windows 2003 server. I can logon to the same computer through the "mstsc" program about 16 times but the program just runs one instance on it.

Help me crunch a lil more!!
After all everyone has the same wish, gimme more!

Rohit.

As Winternight suggested, if you have more than one core or cpu, then you can set your preferences to use that number but I think it defaults to two, so if you are only being reported as having one, then that is probably what you have (unless you have changed the default processor count.)
If you really have only one core (cpu), then there would be no point in running multiple copies since you would just be sharing the available cpu power between instances. By default, BOINC is designed to use all unused cpu cycles to run the applications. Running multiple applications would allow you to run more wu's at a time, but each one would take longer to complete. There would be absolutely no gain in doing this (and would possibly even run them slower due to the extra overhead.)
So check your preferences and try increasing the number of cpu's used. If you don't actually have as many as you list it won't affect your system in any way, it just won't use the extras. You won't need to do anything else if you do have multiple processors (or cores) as BOINC will automatically start as many applications as you have processors available.
BTW the number of concurrent login's that you can make on a computer is not related in any way to the number of cpu's (or cores) you have.
Jim

Some people plan their life out and look back at the wealth they've had.
Others live life day by day and look back at the wealth of experiences and enjoyment they've had.
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Message 674205 - Posted: 8 Nov 2007, 17:02:22 UTC

And don't forget to install Chiken's or Crunch3r's optimized SETI app. It should make your crunching much faster.

Greetings,
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Message 674274 - Posted: 8 Nov 2007, 21:18:37 UTC - in response to Message 674099.  

I want to know how can I run multiple instance of the seti@home service. This is a windows 2003 server. I can logon to the same computer through the "mstsc" program about 16 times but the program just runs one instance on it.

Help me crunch a lil more!!
After all everyone has the same wish, gimme more!

Rohit.


Jim-R is quite correct in what he says; in having more than one 'CPU', the application will run 'n' times more Work Units. I've tried my 3.2 GHz P4 running 1 WU and running 2 WUs and it works out that its quicker to run 1, then the next, rather than 2 simultaneously. From the system info, it looks like you've got a similar CPU to me - a P4 'Prescott' (the nominal 1 Meg of cache is the tell-tale). If you're showing 'only' 1 CPU, it may be that the CPU Hyper-Threading is not enabled in the system BIOS, although, as per the above, it is not certainly not deterimental.
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Message 674578 - Posted: 9 Nov 2007, 10:24:38 UTC - in response to Message 674099.  

I want to know how can I run multiple instance of the seti@home service. This is a windows 2003 server. I can logon to the same computer through the "mstsc" program about 16 times but the program just runs one instance on it.

Help me crunch a lil more!!
After all everyone has the same wish, gimme more!

Rohit.



reading this I would pos the question what I would call a dumb terminal ie:- I/P O/P consiting of keyboard monitor possible printer (used mainly in ordering at large ware houses or where it is only to update the data base}. in which case your using the server CPU, and the answer would posible be no.

Or each terminal consists of a PC in which case the answer is also a posible no and would rely on administive rights to the server, but each PC would have to run its own instance as a stand alone using the server CPU to download WUs and for security. I'm open to correction on this if incorrect.

More crunching power again would depend on how many instances you are running.
I hope if I'm incorrect on this Jim R will put me right please.
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Message 674605 - Posted: 9 Nov 2007, 12:57:07 UTC - in response to Message 674578.  
Last modified: 9 Nov 2007, 13:00:53 UTC

I want to know how can I run multiple instance of the seti@home service. This is a windows 2003 server. I can logon to the same computer through the "mstsc" program about 16 times but the program just runs one instance on it.

Help me crunch a lil more!!
After all everyone has the same wish, gimme more!

Rohit.



reading this I would pos the question what I would call a dumb terminal ie:- I/P O/P consiting of keyboard monitor possible printer (used mainly in ordering at large ware houses or where it is only to update the data base}. in which case your using the server CPU, and the answer would posible be no.

Or each terminal consists of a PC in which case the answer is also a posible no and would rely on administive rights to the server, but each PC would have to run its own instance as a stand alone using the server CPU to download WUs and for security. I'm open to correction on this if incorrect.

More crunching power again would depend on how many instances you are running.
I hope if I'm incorrect on this Jim R will put me right please.

My response was in relation to the "server" itself, as his question implies that since he can log onto the server multiple times, would it be possible or advantageous to run multiple instances *on the server*. I run Linux on a single CPU machine and although I can log into my machine numerous times, using either one or multiple accounts from either the main console or from remote computers connected to it via network, It is very possible to start multiple instances of BOINC and process numerous work units at the same time, but since all of them are running on the one computer there would be no advantage as all of them would be sharing the same cpu. For instance if you could complete one wu in one hour, you could run two wu's at a time, but it would take them two hours to complete since each wu would only get half of the cpu power. Four wu's would complete in four hours, etc. (Not counting any reduction in crunching due to the extra overhead of multiple logins/instances of BOINC itself running, etc.)

Of course if you are using multiple "smart" terminals (with their own cpu, memory, etc.) to log in, I'm sure there could be found a way to run BOINC on each of the terminals however I'm not familiar with how this could be done since I don't have access to this type system. I am using simple standalone computers in a lan and just log onto the comp that has the relevent data I need for whatever project I'm working on from whichever computer happens to be nearby (the one in the garage for automotive related projects, my "radio shack" for ham related projects, etc.) I am looking into tying these together into a "cluster" which is supposed to act as one giant cpu with as many "cores" as I have comps tied into the cluster but until now this is still just in the planning stages. Even then the only advantage over this setup to running BOINC on each of the individual computers would be that I would only have one computer ID with X number of cores showing and all control of BOINC could be done from one terminal which would be running only one instance of BOINC.

But back to the main subject, if Simu could get back to us with more details on his/her setup maybe we could offer more specific advice. But as far as the way the original question is worded, the answer is "no" *UNLESS* the computer has hyperthreading/multiple cores. (In regards to running multiple instances on the server "itself".)
Jim

Some people plan their life out and look back at the wealth they've had.
Others live life day by day and look back at the wealth of experiences and enjoyment they've had.
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Message boards : Number crunching : How to double the power?


 
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