[CentOS] More Folding At Home

Tue Feb 2 01:26:52 UTC 2016
Fred Smith <fredex at fcshome.stoneham.ma.us>

On Mon, Feb 01, 2016 at 06:23:26PM -0500, Mark LaPierre wrote:
> On 01/31/16 22:10, Fred Smith wrote:
> > On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 09:42:43PM -0500, Mark LaPierre wrote:
> >> On 12/30/15 23:03, Mark LaPierre wrote:
> >>> Hey Y'all,
> >>>
> >>> I have the Stanford University Folding At Home project running on three
> >>> of my machines.  I had them all set up so that I could control them all
> >>> from my main machine, 192.168.15.101, but some time ago something
> >>> changed so that I can no longer connect to the FAH clients on the other
> >>> two machines.  I figured it wasn't really important so I would look into
> >>> it later.  Well time has passed and my Christmas break is almost passed
> >>> too to I guess this is the time to figure it out.
> >>>
> >>> I can still SSH onto both machines.  I can ping both machines.
> >>>
> >>> When I open the FAH Control on my machine connection to clients running
> >>> on 192.168.15.105 and 192.168.15.107 fails.
> >>>
> >>> I'm assuming that there would be an entry in a log on those two machines
> >>> detailing the failed connection attempt.
> >>>
> >>> What log file should I be looking at?
> >>>
> >>
> >> Hey CentOS FAH team members.  Do any of you have a GPU that is actually
> >> folding in CentOS 6?
> > 
> > I tried GPU folding in Centos-6, but the FAH log file showed continuous
> > errors for the GPU (which was, at the time a Nvidia n460GTX). Inquiries
> > on the FAH forums indicated that there are library incompatibilities 
> > on Centos-6 and that it would be difficult or impossible to make it
> > work.
> > 
> > I eventually upgraded to Centos-7 and then easily got GPU folding to
> > work on the same video card without difficulty.
> > 
> > FYI, I had previously (couple of years ago) attempted GPU folding on 
> > C6 using a 9800GT, and was told (again, on the FAH forums) that that
> > GPU was no longer supported. I'd guess that your 9600GT is also too
> > old.
> > 
> > Here's the FAH forum thread on that GPU compatibility issue:
> > https://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=25284&p=252427&hilit=9800GT#p252427
> > 
> > I've recently replaced the 460GTX with a new 750ti card, and found
> > two amazing benefits:
> > 1. according to my KillaWatt meter, the computer's power draw dropped from
> > 275-295 watts to 190-195 watts,
> > 2. my PPD total per week has gone from around 200K to more like 400K.
> >    In fact, the last 3 weeks have all been around 440K, some slightly
> >    lower, some a little higher.
> > 
> > The 750ti was a fairly cheap card, at $129.
> > 
> >> If you do please tell me exactly what video card and what driver you are
> >> using?
> > 
> > I'm using the Nvidia 340 driver from the elrepo repository. Be sure to
> > install the dkms package from epel before installing these nvidia drivers.
> > 
> >>
> >> I have a GeForce 9600 GT card that will not fold.  FAH finds the GPU and
> >> sets up a slot for it but it always says "Update Core" in the slot
> >> status field with zero progress.  I'm not happy with that.
> > 
> > See above for compatibility comments on this card.
> > 
> 
> Thanks for the input Fred.
> 
> The GeForce 9600 GT is listed in the GPUs.txt file as of Jan 20.  It
> should be compatible but I guess it won't work on C6 though.  I'm not in
> any hurry to move to C7.
> 

Mark:

You'll note that the 9800GT is listed there, too. nevertheless it isn't
supported.  I was told that current GPU software required a Nividia 
Fermi or later GPU, which leaves out the entire 9xxx series. See

http://nouveau.freedesktop.org/wiki/CodeNames/

Re upgrading to C7, I can see how you may be nervous about that, given
the number of things changed. I just upgraded my personal desktop during
Christmas week, seeing as how I never rush into upgrading to a new version
until it has had time to "settle". There are  a lot of differences, but
i'm learning to deal with them. When my old system gets old enough that
a lot of newer stuff will no longer build, then it's time for me to do
the deed. then all I have to do is steel myself up for a week of putting
it all back together. :)

good luck, Mark!

Fred

-- 
---- Fred Smith -- fredex at fcshome.stoneham.ma.us -----------------------------
   "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged 
   sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; 
              it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  
---------------------------- Hebrews 4:12 (niv) ------------------------------