[Folding Guide] Installing the Windows SMP (CPU) client

zodac · 17-09-2010 4:25pm #1

Source: http://www.overclock.net/folding-home-guides-tutorials/682249-windows-7-setting-up-smp-client.html

This guide will cover how to install the SMP client, and how to configure it to receive SMP2 or -bigadv WUs (for CPUs with 8 or more cores/threads). It will also cover how to set up HFM.NET to monitor the client, as well as how to use TrayIt! to minimise the SMP client to the system tray.

This version of the SMP client folds WUs which have bonus points. To receive these bonus points, you must first fold 10 eligible WUs. After these 10 are completed, you will start getting a bonus from each WU completed before the Preferred Deadline. The also bonus depends on how fast you finish it, so the faster it's compelted, the bigger the points boost you will get.
Again, you will need to submit 10 SMP WUs before you begin getting bonus points.

SMP Guide:

Files Needed:

1) Windows SMP Client. The 6th client in the list, under "SMP2 client console version".
(Direct Link)

2) HFM.NET. Under "Featured Downloads".
(Direct Link)

3) TrayIt!. Optional. Used to minimise the console to the system tray.
(Direct Link)

Prerequisites:

1) Make sure the account is an Administrator.

2) Request a folding passkey from Stanford from here. This is necessary for WU bonuses. If you lose your passkey, request a new one using the same donor name and email address, and the same passkey will be emailed to you.

Installation:

1) Go to C> Users> [Your User]. Create a new folder called "Folding".

2) Extract the contents of the .zip file you downloaded into this new folder.

3) Make a shortcut of the Folding@home-Win32-x86.exe file into the "Startup" Folder in the Start Menu. Rightclick the shortcut and choose Properties. At the end of the "Target" field, add a space and -smp, as below:

i7 users, if you wish to Fold -bigadv WUs, add the -bigadv flag after -smp (with a space). It should look like this:
Folding@home-Win32-x86.exe" -smp -bigadv

However, if this is your first time Folding, only Fold normal SMP WUs for the first 10 WUs. Then, you will qualify for bonuses, and then add the -bigadv flag.

Configuration:

4) Run the shortcut (not the application itself). You'll now be asked to enter some information. Press "Enter" unless the answers are in bold.

User name [Anonymous]? [Your Folding Name]
Team Number [0]? 39432
Passkey []? [Your Passkey]
Ask before fetching/sending work <no/yes> [no]?
Use proxy <yes/no> [no]?
Acceptable size of work assignment and work result packets <bigger units may have large memory demands> -- 'small' is <5MB, 'normal' is <10MB, and 'big' is >10MB <small/normal/big> [normal]? big
Change advanced options <yes/no> [no]? yes
Core Priority <idle/low> [idle]?
CPU usage requested <5-100> [100]?
Disable highly optimized assembly code <no/yes> [no]?
Pause if better power is being used <useful for laptops> <no/yes> [no]?
Interval, in minutes, between checkpoints -30> [15]? 3
Memory, in MB, to indicate <xxxx available> [xxxx]?
Set -advmethods flag always, requesting new advanced scientific cores and/or work units if available <no/yes> [no]? yes
Ignore any deadline information <mainly useful if system clock frequently has errors> <no/yes> [no]?
Machine ID <1-16> [1]?
Launch automatically, install as a service in this directory <yes/no> [no]?
*The following options require you to restart the client before they take effect
Disable CPU affinity lock <no/yes> [no]?
Additional client parameters []?
IP address to bind core to <for viewer> []?

A picture in case you need a reference (note the "-smp" argument):

5) You're now ready to fold! You should start getting FahCore_a3 WUs now. Once you've completed 10 of these WUs, you'll start getting bonus points.

6) If you wish to change your settings at a later date (change username, add passkey, etc), simply add the -configonly flag in place of the -smp flag. When you run the client it will go through the set up again, then close. Now put the -smp flag back in and you're sorted.

Take a look below on how to configure HFM.NET and TrayIt!.

zodac · 17-09-2010 4:25pm

HFM.NET Guide:

1) Install HFM.NET.

2) Here's what you're first presented with:

Now click on Clients> Add Client. Fill in the following information.
Instance Name: [Your choice]
CPU Frequency, in Mhz: [Your CPU speed]
Log Folder: C:\Users\[Your User]\Folding\
It should look like this:

3) To save the client information, you'll need to save a configuration file.
Click File> Save Configuration:

Save it in the install location (just to keep it out of the way). Now you need to configure HFM.NET to load that file each time it starts.

4) Go to Edit> Preferences> Startup tab> Check "Load Configuration File" and select the config file you just saved ("Startup" options are optional):

And now you're done. HFM also has a column that keeps a record of how many of that WU you've already completed, so you'll know when you've finished the 10 WUs.

Check below for TrayIt! information.

zodac · 17-09-2010 4:26pm

TrayIt! Guide:

1) Extract the files from the zip file to a folder of your choice (C> Program Files> TrayIt! works quite nicely ).

2) Run the TrayIt!.exe, ignore the Windows warning, and press OK on the Welcome screen. Make sure the SMP client is running.

3) Rightclick the SMP client and choose "Place in System Tray":

4) To save this, go to Edit> Options. Check the "Always start minimized" and "Load TrayIt! at Startup" boxes:

Now minimise TrayIt! and you'll never need to see it again. Simply double click the protein icon in the system tray to open the SMP client again.

[Folding Guide] Installing the Windows SMP (CPU) client

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