The Scottish Boinc Team

Posted: **Sat Feb 23, 2019 10:41 pm**

Hi guys,

I have seperate computing preferences for each project preassigned for each host. For some reason one of my hosts is utilising only 2 cores out of 4.

Below is copy of global_prefs.xml file

Code: Select all

<global_preferences>

<source_project>http://asteroidsathome.net/boinc/</source_project>
    <source_scheduler>http://asteroidsathome.net/boinc_cgi/cgi</source_scheduler>

<mod_time>1550933419</mod_time>
<max_ncpus_pct>100</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_usage_limit>100</cpu_usage_limit>
<run_on_batteries>0</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>1</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>1</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>3</idle_time_to_run>
<suspend_if_no_recent_input>0</suspend_if_no_recent_input>
<suspend_cpu_usage>0</suspend_cpu_usage>
<work_buf_min_days>1</work_buf_min_days>
<work_buf_additional_days>0.5</work_buf_additional_days>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<disk_interval>60</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>0</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_min_free_gb>5</disk_min_free_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>90</disk_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>75</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>85</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<leave_apps_in_memory>0</leave_apps_in_memory>
<vm_max_used_pct>75</vm_max_used_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_down>0</max_bytes_sec_down>
<max_bytes_sec_up>0</max_bytes_sec_up>
<daily_xfer_limit_mb>0</daily_xfer_limit_mb>
<daily_xfer_period_days>0</daily_xfer_period_days>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
<confirm_before_connecting>0</confirm_before_connecting>
<hangup_if_dialed>0</hangup_if_dialed>
<venue name="work">
<max_ncpus_pct>25</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_usage_limit>100</cpu_usage_limit>
<run_on_batteries>0</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>1</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>1</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>3</idle_time_to_run>
<suspend_if_no_recent_input>0</suspend_if_no_recent_input>
<suspend_cpu_usage>25</suspend_cpu_usage>
<work_buf_min_days>0.1</work_buf_min_days>
<work_buf_additional_days>0.5</work_buf_additional_days>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<disk_interval>60</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>0</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_min_free_gb>5</disk_min_free_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>90</disk_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>70</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>85</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<leave_apps_in_memory>0</leave_apps_in_memory>
<vm_max_used_pct>75</vm_max_used_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_down>0</max_bytes_sec_down>
<max_bytes_sec_up>0</max_bytes_sec_up>
<daily_xfer_limit_mb>0</daily_xfer_limit_mb>
<daily_xfer_period_days>0</daily_xfer_period_days>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
<confirm_before_connecting>0</confirm_before_connecting>
<hangup_if_dialed>0</hangup_if_dialed>
</venue>
<venue name="school">
<max_ncpus_pct>50</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_usage_limit>100</cpu_usage_limit>
<run_on_batteries>0</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>1</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>1</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>3</idle_time_to_run>
<suspend_if_no_recent_input>0</suspend_if_no_recent_input>
<suspend_cpu_usage>0</suspend_cpu_usage>
<work_buf_min_days>0.1</work_buf_min_days>
<work_buf_additional_days>0.5</work_buf_additional_days>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<disk_interval>60</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>0</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_min_free_gb>5</disk_min_free_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>90</disk_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>70</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>85</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<leave_apps_in_memory>0</leave_apps_in_memory>
<vm_max_used_pct>75</vm_max_used_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_down>0</max_bytes_sec_down>
<max_bytes_sec_up>0</max_bytes_sec_up>
<daily_xfer_limit_mb>0</daily_xfer_limit_mb>
<daily_xfer_period_days>0</daily_xfer_period_days>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
<confirm_before_connecting>0</confirm_before_connecting>
<hangup_if_dialed>0</hangup_if_dialed>
</global_preferences>

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2019 1:53 am**

So it only runs 2 WUs regardless of how many projects you are allowing work for? If it runs 4 WUs from any other project, I'd say first check to see if you have an app_config.xml in the project folder limiting it to 2 concurrent WUs. If it only runs 2 WUs regardless of how many projects are running, I'd check the cc_config.xml and see if the <ncpus> tag has a value of 2 instead of 4 or if it's a 2 core/4 thread CPU check and make sure hyperthreading is enabled in the BIOS.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2019 9:22 am**

Check the venue of the host on project under your account, project preferences.
If it is set to school it will only run 2 of 4 cores ( 4 0f 8 etc ) as you have the below set.

Code: Select all

<venue name="school">
<max_ncpus_pct>50</max_ncpus_pct>

If it is set to work, it will only run 1 of 4 cores ( 2 of 8 etc. )as per below

Code: Select all

<venue name="work">
<max_ncpus_pct>25</max_ncpus_pct>

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:09 am**

So how can I force for example LHC or Cosmology run only 2 cores out whatever I have and allow other projects run WU on all cores available?

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2019 11:11 am**

Hal Bregg wrote: ↑Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:09 am So how can I force for example LHC or Cosmology run only 2 cores out whatever I have and allow other projects run WU on all cores available?

I presume by what you posted you are running the systems headless ?
With the way you have it set in your preferences, set all computers on LHC or Cosmology to venue school will cause them to run 50% of your CPU's
All other projects should be left at default and they will use all cores.
All of this has to be done on project web pages.

Easiest way is to install BOINC tasks on all your systems and then run them all from a single computer. You can then manage all your systems from the one computer without having to go through the project pages.
See https://tsbt.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=142&t=2511
https://efmer.com/boinctasks/
Instructions are under Boinc tasks in drop down form.
I run it on a win 7 system with all my other win and linux systems connected to that system.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2019 8:31 pm**

Yes, Alez. The host I was talking about is a headless server.
Using Boinctasks sounds like a good plan. I will look into it later.

Posted: **Mon Feb 25, 2019 7:34 am**

Should work best for you. Any issues give us a shout

Posted: **Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:43 pm**

I revised settings and all works fine.

Posted: **Tue Feb 26, 2019 8:30 am**

Good to hear. Still worth trying Boinctasks. It makes changing projects, boinc settings etc. so much easier and instantaneous, rather than relying on changing settings on projects web pages. Best thing is that you can see at a glance if a system is down or a unit is stuck etc. Highly recommend it once you are running more than a couple of systems.

The Scottish Boinc Team

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