The Web Design Group

... Making the Web accessible to all.

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

2 Pages V  1 2 >  
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> The HTMLHelp Folding@Home Team - 51056, Help cure cancer
John Pozadzides
post Aug 22 2006, 06:08 PM
Post #1


WDG Founder
******

Group: Root Admin
Posts: 529
Joined: 3-August 06
From: Magnolia, TX
Member No.: 2



Attached ImageAttached ImageAttached Image

One month ago I announced the formation of the new Folding@HTMLHelp team (# 51056), in support of the distributed computing program at Stanford University. Researchers at Stanford have devised a unique program which allows individuals to help by running a small application on their PCs at home that runs unobtrusively in the background.

There are nearly 45,000 teams participating in this project with over 1,000,000 PCs processing data. I'm proud to announce that in the past month the Folding@HTMLHelp team has gone from last place to the top 10% of contributing teams.

Here are some links to current projects and progress to date:Please take a few minutes to learn more about Folding@Home and then install the tiny application which will quietly run in the background when you aren't using your machine. There are versions for Windows, Linux and Mac and you can even set the application to run as a screensaver so you can see it at work.

I believe that the HTMLHelp team can make a greater impact towards finding a cure than any other team! And to help us get started we are going to have some custom team T-shirts created.

The first 500 team members to submit 20 Work Units will receive a team T-shirt! The shirts have not yet been designed, but as soon as we have a prototype we'll post photos for all to drool over. (If you want to submit a design for consideration, please do!) In order to claim your shirt you only need to do two things (other than using team #51056 of course):
  • Please make sure that your HTMLHelp Forum user name is the same name you use in the Folding program! If your name is already taken and you choose another name you must reply to this thread to document the user name you've chosen. That will allow us to ensure that someone else doesn't claim your work and also your free shirt!
  • Please enter your mailing address into your profile here on the forums. Don't worry, it is only visible to WDG staff, and we will never sell it, give it away or do anything to betray your trust. We just want to send you a shirt! smile.gif
Thanks for your support! Now lets get Folding!
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
John Pozadzides
post Nov 24 2006, 03:53 AM
Post #2


WDG Founder
******

Group: Root Admin
Posts: 529
Joined: 3-August 06
From: Magnolia, TX
Member No.: 2



Folks,

Due to the apparant lack of interest from our user community in this program, I'm withdrawing the plan for T-shirts. Without a larger number of participants it simply wouldn't make sense to try to order a bunch of shirts for this project.

Having said that, I am pleased to report that the HTMLHelp Folding Team has managed to move into a ranking of 1,689 out of 46,663 teams. That puts us in the top 3.5% of teams contribuing to this worthwhile cause.

I would still encourage anyone that would like to participate to join us and donate some spare computing power. I can tell you that I've been running the FAH app on my computer in the background for months and it has never interfered with the performance of anything else I've been doing.

John
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
John Pozadzides
post Nov 24 2006, 03:59 AM
Post #3


WDG Founder
******

Group: Root Admin
Posts: 529
Joined: 3-August 06
From: Magnolia, TX
Member No.: 2



Out of curiosity, does anyone have suggestions for how to get more people interested in contributing to this project? What would make it worth people's while?

How about if we had a member group called something like "WDG Folding Team" (linked to the team page) and move members who contribute into that group so it appears under their name / Avatar?
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
Darin McGrew
post Nov 24 2006, 11:54 AM
Post #4


WDG Member
********

Group: Root Admin
Posts: 8,365
Joined: 4-August 06
From: Mountain View, CA
Member No.: 3



This isn't the first "donate spare CPU cycles" program that I've seen. I don't participate because I don't leave my home computer on when I'm not using it, and because I can't install it on my employer's computers (which run 24/7).
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
Dr Z
post Nov 27 2006, 07:50 PM
Post #5


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 221
Joined: 23-August 06
Member No.: 11



Quick question to John:

How much internet connection time needed vs CPU "on" time needed?

I can leave my computer on, for allpractical ouroses 24/7! However, I only have a diai-up connection, and my connection time to the internet is very limited.

Please advise.
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
John Pozadzides
post Nov 30 2006, 05:45 PM
Post #6


WDG Founder
******

Group: Root Admin
Posts: 529
Joined: 3-August 06
From: Magnolia, TX
Member No.: 2



QUOTE(Dr Z @ Nov 27 2006, 06:50 PM) *
How much internet connection time needed vs CPU "on" time needed?

I can leave my computer on, for allpractical ouroses 24/7! However, I only have a diai-up connection, and my connection time to the internet is very limited.

Dr. Z,

The vast majority of the time the application is not using Internet connectivity. It spends 99% of the time crunching numbers. When it has completed a task it then needs to upload the results and download a new work unit.

I've noticed that on my broadband connection it usually takes only a few seconds to upload or download, so I think we're only talking about +/- 1MB of data each time or something like that? But I can't find the average update size anywhere.

According to the F@H FAQ:
QUOTE
At this time, there may be problems if your computer is only connected to the Internet sporadically. We are working on better support for these cases. Only the console version currently works at all over a modem connection, and there still may occasionally be a few bugs with that.

So, you would need to install the Console client as opposed to the GUI, and you can find them both on the download page.

John
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
Dr Z
post Dec 1 2006, 12:16 AM
Post #7


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 221
Joined: 23-August 06
Member No.: 11



Thank you John!

I will try to download and do whatever is necessary, as soon as I can get a few spare moments ( as my wife puts it I may have to give up my bathromm privilages!)

I am not being lazy, but would appreciate you lhelping with some steps.... when I sign up where the team "identification" comes up, what to enter. and I remember your note tto sign up with the same user name that of this BBS.

Please advise and/or correct.

Thank you again for your reply
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
John Pozadzides
post Dec 28 2006, 11:54 PM
Post #8


WDG Founder
******

Group: Root Admin
Posts: 529
Joined: 3-August 06
From: Magnolia, TX
Member No.: 2



QUOTE(Dr Z @ Nov 30 2006, 11:16 PM) *
I am not being lazy, but would appreciate you lhelping with some steps.... when I sign up where the team "identification" comes up, what to enter. and I remember your note tto sign up with the same user name that of this BBS.


Wow! Sorry, but I just noticed this a month late. sad.gif

The install is actually quite simple. After you download the application from here, install it, and launch it you'll have a little red icon in your system tray that looks like a little gear.Attached Image

If you right click on it and select CONFIGURE the first thing that pops up will be the screen to put your user name and the team number in (51056).
Attached Image


After that, you're all done! At any time you can right click on that little icon and then select STATUS --> TEAM STATISTICS to see how we're doing. The last time I checked we had made it up to 1,500 out of about 47,000 teams. We can certainly use all the help we can get!

Thanks,

John
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
pandy
post Dec 29 2006, 01:55 AM
Post #9


🌟Computer says no🌟
********

Group: WDG Moderators
Posts: 20,716
Joined: 9-August 06
Member No.: 6



John, I think dr Z is asking what to enter in the team field. It's 51056, right? huh.gif
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
Frederiek
post Dec 29 2006, 05:16 AM
Post #10


Programming Fanatic
********

Group: Members
Posts: 5,146
Joined: 23-August 06
From: Europe
Member No.: 9



QUOTE(pandy @ Dec 29 2006, 07:55 AM) *
John, I think dr Z is asking what to enter in the team field. It's 51056, right? huh.gif

Yep.

Are you folding, Pandy?

For Mac OS X users, go see InCrease (http://calxalot.net/InCrease/ or http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/16999), a GUI for installing, configuring, monitoring, and controlling the Folding@home command-line client.
Comes in real handy.
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
pandy
post Dec 29 2006, 03:02 PM
Post #11


🌟Computer says no🌟
********

Group: WDG Moderators
Posts: 20,716
Joined: 9-August 06
Member No.: 6



Nope, afraid not.
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
Dr Z
post Jan 4 2007, 07:39 PM
Post #12


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 221
Joined: 23-August 06
Member No.: 11



Thank you John!

I just downloaded and installed it.
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
John Pozadzides
post Jan 23 2007, 03:55 AM
Post #13


WDG Founder
******

Group: Root Admin
Posts: 529
Joined: 3-August 06
From: Magnolia, TX
Member No.: 2



Just as an FYI. The Folding team is up to # 1,404 of 47269. This means we've broken the top 3% of teams, but the progress has really slowed. I'm guessing that we're now competing with the other teams that are fairly serious...
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
John Pozadzides
post Apr 16 2007, 11:47 PM
Post #14


WDG Founder
******

Group: Root Admin
Posts: 529
Joined: 3-August 06
From: Magnolia, TX
Member No.: 2



Another update, we're now up to #1186 of 61017, which puts us in the top 1.9% of all teams!

I have to say that Dr. Z is rocking out with 29 WUs so far, but what the heck is up with Frederick?!? 9,000+ points with only 6 work units! Are you running a CRAY or something? Those must be some massive WU's and that must be a heck of a machine you're crunching them on.

John
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
Frederiek
post Apr 17 2007, 09:41 AM
Post #15


Programming Fanatic
********

Group: Members
Posts: 5,146
Joined: 23-August 06
From: Europe
Member No.: 9



I use Increase on a Mac Mini, which provides me to pause folding temporarily. I just recently changed Mac's, so reinstalled Increase. On my old iMac, I tried things to see what happened, as I'm totally unfamiliar with these terminal-like things. I don't even know what you're talking about when saying "9,000+ points with only 6 work units". biggrin.gif

It's been a while now since I last folded, specially when I run several memoryheavy apps at the same time. But, I'll be back as I find this a very good initiative!
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
John Pozadzides
post Apr 17 2007, 11:45 AM
Post #16


WDG Founder
******

Group: Root Admin
Posts: 529
Joined: 3-August 06
From: Magnolia, TX
Member No.: 2



QUOTE(Frederiek @ Apr 17 2007, 09:41 AM) *

I don't even know what you're talking about when saying "9,000+ points with only 6 work units". biggrin.gif

Well, just take a look at the team statistics and you'll see that it shows everyone's stats stack ranked. Your stats are way off the chart for some reason.

A work unit is one of the pieces of data that your machine pulls down from the Stanford servers, processes, and then uploads the results. You get a different number of points for each work unit completed based upon the size and complexity of that WU. For example, you might do 3 small Work Units for a total of 500 points, or you might do one medium sized one for the same amount.

If you look at your own numbers, your WU to points ratio is off the chart compared to everyone else! This either means that you have such a fast computer that they are sending you massive WUs to complete, or that your computer is just taking a very long time to complete each WU.

It's possible that you've checked the option in your folding client that says something like "allow receipt of large work units", but I've also got that checked and I haven't see the same results. So, either way it's a mystery. Especially if you're running it on a Mac Mini!

I'm just appreciative that you are participating in this project whenever possible.

Take care,

John
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
Frederiek
post Apr 17 2007, 01:04 PM
Post #17


Programming Fanatic
********

Group: Members
Posts: 5,146
Joined: 23-August 06
From: Europe
Member No.: 9



I understand what a work unit is and how it works, but not all options on the folding client. I left all options unchanged, as far as I remember. And I don't think I called for any special sized WU either. BTW, all that ran on the iMac, so probably it ran slow. I have hardly run Increase on the Mac Mini yet, just to set it up.

I'm a very careful person, suspicious of any unknown apps on my computer, but I really hope solutions will be found for those illnesses, if not for us, then at least for our children.

Take care, you too

Frederiek
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
Effovex
post Apr 20 2007, 08:47 PM
Post #18


Serious Coder
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 251
Joined: 6-January 07
From: Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada
Member No.: 1,477



My stats do not appear to be updating nor counting for the team. I did a huge WU with the console version (250,000 frames) but it wouldn't register my name, so I uninstalled it, and then installed the graphical client. Which appears to be working and using my username, but I've done two WUs and yet my username doesn't even appear on the page.

sad.gif
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
Effovex
post Apr 21 2007, 07:33 AM
Post #19


Serious Coder
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 251
Joined: 6-January 07
From: Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada
Member No.: 1,477



Okay, it finally updated. Took a while.
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post
Frederiek
post Apr 22 2007, 04:02 AM
Post #20


Programming Fanatic
********

Group: Members
Posts: 5,146
Joined: 23-August 06
From: Europe
Member No.: 9



Welcome to the folding team, Effovex!
Glad to see long time forum members joining the folding.

Take care.
User is offlinePM
Go to the top of the page
Toggle Multi-post QuotingQuote Post

2 Pages V  1 2 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic
3 User(s) are reading this topic (3 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 



- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 18th March 2024 - 10:43 PM