Migration of BOINC within Linux Installations

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Profile Vipin Palazhi
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Message 1722463 - Posted: 5 Sep 2015, 6:27:50 UTC

I have been trying out various versions of Linux recently and found Linux Mint to be quite easy to handle. I have a laptop which is running BOINC on Zorin OS. I now want to transfer this to a Linux Mint installation and not sure how to proceed. With windows its just a matter of copying the two BOINC folders in program files and program data, is there any such process available in Linux? I tried searching the forum but it came up blank.
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Message 1722498 - Posted: 5 Sep 2015, 9:07:05 UTC - in response to Message 1722463.  

It's pretty much the same in Linux. I would make sure the New Linux host has the same Machine Name as the Old Host. At least until you make first contact with the server. I would use a New install of BOINC though, just in case. The setiathome.berkeley.edu folder should be fine though. I would suggest using the The Berkeley Installer as described here, http://boinc.berkeley.edu/wiki/Installing_BOINC#Linux.
After downloading the file, you'll need to be in the directory where you download the archive to unpack it.
Here is an example. The archive is downloaded to the desktop. It is then moved to the home directory (~). Finally BOINC is unpacked and installed. All of this can be done within a regular user account; root privileges are not needed...

I've been using that install method for a couple of years and it really makes changing items in the setiathome.berkeley.edu folder just like in Windows only the folder isn't in a Hidden folder. It's in your Home folder and hence you don't have to deal with Linux Permissions. Just make sure the execute bit is set on the executables and check for missing dependencies, I think I had to install the package for the Screensaver the last time I made the install. Then place the setiathome.berkeley.edu folder in the projects folder and set the execute bits on the enclosed apps.

I would suggest considering Ubuntu as the Berkeley version of BOINC is tested with it. I also finally tracked down the Bug that's been causing me such grief with the latest LTS version. Hopefully those problems will be terminated soon;
xorg.conf overwritten by booting system
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Message 1722502 - Posted: 5 Sep 2015, 9:55:46 UTC

I run PClinuxOS and a number of other Mandrake derived flavours (never really been a fan of Ubuntu and other Debian clones.)

In my experience if you installed the original OS to your /home/<username>/BOINC folder, it's just a matter of copying that folder across.

To be sure, run the BOINC installer script on the new install naming /home/user/BOINC as the home folder (or whatever you used before) and then copy the BOINC folder over.

Depending on the "grunt" of your machine, I also recommend using a light weight desktop such as Mate, rather than KDE or Gnome.

T.A.
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Message 1722510 - Posted: 5 Sep 2015, 10:41:20 UTC

A couple of random thoughts, on posts so far:
o Mint is derived from Ubuntu, so there shouldn't be any problems with BOINC
o I learnt long ago to have (at least) three partition on a Linux machine; /, /home and swap. Then when you change/upgrade the OS everything goes into / and you don't touch /home so all your files are still there. You just need to add or modify your user on the new system to have /home/<user> as the home directory.
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Message 1722513 - Posted: 5 Sep 2015, 11:25:41 UTC - in response to Message 1722510.  
Last modified: 5 Sep 2015, 11:27:07 UTC

Very good comment on the three partitions... That layout is usually the default ("automatic ") install for most Linux distros.

You can then reinstall whatever different distros and keep your home folders in place intact regardless of which distro you update/install...


For boinc, by far the easiest way is to install boinc from the installer/repository for your distro and then attach anew to your projects.

If you are interested enough to copy partially completed work across... Then as already described, instead do the manual install from Berkeley and manually run from your desktop or home folder.

Or for the distro installed version, find where that is and copy across the setiathome project folders. Usual install location is /var/lib/boinc... (Note to set the boinc user and permissions on the files!)


All a very good way to learn how things work and to work things how you want :-)

Have fun!


Happy cool crunchin
Martin
See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)
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Message 1722525 - Posted: 5 Sep 2015, 12:24:30 UTC

Very good comments when it comes to the running of Seti@home.

I still have yet account here. Please do not wait for me regardless of your possible sledge hammer.
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Message 1722584 - Posted: 5 Sep 2015, 17:06:39 UTC

Yes, you can transfer from one Linux distro to another just fine usually. With GPUs these days though, the ability to continue where you left off may be a little.... not exactly straight-forward, but technically speaking, yes, you just need to copy the data directory from the old install to the new install.

In fact, my single core machine started off as Linux back in 2007 and didn't go to Windows until somewhere in the 2010 time frame. I just copied the data folder from the Linux install over to Windows and changed the app_info.xml to reflect the Windows optimized apps instead of the Linux ones. I didn't even wait for the cache to be empty. I just suspended crunching, set no new tasks, no network communication, and then shut BOINC down in Linux, copied the data folder over to Windows, made the necessary changes, and started it back up. The in-progress WU resumed just fine.
Linux laptop:
record uptime: 1511d 20h 19m (ended due to the power brick giving-up)
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Message 1722849 - Posted: 6 Sep 2015, 17:13:47 UTC
Last modified: 6 Sep 2015, 17:14:14 UTC

Thanks a ton for all the input. This really helped.
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Message 1722958 - Posted: 6 Sep 2015, 23:11:47 UTC
Last modified: 6 Sep 2015, 23:12:21 UTC

Hey Vipin, quick off topic question, what prompted you to switch from Zorin OS to Mint? You mentioned that you thought it was easy to handle, are there big differences between them? I tried Redhat in the late 90's and again in the mid 2000's, but it never really clicked with me. I saw Zorin (I think it was version 6 a few years back and donated so I could get the full version. The big thing for me was that it has the traditional Win XP Classic (95?) interface available, which I know and to this day am still most comfortable using, and installed it on a backup machine to play with. Life got busy, and I never really used it much, tried running BOINC on it, seemed to work fine, but then it fell off the plate. Anything you can say about it, and Mint now as well? Thanks!

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Message 1723215 - Posted: 7 Sep 2015, 17:10:11 UTC - in response to Message 1722958.  

Hey Vipin, quick off topic question, what prompted you to switch from Zorin OS to Mint? You mentioned that you thought it was easy to handle, are there big differences between them? I tried Redhat in the late 90's and again in the mid 2000's, but it never really clicked with me. I saw Zorin (I think it was version 6 a few years back and donated so I could get the full version. The big thing for me was that it has the traditional Win XP Classic (95?) interface available, which I know and to this day am still most comfortable using, and installed it on a backup machine to play with. Life got busy, and I never really used it much, tried running BOINC on it, seemed to work fine, but then it fell off the plate. Anything you can say about it, and Mint now as well? Thanks!


Even though I have been using Linux for quite some time now, I still consider myself a rookie. After having tried both Zorin and Mint, I feel that the interface of the latter, especially the Mate version is more user friendly. The menu is almost identical to what you would find on a windows machine and so are most of the applications and settings, or the control panel like setup so to speak. Although identical in their core operations, I felt that Zorin required more user input compared to Mint and thats what made me settle for the Mint Mate. I am yet to try the Cinnamon flavor but from the screen shots and reviews, it is kinda similar.

Previously I have tried Redhat and Fedora, but both of these I feel are for Linux Gurus. Also, installation process for Redhat is way to complex for me.
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Message 1723258 - Posted: 7 Sep 2015, 18:42:55 UTC
Last modified: 7 Sep 2015, 18:44:26 UTC

I have been using Slackware, Unifix, Corel and now SuSE Linux. Unifix had the best printed documentation but it disappeared. I am also running the Scientific Linux from CERN deriving from Red Hat on Virtual Machines both on my Linux boxes and a Windows 10 PC. You don't have to install a Linux VM on a Windows PC. the CERN application takes care of it.
Tullio
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Message 1723549 - Posted: 8 Sep 2015, 13:49:52 UTC

I have 2 pcs. One win 7 and a newer one running win 10. I have tried linux a few times in the past.

I'm thinking of buying a laptop or a tablet or whatever those things are called to run linux. Is it possible to buy one with linux installed? Are there books available that even an adult can understand?

All input greatly appreciated.
Dave Nelson
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Message 1723555 - Posted: 8 Sep 2015, 14:12:57 UTC - in response to Message 1723549.  

A few years aho I bought a HP laptop which had SLES 11 installed, which is a commercial version of Linux by SuSE but I soon changed to OpenSUSE which is free. But the manual downloaded for that laptop (HP 635) spoke mostly of the Windows 7 version. Now SuSE says that in November they will launch a free Linux version based on SLES, which has been developed.
As for books, there must be a "Linux for dummies", I believe.But one learns more by trial and error. Ubuntu is a Linux which is very similar to Windows. It has too many icons for my taste. But the Linux version of BOINC is based on it.
Tullio
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Message 1723562 - Posted: 8 Sep 2015, 14:51:47 UTC

Dell, HP & Lenovo all list laptops with various flavours of Linux pre-installed. These certainly aren't the cheapest of laptop manufacturers, but they do have "global" support networks. I dare say the offering will depend on your local market place, and I wouldn't expect them to be as easy to find as Windross laptops.

There are several books that are supposed to be "for dummies", but how good is an individual book for you? That really is up to you and the fit of a book to your way of reading and working - a visit to a good paper bookshop or library could well save you a large slab of money and a lot of frustration.
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Message 1723575 - Posted: 8 Sep 2015, 15:39:43 UTC - in response to Message 1723555.  
Last modified: 8 Sep 2015, 15:47:52 UTC

A few years aho I bought a HP laptop which had SLES 11 installed, which is a commercial version of Linux by SuSE but I soon changed to OpenSUSE which is free. But the manual downloaded for that laptop (HP 635) spoke mostly of the Windows 7 version. Now SuSE says that in November they will launch a free Linux version based on SLES, which has been developed.
As for books, there must be a "Linux for dummies", I believe.But one learns more by trial and error. Ubuntu is a Linux which is very similar to Windows. It has too many icons for my taste. But the Linux version of BOINC is based on it.
Tullio

Actually Ubuntu is very similar to a Mac. It has a Menu bar, Dock, Home folder, and File system very similar to OSX. It has many icons, but so does OSX. The nice thing about Ubuntu is it has thousands of free apps in the Ubuntu software center that install with a single click of the mouse. For those people just looking for web surfing, mail, and running BOINC you can survive without many command lines. Install BOINC in your Home folder and it's almost the same as working with it in Windows. You don't need any command lines or special permissions, just double click on boincmgr and it works. Actually, it's easier to run BOINC in Ubuntu than it is in OSX or Windows, no Permissions or Hidden folders to deal with. Of course you do need to check for dependencies, and link to the OpenCL library on first setup, but that too is rather painless.
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Message boards : Number crunching : Migration of BOINC within Linux Installations


 
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