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F@H write up, public review

Vaulter98c

Vaulter98c

[H]ard|DCer of the Month - October 2009
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OK, for the people that were in my EVGA thread, I put out an idea about a little article we can put up on the weekly shout out from the front page, something to get people interested, like a summary of folding per say. Everyone suggested I do one, and I actually finished last week, I just have been so busy that I havnt gotten it up here yet. Obviously, it is not in "web" format yet, I've got no pics or coded links, but that will come in due time (weekend maybe).

I'm leaving this here for now and would like some feedback/corections/comments/etc

Please note, some of this is just being pulled from what I've read, so I may be a little off, that's why I'm here for peer review! (Like the ATI client, never run one lol)

I'm open to anything, and if you dont want to post it, PM me, I'd love to hear what yall think.

One last note, I'm going to close this thread after a few days so it falls back a few pages and then we can submit the final one to [H] staff and cross our fingers

That said, here we go! (take it easy on me lol, havnt done a writing course in a while)

-- Also, mad props to my "editor" lol, Thanks!!
 
F@H Summary/Review for Team 33
Written (if you can call it that) by Vaulter98c
Edited by crazyjeeper
Click to expand...

Page 1 – Intro / What is Folding?

Introduction

If you are reading this, you are obviously interested in folding, whether that means you know what it is and want to know how to help or you think its what you do with your pants once you get them out of the dryer, you are curious. Hopefully we can answer your questions over the next few pages without you losing that curiosity. If you want to take the dive and learn more about folding and how you can help, scroll down and we can get started!

From the top, what is Folding@Home?

To get a better handle on what Folding@Home (referred to as F@H from here on out) is, you have to first look at the concept of Distributed Computing. Many years ago, people started to realize that as science was progressing by leaps and bounds, the role that computers played was behind that success. As the years went on, computers were able to do more and more, and as fast as computers were advancing, we kept throwing larger and larger workloads at them. Before we knew it, our thirst for knowledge had exponentially outgrown our computational capacity, and that left a lot of scientists out in the cold. While larger groups and companies could afford to run super computers, the costs behind building and maintaining a super computer were out of reach to most.

This is where distributed computing comes in. A super computer is (in the most basic of descriptions) a cluster of hundreds of processors linked together on a super fast network. The processors in supercomputers demand a higher level of performance than the average user’s processor so they are generally slower in a direct comparison. People started to wonder, why not just expand the scale, and use the internet as the network and people’s personal computers as the processors? Suddenly, you have created a super computer with hundreds of thousands processors without needing the large spaces, trained staff, and huge expenses that usually come with super computers. Distributed Computing lets you off-load those costs onto your user base, and at that level it breaks down to a much more manageable figure, especially when you do not have to pay it.

With the advent of Distributed computing, suddenly the amount of computational power available to midrange science groups exploded, and people like the University of Stanford are using this power to conduct research at rates that were unthought-of only a few short years ago. Enter folding...

Folding, like the laundry?

To understand folding you will need to know a few things about how our body works on a really small scale. In about as simple way as you can put it, Stanford describes proteins as such:

“Proteins are biology’s workhorses – its “nanomachines”. Before proteins can carry out their biochemical function, they remarkably assemble themselves, or “fold”. The process of protein folding, while critical and fundamental to virtually all of biology, remains a mystery.”

To describe the process of folding, Stanford says the following:

“In order to carry out their functions (e.g. as enzymes, structural elements, antibodies, etc), they must take on a particular shape, also known as a “fold”.

So, in general terms, proteins are a collection of amino acids that can be considered the building blocks for how most things happen in our bodies. In order for these proteins to do the many tasks that they hold in our bodies, they have to fold into a distinct shape. What happens if these building blocks are formed wrong, or “misfold”? If this happens, these misfolded proteins are believed to cause many well known diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Mad Cow, and several others, including many forms of cancer.

Folding@Home studies “protein folding, misfolding, aggregation and related diseases” as Stanford sums it up. Basically, they are saying that they can take the process of folding as a whole, break it into tens of thousands of little pieces, and distribute it across a vast distributed computing network to get results back both quicker and much larger than ever done before. Stanford can expand upon prior research in the area on a much larger scale with the use of Folding@Home, their distributed computing project.

So... Why does that matter?

All of this is nice, but why does it matter? In order for science to figure out a way to cure these diseases and cancers which affect so many of our families and loved ones, they have to first return to the source. If we want to fix the problem, scientists have to go back to what created the problem in the first place. To prevent these diseases and eventually cure them, we need to understand their origins; Folding@Home is what Stanford is using to piece together that story. Continue on to the next page if I still have your interests to learn just how all of us fit into the big picture.



Page 2 – Where do we fit in there?

Who is 33, and what is this [H]orde everyone talks about?

F@H is at its root a friendly competition. Like most things where people compete, it is scored. For every bit of work you do, a work unit (WU for short), you get points. The more you fold, the more points you get. Generally speaking, points are based on how hard or how large a WU is. If you fold on some lower end hardware you will get smaller WUs and a lower PPD (Points per Day) value. If you have some high end gear lying around, then you will receive more complex WUs and have a higher PPD. Since there are literally tens of thousands of folders all over the world, people started forming teams that they fold under and a collective score is compared to other teams worldwide in the same fashion that individual scores are.

The [H]orde is the nickname for our team, team #33. The [H]orde is a collection of every creed and color, every walk of life, from every corner of the world. While we each have our own reasons, we are all brought together in our interest in Tech and our desire to give back to a cause bigger than ourselves. From technicians to teachers, soldiers to students, and white and blue collar workers alike, the [H]orde is a vastly diverse team in which everyone brings something unique to the table. On our own, we are just like the thousands of other folders across the globe, but together, we are something more.

In fact, we are a lot more than just any team; we are the number one ranked team in the world! That is right; out of over tens of thousands of teams, we come in first! Through the hard work and dedication of many of our older and past team mates we have surged to a position where the other top teams are still years away from beating us (yes, it is actually measured in years!).

However awesome it may be to be in first place, it only means that everyone has their sights on you. With this in mind, one team is currently raising the bar in an amazing attempt to secure the first place position. At the time of writing this article, video card giant EVGA’s team is a mere 1.1 years away from passing us and is gaining speed every day. As of now they have almost doubled our team’s PPD values and are still expanding their team. In order for us to maintain our title, we will need to increase our measures as well. This is where you come in.

Does one person really matter?

In short, yes. Sure, recruiting one person is not going to keep EVGA off the radar, but every single team member is still important. Even 20 people with a decent sub-$200 video card can boost a team’s score by well over 150,000 PPD, so as you can see it adds up quickly. What about those of you with an i7 (8000 PPD)? Or how about a SLI or Crossfire set up; those can add nearly 20,000 PPD off the video cards alone! Even that PS3 that just sits under the TV all the time can fold for an extra 1000 PPD. Every folder is needed, whether your just an over-night folder or the next Atlas , every single person helps the team in the end. That said; we must not forget that folding goes to something more than imaginary shiny points (even if they are very tempting). For every extra WU that gets done, everyone wins as we are that much closer to understanding these proteins and one more step along the path to a cure.



Page 3 – How do I get started?

So you wanna fold .... okay ... start with the towels!

So, if I have gotten you this far, I am assuming you want to help our team fight for a cure, and our first place position of course! Before you can fold though, we need to look at what you have and see how we can best use it. Below will be a list with groups of different hardware you can fold with. Each tag will be a link to a more detailed walk through if available, but if you just need a simple overview I will provide one for each category as well. Wasting no time, here we go!

Single core (or HT dual) processor (P4 era or newer)
Multi core (2 or more physical cores) processor,
ATI Graphics card ( HD2xxx Series or newer)
Nvidia Graphics card (8 Series or newer - CUDA enabled)
Multiple Graphics cards
PS3 (yea, it can fold too!)
Access to work computers (user level) – Borging
Access to more powerful computer systems (server farms, render farms, etc)
And finally, a knowledge of your own tech level

Single Core CPU

The single core client is probably the easiest, the closest thing to set it and forget it. Download the single core client and install it. It is really about that easy. Keep in mind though, this client has not been updated in a while and is still geared for the weaker processors out there (P4 era equipment). PPD values can vary anywhere between a few hundred to just under 1000. Obviously, the faster the processor the more you will get, but don’t expect record setting anytime soon from this client. This client is good for the user with a dual core rig that doesn’t have the tech level to bother with the more advanced clients, he could run this 24/7 and not even know it is there, even while gaming.

Multi Core CPU

There are a few options for running folding on a good multi-core CPU. First of all, you can run a native Windows SMP client. (MPICH or DEINO) While these will put out many more points than the standard client, they are generally avoided now days because they are unstable and very inefficient and can be quite difficult to set up (at time of writing). The next option involves running a SMP client on a native Linux computer . These clients are generally more stable and will produce better scores than their Windows counterparts. While Linux provides a better environment for folding on CPU’s, Linux is not for everyone. If you fall into that group, than the last option is for you. Running a Virtual Machine (VM) on a Windows computer allows for the stability of Linux in a Windows environment; great if you plan on folding on GPU’s as well. While it is slightly harder to set up than the standard client, we have a great guide that makes setting up your own VM very easy. Even better, if you have more than 2 cores, you can run more VM’s. At the time of writing, there is even a new VM client being released that will allow for larger VM's making setup even easier!

ATI Graphics Cards

ATI was the first to allow F@H to run on their GPU's. Although it hasn't seen the support recently that the Nvidia side has, it still puts out a lot more points than the standard CPU client. Another good thing is that the set up is just about as easy, all you need to do if your card is supported is to download the most recent drivers and then install the GPU client. Once you have set it up, it would be a good idea to check this thread and see how to optimize your setup. While the ATI version won't put out the points the Nvidia one will, this shouldn't stop you from folding, it all adds up in the end. In fact, a new GPU client is already being tested for public release that should help use the power of the newer 4 and 5 series cards.

Nvidia Graphics Cards

Folding on an Nvidia card is about as easy as setting up the standard client now. If you have an 8 series GPU or later, all you need to do is get the GPU client (Same one the ATI cards uses) and install it. Once you run it, set up is just as simple as the standard client and you will be on your way to finishing WUs in no time at all! I would recommend not getting the client with a viewer however as it lowers your production rate and does not do anything useful. As with the ATI client, a good thing about these GPU clients is that you can run them in the background and continue with most of your daily computing tasks and never notice they are there. This is where the bulk of today’s points come from.

Multiple GPU Systems (SLI/Crossfire)

This is where the big points come in, multi-gpu systems. If you are running more than one video card in your rig you will be happy to know that you can use all of them for folding, not just the first one. Even though it works sometime, it is recommended to first disable SLI/Crossfire to help keep the clients as stable and productive as possible. Once you have unlinked your cards and have your desktop extended to each of them, you can have each additional card up in a matter of minutes by following this simple guide. There are a few more things to consider by going this method rather than the normal GPU clients (Dummy Plugs included), but don’t be intimidated, most of the work involved is user level; a little copy-paste and editing a shortcut is about the extent of this method.

Playstation 3

Another one that’s too easy, if you have updated your PS3 anytime within the last 2 years you have probably noticed a “Life with PlayStation” icon. Well, that icon is Stanford’s very own PS3 client! While it only makes 1000 PPD, just the PS3’s that have not had their user stats set are the highest scoring "person" on F@H! All you have to do to run F@H on your PS3 is to click that icon and your unit will download the latest version and start folding. After that, set your user name and team number and you can forget about it. While not the fastest, the PS3 client is rock solid stable, I have left my own unit on 24/7 for a year long deployment and it never failed once!

Access to computers at work (user level and server level)

One asset that most teams will overlook is the computers their users have at work every day. Granted, most of us have faster rigs than what we use at work but our workstations should not be forgotten. Folding at work can provide quite a few points and is a good idea because you do not have to pay for the hardware or the utilities, it is as close to free points as you will ever get. Bearing that in mind, it is not a good idea to just take F@H into work one day and load it on all the computers in your office; this would be a good way to get fired. Instead, bring your considerations into the DC sub-forum where we have users who can give you all the advice you need, including a model EULA you can have signed. If you have access to server level hardware, it is even more important that you cover all your bases before you proceed with folding at work. Not only can we help give you advice on the legality of your situation, many of our users specialize in server level hardware so we can help you get the most PPD from the computers. Do not think that borging is too much hassle, some of the biggest folders in the world have borged out systems for over 1 Million PPD!
 
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Page 4 – OK, now what?

A few more things to consider...

Even though the bulk of the work in folding is getting set up, there are a few things you need to consider. The most obvious thing and one major reason people cite for quitting folding is the electric costs. Obviously folding 24/7 will rack up a higher power bill than not folding at all, but this is one area where people tend to over exaggerate.

If you are the kind of person that leaves your rig on all day anyways, you might not even notice the difference in your bills. If you only have your computer on while you use it, then you will probably notice a few dollar hike every month in your electric bill. Just because you pay more in the electric bill does not mean it is a waste of money. With the cold season approaching, do not forget that your folding machine will put out a good amount of heat. Many folders, myself included, use their computers to offset the heating bill. As for myself, I use my PS3 to keep my bedroom warm and 1 other computer is enough to keep my small house in the upper 60’s when it is in the 30’s outside. We even have folders that have managed entire winter seasons without ever firing up their furnace; and in many places electric is much cheaper than other options.

Heat is another issue, but as you can see, itis not always a bad thing. For the folders that are always worrying about warm weather, heat can become an issue if you do not take care of it. Heat is probably the worst enemy of the components in your computer, but that does not mean there is nothing we can do about it. Modern computers will allow us to up the fan speeds on our CPU’s and there are plenty of programs out there for controlling the fans on our graphics cards. If you live in an area with a high ambient temperature and have no way to cool it, you should stop by the DC sub-forums and ask what our members have done who are in the same boat as you. Just because it is hot outside does not mean you have to quit folding!

The last few things to consider are small issues at best. Do you have an internet connection that is always on? Are you comfortable performing a little basic level maintenance? Are you willing to ask for help if there is a problem you cannot solve (this is a bigger issue than you think!)? If you can answer yes to these questions then folding will not be an issue for you!

Monitoring your folding

Once you have all your clients set up, all that remains is to sit back and reap your shiny points! In order to keep track of your clients, you need to set up a monitoring tool. While there are a load of options in this area, there are 2 basic options, online stat monitoring and local stat monitoring. For online stats you can check any number of websites, from Stanford’s in house monitor to our very own in-depth HardFolding. Online clients will refresh about every 3 hours with your latest scores and other information.

If you want something that is up to the minute to monitor all local clients (except the PS3 as it does not currently support external monitoring) then you will need to use a monitoring program. While there are many options in this arena as well, 3 major players come to mind. First off is FahMon. FahMon is a very simple monitor that entry level users will find simple to set up and use, and more mid level users will find that it has enough options to serve them also. If you want something more technical, FAHSpy is your tool. Providing a more complex view of your folding, this client has many more options that more advanced users will find useful. With a balance of high end features but an easy to use interface, HFM.NET has won the hearts of many folders with its “best of both worlds” approach. Even though I use FahMon myself, I recommend that you try out each program and see which one suits you best.

Besides just monitoring your local clients, you cannot forget that computer at mom’s house that you borged for the [H]orde. What about that card you gave your buddy if they promised they would fold for you? While performing onsite maintenance may be simple, odds are it still involves a small drive or a very confusing phone call as you try to tell them how to fix your problem. Because of this, more of our users are setting up remote log in methods to control their other computers from one location. From LogMeIn to VNC and everything in between, having this option can greatly reduce down time on your machines. I suggest LogMeIn for all my readers who have an iPhone/iPod Touch as you can control everything anywhere you are with a few swipes of your finger.

Where do we go from here?

OK, so everything is set up and you are well on your way to amassing your own stash of irresistible shiny points, now what? Well, rest easy my friend; you are now aboard a crazy ride to the cure. That is right, thatwas all you had to do. Sure was easy, right? Now we just wait for Stanford to take all the WU we sent them and turn it into answers. The more work we finish the faster they can finish their work. If you want to look at everything that they have discovered so far you can follow the links to their Science / Results sections to see the culmination of the hard work of all those before you. All of Stanford’s releases have to be peer reviewed which a process that can take over a year, so donot be surprised if things seem a little dated. Even if you have no clue what they are saying, it is fun to see all the work that folding has accomplished so far; and it is even more fun to think about how much more they will get done now that the amount of WUs getting finished has grown so fast!



Page 5 – Conclusion

Welcome to the [H]orde!

If you have made it this far, let me be the first to welcome you to the [H]orde! We like to pride ourselves on our community and welcome you to the party. All you have to do now is let your rigs fold and bring any questions to the DC sub-forums. What is that? I thought you would never ask.

The DC-SubForum

The DC Sub-forum is our own little corner of [H]ard|OCP. Inside we have topics that cover almost every aspect of DC'ing, even projects that are not related to F@H. If you have a question, we have got an answer. Dozens of dedicated folders are just waiting to help you get your folding up to its full potential. But were not just about tech support, we like to think we have added more to folding than just a level of technical expertise. I encourage all of you to swing by and enjoy our organized chaos we call home.

In closing...

Well, I guess this is it then. Normally I would think of a snazzy closer or something like that, but it just would not fit here. Instead of closing with a farewell, I want to go out with one final request. If I have managed to hold your interest this long, Iwould like you to go to the DC Sub-forums and introduce yourself. It does not have to be much, just stop in and say a thing or two. I know I speak for all of us when I say we are glad to have you on board!

-- Too long for one page lol, and the indents dont want to stick... --
Click to expand...
 
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Here is the "basic" outline for the flow of the paper, its all jacked up tho because the formatting wont stick. OK, so I've changed some colors to make it easier to read. Still not an outline format, but better than it was

Intro / what is Folding@Home?
Intro

What is Folding@Home
Theory of Dist. Computing / Stanford Intro
Folding, like the laundry?
So... Why does that matter?
Why Fold?
Folding for a cure, the theory
Few thing’s they’ve learned so far (Link)
Why not? Its too easy to help out now a days


Where do we fit in there?
Who is 33, and what’s this [H]orde thing?
Collection of some of the most random people you’ll ever meet who share a similar interest in Tech ( [H] ) and a desire to give something back
...Who are currently ranked #1 in the WORLD.
But we need your help – EVGA situation
Does 1 person really matter?
Every folder is needed, from a few points to the next Atlas (Link)
Not just the team that wins, we all do (Cure)


How do I get started?
So you want to help out? Let’s see what you have that we can work with...
Processor that is from the P4 era or newer
ATI graphics card (XXXX or newer)
NV Graphics card (8 Series or newer – CUDA enabled)
PS3 (ya, it can fold too!)
Access to work computers that meet these requirements (borging)
Access to larger based computers (multi-core servers, render farms, etc)
Know your own tech level
Processor
Single client
Linux or VM’s on newer chips
Graphics Cards
ATI
NV
PS3

Borging
Legality, who to ask and what to ask
Analyze your equipment
What type of installs should you use?
... And beyond!
Mega-Folders
Things to consider
Power Costs (and how to manage them)
Heat issues
Other factors (always on internet, user level maintenance, etc)


OK, now what?
Monitoring your folding
FAHmon
HFM net thingy
Other Client (FAHSpy maybe)
Where do we go from here?
The cure
And everything along the road... (more than a cure, the science)
Other DC projects
While F@H is the primary app of the horde....
Quick preview of other DC projects, but don’t steal the thunder from F@H


Conclusion
Welcome to the team!

DC Sub-Forum, the bat-cave of the hordeCatch the bug! Be a regular or just a lurker (Link)
Help other DC’ers
Learn how to tweak your rig to get the most points
Continue the fight with your team!
Summary?
 
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Things to Do:

1) Add Pictures (and find the legality issues behind this lol)
2) Add LINKS
3) Make sure everything is up to date (article started 3 weeks ago, lot o stuff has happened since)
4) Make sure everything is correct
5) Anything you guys notice, let me know! I want to hear opinions on this

Can Yall help me with the last 3?
 
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OK, its as cleaned up as it'll be for now

let me know what yall think!
 
I'll probably go though this tomorrow...... With this head cold, you don't want me reviewing anything.
 
I like it. thanks for the work. 1st chance i have had to read at my leisure in some time.

i am gonna read a couple more times and digest. i just wanted you to know i am paying attention.
 
Thats why I posted here lol

EDIT
Added 20 Links so far to the first 3 pages, making my way to the last 2 now
 
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Also:

( X2### Series or newer)
Click to expand...
Do you mean HD2xxx? I've never heard of X2xxx cards...

You might want to say that NVidia cards offer a lot more ppd than comparable-performance (gaming-wise) than ATI cards. At the moment, anyway.
 
I mentioned that Nv client will put out more points than ATI and also that Nv is where the bulk of todays points come from. Should i go any further than that? Got over 30 links in so far...
 
Vaulter98c said:
I mentioned that Nv client will put out more points than ATI and also that Nv is where the bulk of todays points come from. Should i go any further than that? Got over 30 links in so far...
Click to expand...

I'd keep it at that..... it only takes one new client to change all that up.
 
OK, majority of links are set up now, still need one for FAHspy tho, anyone?

Anyone think of anywhere I should put more links?
 
Shouldn't the article be put in its own thread and stickied, rather than making Vaulter keep bumping it?
 
bump just so I dont lose this, I'll see what to do after my next weapons qual this week, hope to get this front paged sooner or later, not sure where to start tho
 
Just read through your article Vaulter, and I think you did an incredible job! It's broken down so even the common person who doesn't understand much about folding can get started, and can find the resources they need to gather more information about setting up the various clients available to them. I've tried to explain to several people what folding is all about, and some of hem still walk away with a dazed look on their face. Now I can just link them to your article and I'm certain they'll be able to comprehend things much better and hopefully get involved.

Can't wait to see this get some more publicity and exposure to potential team members. GREAT JOB!!!
 
thanks! On the range right now (love my mk19) but I'll pursue this more when I get home
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