BOINC runs while computer is "in use"

Questions and Answers : Unix/Linux : BOINC runs while computer is "in use"
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Sean
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Message 836894 - Posted: 4 Dec 2008, 7:02:30 UTC

I've had this problem for a while now. For a while I was using a 5.x version BOINC, so I finally updated to the newest version (6.2.15). I have the idle run time set for 5 minutes, and I don't have a differing setting in the XML prefs file. It never detects mouse movement and will rarely detect keyboard activity. The process is "nice"d so it doesn't really interfere with the other processes on the computer, but I would prefer that it shut down and dumped its RAM when the computer was in use. Has anyone else had this problem, and is there a fix for it?

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Sean
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Message 837250 - Posted: 5 Dec 2008, 18:07:53 UTC

I'd just leave Boinc/seti running unless you are running massive data through your Linux box. Boinc always backs off when you are actually working on your pc. turn on your system monitor, leave boinc on and watch how it drops cpu usage as you do other things on your box. I know this isn't a fix but BOINC/seti don't take up much ram and they won't interfere with regular processes


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Sean
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Message 837264 - Posted: 5 Dec 2008, 20:02:34 UTC
Last modified: 5 Dec 2008, 20:03:06 UTC

Yeah the processes are set to nice level 19 so they don't interfere with processes. I just run my linux box as a desktop everyday computer, but it also runs FTP, SSH, VNC, and streaming MP3 services ;) so my load is always around 2 with an X2 SMP processor (including BOINC) :) I'm still curious as to why this doesn't work though.
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Message 837267 - Posted: 5 Dec 2008, 20:31:53 UTC - in response to Message 837264.  

I'm still curious as to why this doesn't work though.


It doesn't work (probably) because you're using a USB keyboard. The "when computer in use" functionality has been broken since v5.10. The only fix I've found is to add the --check_all_logins parameter to the boinc daemon startup. This will have the effect of causing BOINC to pause tasks whenever someone logs into the box via SSH. I consider this a work-around, not a permanent solution. But that's the best you can do for now.
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Sean
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Message 837303 - Posted: 5 Dec 2008, 22:23:57 UTC

I noticed today that without that switch on the daemon startup line, it will suspend as soon as I open a terminal. I will try it with that switch. Its okay if it suspends on ssh login, I'm the only person with access to that. :)

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Message 837532 - Posted: 6 Dec 2008, 19:49:16 UTC

OK, after a day of testing, it is still displaying the same problem, regardless of whether I have the --check-all-logins or --daemon switches enabled. If I open a terminal and start typing, it will suspend, but typing in pidgin or OpenOffice doesn't have this effect. Is there somewhere I can file a bug-report?

Sean
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Message 837876 - Posted: 8 Dec 2008, 1:54:07 UTC - in response to Message 837532.  
Last modified: 8 Dec 2008, 1:55:47 UTC

OK, after a day of testing, it is still displaying the same problem, regardless of whether I have the --check-all-logins or --daemon switches enabled. If I open a terminal and start typing, it will suspend, but typing in pidgin or OpenOffice doesn't have this effect. Is there somewhere I can file a bug-report?

Sean


It might be a distribution-specific issue, but I don't know what distribution of Linux you're running. I am using Fedora 8 and the switch worked for me w/ USB mouse and keyboard.

If you really want to persue this (if you do, it would help the developers), you can ask a developer on the BOINC message boards at:
http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dev/

The developers already have a trouble ticket for this issue. I suggest you reference this when discussing the problem you're having on the message boards.

Trac ticket 463
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Message 838752 - Posted: 11 Dec 2008, 6:24:26 UTC

I did see that trouble ticket the other day, looks like its been open a while. I am running Ubuntu 8.10, and can also confirm that this happened in 7.10 and 8.04.

Sean
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Questions and Answers : Unix/Linux : BOINC runs while computer is "in use"


 
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