What is a FAQ, It is "collection" of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Somewhere in all this things are said that can help and then scroll off the page. It becomes very hard to put them all together again. Valid Questions keep getting Asked which are repeats. So a FAQ is created to answer some of those questions. In some cases Seti or other Boinc Projects have created an Initial FAQ. If they are maintained properly they contain the aggregate of the Best Information.

When You load Boinc and Connect to Seti or any other Project, you need to check on things occasionally. What you just noticed may be a problems specific to "the project" or something was said about you need to upgrade something to correct the problem you just noticed. Some information can even be found in the Message Tab of the Boinc Client from the project. Virtually All Boinc projects are in a State of Growth. Please Check Back Often!

Whichever Project, You Choose to run may have issues with "something" not working or trying to take over your computer. Some applications can become a bit more "aggressive" than others and there are ways to reduce their impact when You decide to sit and use your computer.

Many people have taken time to write various FAQ pages or web sites to help with some of the questions. Some of those are not obvious or no longer here.

Official Seti FAQ's and other pages of interest.
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/ap_faq.php updated 3/17/09
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/cuda_faq.php Cuda FAQ
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_forum.php?id=631 Cuda Q&A
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/sah_about.php This also leads to the faces and various pictures of "growth" taken over time.
http://seticlassic.ssl.berkeley.edu/ This one took at bit of time to find.

Unofficial FAQ's. This information is derived from Questions and Answer in the Forums. Many of the Individuals you see answering the questions Today are those that have taken time to make the "Best" explanations.

http://www.boinc-wiki.info/Category:SETI@Home_FAQ
http://www.boinc-wiki.info/SETI@Home_Enhanced_FAQ
http://boincfaq.mundayweb.com/
http://boincfaq.mundayweb.com/index.php?language=1&view=471 Cuda FAQ

Various Team FAQ's
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/seti
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=221599
http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,16086972
http://www.setiusa.net/modules.php?name=FAQ&myfaq=yes&id_cat=3&categories=

a bit of nostalgia - Seti Classic
http://www.darsys.com/seti.html
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread32077/pg1

What about Optimized Applications to produce quality results in the shortest time? Seti and many projects release the Source code to the Applications they use. Users spend time finding ways to make them faster.

http://lunatics.kwsn.net/ The Primary site for Optimized AP's
http://www.arkayn.us/seti/index.htm Has Mac Optimized and more
http://calbe.dw70.de/ Crunch3r
http://www.dotsch.de/boinc/SETI@home%20applications.html various Nix versions

Windows tools for identifying what you computer is capable of for the CPU and GPU.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php CPUz explains about your CPU and Motherboard.
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/ GPUz explains about your Video Card.

Regards

Pappa

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While Gecko_R7 is getting an update ready, this is a temporary placeholder

Hi Everyone!!!

Lunatics is pleased to announce an RSS Feed for New S@H Optimized Applications releases. Click and bookmark the link below to receive News via your browser or RSS reader & get the latest updates as they are announced.

Special Thanks!!! to John37309 @ Lunatics for the technical & coding help!

Lunatics Team

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This is Quoted from the MarkJ post so that it "not" be lost.
Topic working with Anon Platform and App_info.xml more specifically Cuda

app_info for AP500, AP503, MB603 and MB608

This is still the single most complete piece of information. I am working to compile that "best information" for use in this FAQ or updates to the Official Cuda FAQ.

Notes:
* You should have Cuda Running PRIOR to starting an Optimized Application! This eases the burden that will happen if a machine now has Optimized Cuda and has NOT Notified the Server that it is ready for Cuda.

* Currently the Recommended Version of BOINC is 6.6.20, while it has issues for getting Started it provides the least number of headaches. As that Changes we hope to update information here.

* The recommended Driver Version for Your Nvidia card is 182.50, it provides the basis of Cuda 2.x necessary for the Optimized Applications to run properly. While it has been stated that 185.85 has been released, there is discussion of heat issues while running Optimized Cuda Applications. You also have to obtain the Cuda 2.2 files "cudart.dll, cufft.dll" this would need to be placed manually into the Seti Project folder.

* While getting Cuda Operating. It should be noted that there could be various blocking issues as a result of your Selected SETI@home preferences. You need to first Enable Cuda (GPU) Use Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) if available = yes . You might also need to enable Cuda for Specific Venues Computing Preferences that you might have created. If the machine participates in Multiple Projects then you need to insure that another project/project venue is not blocking Cuda from starting. This would require that you check settings for the other projects and force a Manual Updates to all other projects in an attempt to synchronize the Preferences. Make change to the Seti preferences and and then Force a manual update to Seti.
Last but not least if you have configured Local Preferences Override you need to insure that it is not blocking or have Use GPU While in use enabled. this is normally identified in the Message Tab under Boinc stating that preferences are being Overridden Locally.

* You should ALWAYS Backup Your Boinc Project folder before attempting any optimization. You want to Clear Out as much work in progress as possible. Normally this is done by setting No New Tasks, Projects Tab, Select Seti and use the No new tasks Button. This reduces the risk of trashing any work you have in progress. Next you want to tell Boinc to not try to connect to Seti. Through the "Activity" pulldown Menu to Network Activity Suspended then you can easily copy the original files back if there is a problem and be back up and running in a few minutes.

The recommended version From Lunatics is the Unified Installer. While it is undergoing an update, it relieves the need to learn how to hack through an app_info.xml file.

This will be updated/amended from time to time until a more complete rewrite has been completed.

I was going to post this under another thread in reply to someones question but the thread got locked just as I was about to post. Below are some instructions I typed up about how to have a combined app_info. Please take note of the disclaimer.

MarkJ


Setting up Seti@home to run cuda and non-cuda apps

You will need a copy of BOINC 6.6.15 (or later). This won't work with earlier versions of BOINC. See Above


Disclaimer:
BOINC 6.6.15 is a Development version and may not function correctly. If you are not comfortable with editing an app_info, using optimized apps and running development versions of BOINC then this is not for you.

BOINC is very unforgiving of an incorrect app_info and usually will delete all tasks if you get it wrong.

Do NOT use Internet Explorer to edit the xml files, it will stuff up your app_info. Use Notepad or another text editor.

Thanks go to Richard Haselgrove and Claggy for ideas in building this app_info.xml file.


Notes:
Upgrade your BOINC client first and get it working before changing anything else.

The app_info.xml below is based on a 32 bit Windows platform.

My computers support the SSSE3 instruction set. SSE2, SSE3 or SSE4.1 may be more appropriate for you. You will need to amend the program names as appropriate.

I've assumed that you have your cuda-capable card up and running and have the necessary nvidia drivers (minimum version is 180.48).

Programs needed:
a) Optimized multibeam and optimized Astropulse

AK_v8_win_SSSE3x.exe
ap_5.00r103_SSE3.exe
ap_5.03r112_SSE3.exe

b) Cuda multibeam and support libraries
setiathome_6.08_windows_intelx86__cuda.exe
cudart.dll
cufft.dll
libfftw3f-3-1-1a_upx.dll


1. Download and install BOINC 6.6.15. Get this working before changing anything else.

2. Empty your cache of Seti@home work. This is best achieved by setting the project to No new work and letting it finish off its tasks. Make sure they are all uploaded and reported, there should be none on your tasks list.

3. Download the optimized multibeam and astropulse apps (usually from the lunatics web site) if you don't already have them.

4. Download the cuda multibeam app (from the Seti web site) if you don't already have them. If you run the stock cuda multibeam app then you should already have these in your projects\Setiathome.berkeley.edu folder.

5. Disable network communications in BOINC. Shutdown BOINC. Make sure its shutdown.

6. Browse your client_state.xml file (its in the BOINC data directory) and look for the entry <p_flops>. We need to use this number. Do NOT change this file.

7. Browse the BOINC log file to get the estimated speed of your GPU. This is usually given at the top of the log in Gflops. My 9800GT was estimated at 60Gflops.

8. For each of the apps multiply the p_flops value by the factor below and put this into the appropriate flops entry in the app_info given below. For multibeam 608 you need the estimated Gflops.

Astropulse 500 flops = p_flops x 2.25
Astropulse 503 flops = p_flops x 2.6
Multibeam 603 flops = p_flops x 1.75
Multibeam 608 flops = Est.Gflops x 0.2 (eg 60,000,000,000 x 0.2 = 12,000,000,000)

9. Make sure you have all the programs listed above in the projects\Setiathome.berkeley.edu folder. If not copy them there.

10. Save your app_info in the projects\Setiathome.berkeley.edu folder.

11. Start up BOINC. Check the messages tab to see if it lists any [file error] messages. If there are shut BOINC, check you have the correct program names referenced. Go back to step 9.

12. If okay then enable new work for the Seti@home project.

13. Enable network communications again.

14. It should now download work of all types. If not check your Seti@home preferences on the Seti web site, that Astropulse, Astropulse_v5 and "Use GPU if available" are all ticked. If you have a slower computer you may not get astropulse work units anyway.

<app_info>
    <app>
        <name>astropulse</name>
    </app>
    <file_info>
        <name>ap_5.00r103_SSE3.exe</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <app_version>
        <app_name>astropulse</app_name>
        <version_num>500</version_num>
        <flops>5306156897</flops>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>ap_5.00r103_SSE3.exe</file_name>
            <main_program/>
        </file_ref>
    </app_version>
    <app>
        <name>astropulse_v5</name>
    </app>
    <file_info>
        <name>ap_5.03r112_SSE3.exe</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <app_version>
        <app_name>astropulse_v5</app_name>
        <version_num>503</version_num>
        <flops>6131559081</flops>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>ap_5.03r112_SSE3.exe</file_name>
            <main_program/>
        </file_ref>
    </app_version>
    <app>
        <name>setiathome_enhanced</name>
    </app>
    <file_info>
        <name>AK_v8_win_SSSE3x.exe</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <file_info>
        <name>setiathome_6.08_windows_intelx86__cuda.exe</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <file_info>
        <name>cudart.dll</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <file_info>
        <name>cufft.dll</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <file_info>
        <name>libfftw3f-3-1-1a_upx.dll</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <app_version>
        <app_name>setiathome_enhanced</app_name>
        <version_num>603</version_num>
        <flops>4127010920</flops>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>AK_v8_win_SSSE3x.exe</file_name>
            <main_program/>
        </file_ref>
    </app_version>
    <app_version>
        <app_name>setiathome_enhanced</app_name>
        <version_num>608</version_num>
        <avg_ncpus>0.127970</avg_ncpus>
        <max_ncpus>0.127970</max_ncpus>
        <flops>12000000000</flops>
        <plan_class>cuda</plan_class>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>setiathome_6.08_windows_intelx86__cuda.exe</file_name>
            <main_program/>
        </file_ref>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>cudart.dll</file_name>
        </file_ref>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>cufft.dll</file_name>
        </file_ref>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>libfftw3f-3-1-1a_upx.dll</file_name>
        </file_ref>
        <coproc>
            <type>CUDA</type>
            <count>1</count>
        </coproc>
    </app_version>
</app_info>

Regards

Thanks to the many who are here MarkJ, Seti Beta Testers, Lunatics Testers/Developers and Users who have fought through these battles. It is Seti Users helping Users that makes this place exciting and enjoyable.

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Cuda Information:

While some Optimized Cuda Questions come and go here in NC. As Cuda was released back in 2008. A Reminder that a more dedicated General Forum for Boinc and Seti Stock Cuda related issues is happening here Questions and Answers : CUDA The reasoning was the Boinc and Seti Developers had to watch only one Forum for Issues.

Currently if you plan to run Optimized Seti Cuda, Boinc 6.6.20 is the recommended version. It corrects several noted issues. If an improved version becomes Identified, We will attempt let you know here.

Notes:
* To Identify whether your Nvidia Card is compatible use this Link NVIDIA CUDA-enabled products. It needs at least 256 Meg of Video Memory and in the case of Desktop Computers that starts at 8400GS

* It should be noted that you "should have" started receiving Cuda Workunits with the Stock Cuda Application prior to using an Optimized Cuda Application.

* Once You start Crunching with Cuda, You will see a slowdown with "Normal Things" on your Computer. Normally the video card only has to display your email and web browser. Now is working as fast as it can to crunch a Seti Cuda Workunit "and" display your email and web browser. If you have something really important to do. Please set Boinc to "Snooze" and then "Exit Boinc" to save your work in progress. Then "restart" Boinc as you are done.

* If you decide that running Seti Cuda is too much for you and your computer. In your preferences SETI@home preferences set "Use Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) if available" = No then let any Cuda workunits finish.

* The Best Driver for Your Nvidia Video cards was 182.50 based on Cuda 2.0. Currently as 185.85 was released (Cuda 2.2) it is the recommended version. To keep up todate with Nvidia Drivers use this link Download Nvidia Drivers. Please note that Drivers are compatible for All Nvidia cards whether they are/are not Seti Cuda capable. All you need to do is select the Series of the card and the OS you are running.

* It has been noted that performance with 185.85 has increased to the point that some people have indicated they are starting to have heat issues. Please insure that All Cooling Fans inside the Computer case are Clean and Working. Insure you have good airflow around the computer.

* As Lunatics have published various Cuda Optimizations they also have a Forum for discussion of issues which can be found at this link Seti Optimizations for GPU. It costs nothing to join or look around, you can look at some of the issues that have been raised. They also have an RSS Feed that provides information as to what is coming out to improve the performance for crunching Seti RSS Feed for New S@H Optimized Applications.

* Various tools that help Identify what is going on with your graphics cards TechPowerUp GPU-Z v0.3.4 It will show information about your Graphics card Nvidia or ATI. It will also show the temperature and fan speed for cards that report them. GPU - Memory Test software MemtestG80 This will require "Registration." This web site is registered to "Stanford University."

When You identify a Problem, It is a Good thing that you describe your computer and Video Card, then what the problem is. If you provide a Link to the problem Computer ie (http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/show_host_detail.php?hostid=2435134) or Workunit it allows others to look and offer recommendations. If the Computer is Hidden (via your SETI@home preferences Should SETI@home show your computers on its web site? = No) it make it very tough to "GUESS" at what the problem might be.

Last Note:
This is distilled information from various questions, the answers over time there may be modifications and/or additions.

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It seems that the results feature has been turned off for some time. Is there any other way to determine if your results are timing out?


Or is there a method to their madness ;-).

It seems some of my systems have developed a new quirk. When an upload succeeds it does not come back as ready to report! It simply DISAPPEARS. POOFFF!
Since we are no longer allowed to see our pending status I haven't the foggiest where they went or if they turned into fairy dust. Not all of them do this - just the ones that have hung around for the past few days. And NO, they had not exceeded the deadline date.

HAL

Your question deseerves a comment.

It seems some of my systems have developed a new quirk. When an upload succeeds it does not come back as ready to report! It simply DISAPPEARS. POOFFF!
Since we are no longer allowed to see our pending status I haven't the foggiest where they went or if they turned into fairy dust. Not all of them do this - just the ones that have hung around for the past few days. And NO, they had not exceeded the deadline date.

This issue was identified ages ago and until recently had not resurfaced. What is happening is Boinc requests a connection. The Upload server did get a chance to respond, Boinc starts buffering the upload and then the server fails to respond. It appears that the upload happened, when in fact it did not.

Regards

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dsh

Your question deserves an answer

Please take a moment to view this response http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=54744&nowrap=true#919920

It seems that the results feature has been turned off for some time. Is there any other way to determine if your results are timing out?

Or is there a method to their madness ;-).

In the mean time we have to rely on Boinc doing what it supposed to do. The staff have turned of many things that would allow completed work to be reported during the problems.

Regards

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As MarkJ has updated the intructions here is a copy for reference

app_info for AP503, AP505, MB603 and MB608

The last message thread got a bit long and we now have a new Astropulse, so I thought i'd post updated instructions.


Setting up Seti@home to run cuda and non-cuda Optimised apps

Disclaimer:
If you are not comfortable with editing an app_info then this is not for you. If you run Windows you can use the Unified Installer for Windows available from the Lunatics web site. Click here

BOINC is very unforgiving of an incorrect app_info and usually will delete all tasks if you get it wrong.

Do NOT use Internet Explorer to edit the xml files, it will stuff up your app_info. Use Notepad or another text editor.

Notes:
Upgrade your BOINC client first and get it working before changing anything else. At the time of writing I am running the 6.6.37 client, although any client from 6.6.15 should be sufficient.

The app_info.xml below is based on a Windows XP platform (32 bit) and the cuda-capable card is a GTS250. If you are running on another platform you may need to add/amend the <platform_name> tags.

My computers support the SSSE3 instruction set. SSE2, SSE3 or SSE4.1 may be more appropiate for you. You will need to amend the program names as appropriate in the app_info.

I've assumed that you have your cuda-capable card up and running and have the necessary nvidia drivers (minimum version is 180.48). Use the 190.38 drivers (or later) if you want to use the cuda 2.3 dll files.


Programs needed:
a) Optimised multibeam and optimised Astropulse, available from the Lunatics web site. Click here
AK_v8_win_SSSE3x.exe
ap_5.03r112_SSE3.exe
ap_5.05r168_SSE3.exe

b) Cuda multibeam V12 and support libraries, available from the Lunatics web site. Click here
MB_6.08_CUDA_V12_noKill_FPLim2048.exe
cudart.dll
cufft.dll
libfftw3f-3-1-1a_upx.dll


Instructions:
1. Get BOINC working before changing anything else.

2. Download the optimised apps from the lunatics web site if you don't already have them.

3. Empty your cache of Seti@home work. This is best achieved by setting the project to No new work and letting it finish off its tasks. Make sure they are all uploaded and reported, there should be none on your tasks list. If you are feeling brave/confident then skip this step, but if all your tasks get deleted don’t say you weren’t warned.

4. Browse the BOINC log file to get the estimated speed of your GPU (or before you shut BOINC down, click on the messages tab). This is usually given at the top and is in Gflops. Some estimates from my testing are:
a) 9800GT = 60Gflops
b) GTS250 = 84Gflops
c) GTX260 (216 sp) = 96Gflops

5. Disable network communications in BOINC.

6. Shutdown BOINC. Make sure it and the science apps are shutdown.

7. Browse your client_state.xml file (its in the BOINC data directory) and look for the entry <p_fpops>. We need to use this number. Do NOT change this file.

8. For each of the apps multiply the p_fpops value by the factor below and put this into the appropiate flops entry in the app_info given below. For multibeam 608 you need the estimated Gflops. The app_info given below has the values for a GTS250.
Application Calculate
Astropulse 503 = p_fpops x 2.6
Astropulse 505 = P_fpops x 2.6
Multibeam 603 = p_fpops x 1.75
Multibeam 608 = Est.Gflops x 0.2

9. Make sure you have all the programs and DLL’s listed above in the projects\Setiathome.berkeley.edu folder. If not copy them there.

10. Save your app_info.xml in the projects\Setiathome.berkeley.edu folder.

11. Start up BOINC. Check the messages tab to see if it lists any [file error] messages. If there are shut BOINC down, check you have the correct program names referenced. Go back to step 9.

12. If okay then enable new work for the Seti@home project.

13. Enable network communications again.

14. BOINC should now download work of all types. If not check your Seti@home preferences on the Seti web site, that Astropulse_v5 and Use Graphics Processor (GPU) are all ticked. If you have a slower computer you may not get Astropulse work units anyway.

<app_info>
    <app>
        <name>astropulse_v5</name>
    </app>
    <file_info>
        <name>ap_5.03r112_SSE3.exe</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <app_version>
        <app_name>astropulse_v5</app_name>
        <version_num>503</version_num>
        <flops>6131559081</flops>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>ap_5.03r112_SSE3.exe</file_name>
            <main_program/>
        </file_ref>
    </app_version>
    <app>
        <name>astropulse_v505</name>
    </app>
    <file_info>
        <name>ap_5.05r168_SSE3.exe</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <app_version>
        <app_name>astropulse_v505</app_name>
        <version_num>505</version_num>
        <flops>6131559081</flops>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>ap_5.05r168_SSE3.exe</file_name>
            <main_program/>
        </file_ref>
    </app_version>
    <app>
        <name>setiathome_enhanced</name>
    </app>
    <file_info>
        <name>AK_v8_win_SSSE3x.exe</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <file_info>
        <name>MB_6.08_CUDA_V12_noKill_FPLim2048.exe</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <file_info>
        <name>cudart.dll</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <file_info>
        <name>cufft.dll</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <file_info>
        <name>libfftw3f-3-1-1a_upx.dll</name>
        <executable/>
    </file_info>
    <app_version>
        <app_name>setiathome_enhanced</app_name>
        <version_num>603</version_num>
        <platform>windows_intelx86</platform>
        <flops>4127010920</flops>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>AK_v8_win_SSSE3x.exe</file_name>
            <main_program/>
        </file_ref>
    </app_version>
    <app_version>
        <app_name>setiathome_enhanced</app_name>
        <version_num>608</version_num>
        <platform>windows_intelx86</platform>
        <avg_ncpus>0.127970</avg_ncpus>
        <max_ncpus>0.127970</max_ncpus>
        <flops>16800000000</flops>
        <plan_class>cuda</plan_class>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>MB_6.08_CUDA_V12_noKill_FPLim2048.exe</file_name>
            <main_program/>
        </file_ref>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>cudart.dll</file_name>
        </file_ref>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>cufft.dll</file_name>
        </file_ref>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>libfftw3f-3-1-1a_upx.dll</file_name>
        </file_ref>
        <coproc>
            <type>CUDA</type>
            <count>1</count>
        </coproc>
    </app_version>
</app_info>

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