Trouble with SMP client install

[T4rd]

Hey all, I just got an i7 rig built and I'm trying to figure out how to get this SMP client (v6.23) installed. When I download the installer and extracted the files, I ran the "install.bat" file as the readme said, but when I do that, this is the error I get upon entering my username and password:

I'm running Windows 7 64-bit RC1. I've tried running the install.bat in compatibility mode for Vista and setting up a firewall exception for it and it's still a no-go. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

 

[Zero82z]

Did you run it as Administrator?

 

[T4rd]

Did you run it as Administrator?

Yeah, I forgot to mention that. It's weird when I do this, the command prompt pops up for a split second, then disappears. I can only get the install.bat to run when I just double-click it (run as myself).

 

[criccio]

You need to start the command line as administrator and navigate to the file via "cd" then run it.

 

[Zero82z]

Yeah, I forgot to mention that. It's weird when I do this, the command prompt pops up for a split second, then disappears. I can only get the install.bat to run when I just double-click it (run as myself).

Try running a normal command prompt as Administrator and then navigate to the directory containing install.bat and run it through that.

 

[T4rd]

You need to start the command line as administrator and navigate to the file via "cd" then run it.

Try running a normal command prompt as Administrator and then navigate to the directory containing install.bat and run it through that.

Ahhh... this did it! Don't know why I didn't think to do that, hah. Thanks! +1 to you two! I wish this forum had a Karma points system.

Edit: Hmm... I got the
"If you see this twice, MPI is working
If you see this twice, MPI is working"

after running the install.bat. Now when I try to run the "Folding@home-Win32-x86" either through the command prompt as Admin or just double clicking the .exe in the folder, I don't get the F@H icon in the systray and I still only see my GPU client running in the task manager. Any more suggestions? Thanks again!

 

[Jon855]

Did you update the fah exe to the latest one? If not replace it with this http://www.stanford.edu/~kasson/folding/windows/Folding@home-Win32-x86.exe one and run it.

Be sure to run -configonly to configure the client.

 

[T4rd]

You need to start the command line as administrator and navigate to the file via "cd" then run it.

Try running a normal command prompt as Administrator and then navigate to the directory containing install.bat and run it through that.

Did you update the fah exe to the latest one? If not replace it with this http://www.stanford.edu/~kasson/folding/windows/Folding@home-Win32-x86.exe one and run it.

Be sure to run -configonly to configure the client.

Sweet, that .exe worked. Thanks again!

Now, two more questions;

Is it necessary to have that command prompt window open all the time to keep it running? Also, now that it's running, I only see a couple threads working on this unit, is that normal? I was hoping to get all 8 threads on this i7 to work on WUs, that's the whole point in using these clients, right?

 

[Zero82z]

Is it necessary to have that command prompt window open all the time to keep it running?

Yes, although there is a way to set the SMP client up as a service. If you're interested in that, take a look at the final section of this guide: http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1032943603&postcount=2

Also, now that it's running, I only see a couple threads working on this unit, is that normal? I was hoping to get all 8 threads on this i7 to work on WUs, that's the whole point in using these clients, right?

You should see four instances of Fahcore_a1.exe running. Is that the case?

The Windows SMP client is incapable of taking proper advantage of CPUs with more than two cores, and I don't think it can run more than four threads either. If you want to really make the most out of your CPU, you'll have to set up Linux VMs according to this guide: http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1033985823&postcount=19

 

[alan2308]

Sweet, that .exe worked. Thanks again!

Now, two more questions;

Is it necessary to have that command prompt window open all the time to keep it running? Also, now that it's running, I only see a couple threads working on this unit, is that normal? I was hoping to get all 8 threads on this i7 to work on WUs, that's the whole point in using these clients, right?

You can either run it as a service (which isn't officially supported in the SMP client, but many still run it that way successfully) or use a third party utility like TrayIt! which will minimize the cmd window to the system tray.

I don't believe that the windows client supports 8 cores but you can run multiple clients, or go to VM's as Zero already noted.

 

[T4rd]

I don't believe that the windows client supports 8 cores but you can run multiple clients, or go to VM's as Zero already noted.

Hmm, then what's the point in running these SMP clients over the standard CPU client? I thought I had seen a client that could take advantage of multi-core/threaded CPUs, are there none?

 

[Zero82z]

Hmm, then what's the point in running these SMP clients over the standard CPU client? I thought I had seen a client that could take advantage of multi-core/threaded CPUs, are there none?

You have to use the Linux SMP client to use more than four cores, or you can run multiple instances of the Windows client or multiple VMs. Take a look at my previous post and the guides I linked you to. You can get significantly higher points output using Linux VMs compared to the Windows SMP client (although even the WinSMP client is considerably more efficient than the standard uniprocessor one).

 

[Vaulter98c]

^^ what he said

There is a HUGE differance between this and the standard client. Standard client will only use part of one core, not even enough to notice really, but it only scores a few hundred PPD, where as with the SMP client, even tho it is really crappy youll still get some load on 4 cores and get 4 digit PPD, just not as well as you would going the VM route