THGC Needs You -Team 40051

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thanx EA!
I'm going to use that one straight away!
btw I think you're bound to get more competition 24h-average-wise, as I see cunning coming on strong this week!
cheers!
 
Welcome. 😛 Great to have you.
:trophy: The team has been doing well lately. Ranked 91 and five days away from the top 90 :trophy:

Farm update. I've been having the worst time with the compaq farm, though it has been a great learning experience.

Background: If you haven't read through all the posts here is the synopsis.
I wanted to start a folding farm, but I am basically poor :x So, I bought this eBay auction for 119 Compaq Ipaqs. They came stock with 500Mhz Celerons, Intel 810 chipset and Intel 100NIC (witch support PXE 2.0). I picked up some ram (lol IF anyone needs PC 100 LET ME KNOW) and a few replacement socket 370s (SSE goodness). Total investment < $2000. Plus I'm going to eBay them as refurbs. Anyone need a good file server?

Now for the fun stuff... Software & Config:
There are a few options here, but I chose the Overclockix linux distro. It is based on knoppix (which is based on Debian FYI), so it is a "live CD". If anyone reading is considering overclockix for a farm, you need version 3.4 or LTSP 2.1 (which I am running) NOT 3.7 or 3.79. You run the CD, and it boots linux. Install it to the hard drive and your off and running (detailed instructions are at http://overclockix.octeams.com/How_to_setup_a_Folding_Farm.htm). Then clients boot a small linux kernal and start folding. You specify the client.cfg file just like you would for windows (including checkpoint interval :tongue: @ jaimegmr). They can be tailored for individual clients or it uses the default one on the server. Overclockix uses wine (windows emulator) to fold, and the directories are shared by default, which makes upgrading and monitoring easy.

My network: I have verizon DSL (soon to be comcast 😀 ) using a westell 2200 modem/router with DHCP turned off. I started using a cheap gigafast 8 port switch initially. Everything worked well. I had my Main rig (SFF aopen XCcube w Athlon64 3000+ C'd to 2.2ish ), The server, iPaq with p3 1000 with a 5 gig HD, and a few diskless clients.
I still had one problem: 119 computers 5 available ports.

I ordered a Netgear FS750T 48 port "smart" (I use that word VERY lightly) switch with two gigabyte uplinks since my main rig that I monitor with has a gigabyte NIC. This was a considerable investment comparatively.

Then the problems started.

For a while I couldn't figure out what the issue was. The clients refused to boot from it or very slowly when they did. (5-19 minutes compared to 30 seconds on the cheapo switch). So I was booting on the switch and then moving it to the Netgear. That sorta worked. Sometimes. I reset the switch. I upgraded the firmware and software for the Netgear. Nothing. I can plug my Main rig in at 1gig speeds and my internet connection or the iPaq server (@100megs) and the speed was intolerable. Webpages loaded slower than a 56k dialup, and windows explorer would crash if I tried to access the server share files. In my expert opinion: this netgear is a POS (piece of $hit). I've tried contacting Netgear, but their customer support sucks ("your hold time is greater than 30minutes"). So I dug up another 8 port deal (gotta love quantity discounts from www.newegg.com, especially on combined shipping).
Right now I have 1 server and 18 clients. Some of them are on the netgear still, and they have problems.

If anyone has experience with a similar switch, let me know. I'm going to try customer support again soon.

I'd really like to get 50 or so up and running, before I ebay them, just to do it. Hell if the production is high enough, and my electric bill is low enough (they have 90 watt PSUs, and so far, so good $10 bump this month) I might keep them. Especially if my eBay profit pays for the whole shabang.

Thanks to everyone that has supported me in this project.

BTW jaimegmr hows your farm going?
 
hi cunning, I really enjoyed reading your post!
:lol: "smart" - I use that term very lightly! :lol:
I don't want to step on your toes, but if it's the first 48port-switch, you're configuring, you should be looking @ this "smart" configuring as the most likely source of error! Unfortunately I never did this myself, so I just can give you these everyday tipps, such as:
you sure, they are all in the same subnet mask? gateway? all protocolls (TCP/IP) properly installed on the clients? etc. (can't think up of anything else, really, but there's got to be a lot!) edit: "autonegotiate" also has disadvantages afaiknow!
well thanks for the update and good luck with this POS (I like that expression)-Switch! 😀
 
If it is a so called "smart" switch there must be some configuring that you can do on the switch itself. Check if there is a console or serial connector on the back of the switch.

Also, you could check to see if the switch is assigned an IP address. Some managed switches configure their own IP and might have a web console that you can change settings.

Mostly speculation as we don't know what model it is. Unless POS classifies as a model number :)
 
hey! POS wasn't the only detail cunning provided us; he posted some cnet-link to his switch, here is the netgear link to his product. I assume it takes an IP automatically, as there should be a webbased way to configure it; I'm just not sure, which details are important. :?
 
One other thought I had was that maybe there is a problem with the switch between the 1000 and 100 ports. Did you try to hook everything up using only the 10/100 ports? Does it work any different?
 
Sorry about the link; I usually try for the PDF user guides. If you missed it it is a Netgear model FS750T product link here

I bit the bullet and called tech support. They were supposed to call me back (higher level of tech support), but haven't yet. "Day vill caw you cack in von hour." It's been three.
The big problem for me (aside from networking not being my forte) is that googling has turned up nothing for me. I'd actually prefer to fix it myself and learn something in the process.

@ EA & stefan
The switch has a web based interface. It requires an IP, that I have statically set through my DSL router. I have turned off all of the "smart" features: Vlan, DHCP, Trunking, QoS, etc. I have tried 100 only ports. The ports are set on auto negotiate. Part of the tech's walkthrough was having me set them to 10megs half & what not. Still not much luck.
What are the disadvantage to auto negotiate?
The only thing that isn't default config is the static IP. I suppose I could try to set all the ports @ 10 and see what happens. Here's the thing: I have two 10-$20 8 port switches doing a great job right now @ 100mg Full. Why can't a $400 switch do the same thing? I actually splurged for the gig uplink because my main rig supports it, and I was going to add a file server to the other one. Overkill maybe, but why not?

Stupid question, maybe, but are the ports on equipment like this "hot pluggable". On my small switches, I pull out one cord and put something else on it and it keeps on ticking, timex style. The first time I set it up was from scratch. As soon as it became obvious that the clients couldn't boot on it (that *huge* 20meg file took about 15 minutes to transfer over 100meg ethernet if the client didn't time out), I used the small switch to boot, and then plugged it into the netgear. I know I reset the switch at least once and started from there, but I'm not sure If I shut down all of my machines. Does it matter? The big problem is the iPaq server. If I shut that down I have to reboot all of the clients. That is a pain in the a$$, but it would give me an excuse to upgrade all of the clients CPUs, I guess :?

At this point I'm thinking of sending it back, and buying random 12 & 8 port switches from newegg. Half of them are free with mail in rebates. Plus I could probably make better use of them later if the farm ever gets disassembled. It seemed simple enough to assume (what happens when we assume? It makes an ASS out of U and ME) that one 50 port switch would work better than six 10 port switches. What was I thinking?

Any advise would be appreciated.
 
I see how it is. Use my sig, and then dump me when a better one comes along. To think I cleaned it up just for you
:evil: Traitor :!:




:lol: J/K :lol:


BTW Who do you have to blow to get a "folding" section in this forum?
We are ranked in the top hundred in the world and the forumz do not even have a folding specific area WTF?

If I wanted to join the team, and I went to the forumz (I hate that z), I would have to go to Hardware->CPU to find a sticky :?:

It's hard to believe that we have any new recruits at all. How many people have lurked here and then posted "hey, I just found this thread and I started folding." Perhaps it's because the folding team is practically invisible.

Personally, I started folding to get a little respect (hey I'm doing something for the team), before I ever posted here, although I lurked for a year or so and reading THG for several.

Just my $.02. What do you guys think?
 
I have never really heard such problems from a switch. They are usually nothing much to configure. You might have bad hardware.

If you're not going to use any of the "smart" features ie Vlan, QoS, etc you might be better off with a "dumb" switch or 2x24 switches. 24 porters are getting cheaper, I picked up some Linksys 24 10/100s for around 100-120US$. They were pretty much plug and go.
 
True Cunning, I see other teams with a "folding" section on thier forums. This thread is getting huge! I wouldn't want to read through it from the beginning.
 
That's what I thought. Then I started thinking maybe the "business grade" equipment was different, and I was missing the boat. It may work with all of the ports set to 10 half (my next test), why should I settle for that? Even though it would probably work for what I need, it is not what I paid for.

I see an RMA in my future.
 
I ended up setting up Overclockix LTSP 2.1 under Virtual PC. It works fine but sometimes when I reboot, or shutdown the virtual pc, it loses network/server configuration and I have to set up the network card and the DHCP/TFTP servers up again in Overclockix LTSP 2.1. This is probably not the best way to be running it but it works. It uses up some of my main memory, but its ok since I have 1GB.

I currently have 2 machines folding, my server (Athlon xp 2500@2.15GHz) and a Duron 750 (with 256MB RAM) which is booting from the linux server. I think it would be better to buy a faster processor for this one than to add another machine. What do you think? I might eventually add another 1 or 2 machines but for now this should do.
 
I've run into a problem. I'm on the team, but I upgraded to Win XP-64 and I can't find a 64 bit program for Folding@Home. ANy suggestions? did i miss it or do they just not have one?

EDIT: Nvm the install was just acting up.
 
back to having our own area, I have to admit, If I hadn't seen this thread pop up on the forum ticker on the thg homepage, I would never have known about it. I had heard of the SETI distributed computing deal, but not this.
you've got my vote

This in my opinion is a much more down to earth (pun intended) effort than the seti project and i'm happy to be able to provide a few clock cycles to a cause such as this. :wink:

and as for your networking problem, I'm not sure how to solve the smart switch dilemma but try this link for some less expensive gear, scroll down and you'll see some decent prices on multi port switches

http://www.dumpinggoods.com/dumpinggoods/items.asp?CartId=112-ACCWARE-85603CKOSO90&Cc=NETWORK
 
I see how it is. Use my sig, and then dump me when a better one comes along. To think I cleaned it up just for you
Click to expand...
8O
BTW Who do you have to blow to get a "folding" section in this forum?
Click to expand...
I just know, the name is Freddy. Aaron would be another name that comes to my mind.
And: good idea! I support it, but I'm not sure we'll easily fill it with content without to much plagiarism; however, I'm willing to help! I concede that this sticky is nice (it's better than having to bump the thread regularly) but it's not really usable! there is a lot of info in this thread wich is repeated over and over again, because (understandable) people don't want to read through the whole thread before they start folding!
In the old forum layout there has been a section called "distributed computing" but since it was hidden somewhere, no one really used it. I remember sjonnie has compiled a nice howto and the section can be found here. The big advantage of this sticky is that it's really easy to find, since its always the first option!
What are the disadvantage to auto negotiate?
Click to expand...
if one side (client) has a bad network-connection, the whole system switches to this lowest bandwith. we had this issue once with a gigabit/100mbit router which always "auto-negotiated" to 100mbit just because one client of (not sure, probably) 8 didn't have the gigabit-link!
"hot pluggable"
Click to expand...
sorry, no experience in this respect, it sure reads like a Q&D solution to me; hope you don't mind me being so plain. :roll:
cheers!
 
Actually your experiances with that netgear switch is why I stick with linksys routing hardware.

I got an 8port netgear hub and a 10/100 nic to go with it. Right out of the box the 2 would NOT talk. each would sit and auto-negotiate forever.
I finally ended up giving the thing to some sucker at a lan party. good riddance :)

and add my vote to a 'folding' forum. I stumbled across this thread a while back and at first I was "wtf is folding?" But this is much more productive than the seti project I tried for a little bit.
 
Im gettin worried, a couple of people like mr entityanomoly are rocketing up behind me...
must have a fair few CPU's at their disposal!
Click to expand...

You'd better be. After a week and a half I'm up to 6 done and
334 of 400 done on a 7th. My old 3400+ is working overtime.
I'm coming baby! Ha!
 
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