Mixed results from new Android hosts.

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Profile Keith T.
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Message 1920047 - Posted: 20 Feb 2018, 2:16:24 UTC
Last modified: 20 Feb 2018, 2:33:22 UTC

I have recently attached 3 Android devices, all 3 have produced Some Valid Results, but I have also had several Computation Errors.

I noticed that at least one of the boxes is getting Tasks for several different Applications.

My computers are visible.

The 3 devices are all different:

Acer B3-A20 Android 5.1https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/results.php?hostid=8451284

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.0 Android 4.2.2https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/results.php?hostid=8462799

T95Z plus TV box, Android 7.1.2 https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/results.php?hostid=8463793

How can I reduce the number of Errors ?

It appears that many of them are happening because of Applications that are not compatible.

The BOINC version is the same on all 3 hosts, latest available on Google Play, although I have read that older versions may be more reliable ?
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Message 1920056 - Posted: 20 Feb 2018, 3:03:55 UTC - in response to Message 1920047.  

Nothing you can do with the Android apps until BOINC sends you every application and maybe in a year will sort out which one is the fastest and most reliable. Just forget about them and don't worry.
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Message 1920059 - Posted: 20 Feb 2018, 3:17:56 UTC - in response to Message 1920056.  

Nothing you can do with the Android apps until BOINC sends you every application and maybe in a year will sort out which one is the fastest and most reliable. Just forget about them and don't worry.


That doesn't seem to be a very efficient way of doing things!
I have been away from SETI for a few years, only recently returned.

I used to run Optimized apps in the past on Windows XP

Why do I get sent Tasks or Apps that instantly result in errors, but I also get Tasks and Apps that produce Valid Results ?
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Message 1920062 - Posted: 20 Feb 2018, 3:43:50 UTC - in response to Message 1920059.  

Blame the ancient BOINC scheduler code that hasn't been updated in over 5 years. No money - no developers = no progress.

I have 3 Android devices and I have my phone that tries 12 different applications every few days. Most, like you have observed, have never returned a single valid result. Yet the scheduler still sends me those tasks. It is broken, just accept it and not worry about it.
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Message 1921206 - Posted: 26 Feb 2018, 0:48:57 UTC

Thanks for the replies Keith.

My Octa (Octo) Core TV box https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/show_host_detail.php?hostid=8463793 is now producing reliable results.

I am a little bit concerned that BOINC doesn't Suspend correctly when I want to use it for normal use !
I have tried various different preferences for the last few days.
I have also allowed all 8 cores to crunch data, and I can still listen to internet radio at the same time, without any glitches.
However, if I try to watch YouTube or Netflix etc, I have to Suspend BOINC Manually first, or everything freezes.
I have tried setting CPU Usage limits as low as 30%, Got slightly better results by setting CPU Time limit to 80 or 90%

If anyone else is thinking of getting a low cost Android TV box from eBay or similar, you could do a lot worse than this box.
Some sellers are still selling Quad Core TV boxes for almost the same price !
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Message 1921251 - Posted: 26 Feb 2018, 2:40:09 UTC - in response to Message 1921206.  

I normally never mess with the Project Compute Preferences and leave them default. I have never seen them work the way they are described to work. I find it easier to limit the amount of cpu work that the project attempts by using the <project_max_concurrent> setting in an app_config file or a statement in app_info.

Gives me finer control over system resources and I never have BOINC ever hog the system resources so that it impacts daily driving or YouTube video playback or whatever.
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Message 1921372 - Posted: 26 Feb 2018, 17:08:37 UTC - in response to Message 1920047.  
Last modified: 26 Feb 2018, 17:09:04 UTC

How can I reduce the number of Errors ?


on ARM i am NOT much crunch at seti wu tasks. They take too long. ;D

But i know why some boxes deliver errors in computation. They getting too hot at 2.0ghz.

The solution for me was active cooling, i buyed a three floor wooden rack.

Every floor take 8 to 10 smart boxes, cooling comes with 80x80 cooling fans by
5 volt and 1 ampere power supply. this lasts for 4 devices to cool on one
EU charger.

Fans running slowly but cooling lasts for every device. They are connected with
molex connectors.
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Message 1921471 - Posted: 27 Feb 2018, 0:05:54 UTC - in response to Message 1920047.  


How can I reduce the number of Errors ?

It appears that many of them are happening because of Applications that are not compatible.

If you think you spotted pattern, just manually abort tasks that were assigned to faulty plan class. Then you will dry quota for that particular plan class much faster and will continue with remaining working ones.
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We're not gonna fight them. We're gonna transcend them.
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Message boards : Number crunching : Mixed results from new Android hosts.


 
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