TPU's WCG/BOINC Team

[[Ion]]

Yeah, that's the one thing I would need some guidance on. Obviously I don't want someone to have access to my home network. Even if I completely trust everyone here, there's the chance they could get hacked and then the hacker would have access to my machines.

But I'm open to the idea if it can be done securely and access can be controlled on my end - maybe via a virtual machine or something like that. I'd prefer to have the winner's login info and set the machine up natively so that I could watch it on boincstats though. My thought here was that people could just change their passwords before and then back afterwards, but I went to look and I'm not sure if that's possible with WCG - do you know? If it's not, then I can understand how this would be a problem.

You can easily change the PW at any time--I did so when I handed out my credentials to my friend when setting up WCG on the 2700k I'm loaning her.

 

[twilyth]

You can easily change the PW at any time--I did so when I handed out my credentials to my friend when setting up WCG on the 2700k I'm loaning her.

OK, then that should work. I mean, I don't really think I could do much damage with a WCG pw anyway. The only problem would be if someone reused the pw for other purposes. But if that's the case, all they need to do is change the pw before giving it to me and then change it back after the month is over. Does that sound reasonable or am I overlooking something obvious?

 

[[Ion]]

OK, then that should work. I mean, I don't really think I could do much damage with a WCG pw anyway. The only problem would be if someone reused the pw for other purposes. But if that's the case, all they need to do is change the pw before giving it to me and then change it back after the month is over. Does that sound reasonable or am I overlooking something obvious?

I certainly don't see anything wrong with that; I think you've demonstrated trust/commitment to all of this, and as long as they make sure it's a new password unconnected to anything else (like just using administrat0r or whatnot) I don't see any way it would cause an issue.

 

[Norton]

Yeah, that's the one thing I would need some guidance on. Obviously I don't want someone to have access to my home network. Even if I completely trust everyone here, there's the chance they could get hacked and then the hacker would have access to my machines.

But I'm open to the idea if it can be done securely and access can be controlled on my end - maybe via a virtual machine or something like that. I'd prefer to have the winner's login info and set the machine up natively so that I could watch it on boincstats though. My thought here was that people could just change their passwords before and then back afterwards, but I went to look and I'm not sure if that's possible with WCG - do you know? If it's not, then I can understand how this would be a problem.

Not sure if password changes need to be done on every machine or not? Best not to try a dry run on a password change until after the challenge though...

EDIT- seems that you can- thanks [Ion]!

 

[[Ion]]

Not sure if password changes need to be done on every machine or not? Best not to try a dry run on a password change until after the challenge though...

They do not--just change it on the website and all is good to go.

 

[twilyth]

My guess is that it would have to be done on every machine. But since the idea here is to target people who are producing say between say 5k and 15k, that shouldn't involve a lot of machines.

But IDK. Maybe WCG only needs the pw the first time you attach to the project. In that case, everything would be copacetic.

 

[[Ion]]

But IDK. Maybe WCG only needs the pw the first time you attach to the project. In that case, everything would be copacetic.

This is correct, based on my experience.

My guess is that it would have to be done on every machine. But since the idea here is to target people who are producing say between say 5k and 15k, that shouldn't involve a lot of machines.

Well, 15k PPD / 35 PPD (Mindweaver's Duron) = 429 systems

 

[twilyth]

Thanks @[Ion] and LOL. Poor @Mindweaver - getting all this crap for his crusty old Duron. Even my quad core Snapdragon phone seems to be doing about 120ppd or so. But what the heck, right?

 

[Norton]

@twilyth

Consider starting a thread with a poll to query who would be interested in such a plan....

 

[manofthem]

Thanks @[Ion] and LOL. Poor @Mindweaver - getting all this crap for his crusty old Duron. Even my quad core Snapdragon phone seems to be doing about 120ppd or so. But what the heck, right?

Don't feel bad for @Mindweaver. His Duron will probably be the most famous and remembered rig on the team

 

[twilyth]

@twilyth

Consider starting a thread with a poll to query who would be interested in such a plan....

OK. I'll try to get one of the dualies up and get an idea of what sort of ppd it does on UGM. Once I have that information in hand I'll have a good idea of who would benefit most from a giveaway.

 

[Nordic]

@twilyth

Consider starting a thread with a poll to query who would be interested in such a plan....

I think that might be a good idea. Make the poll. I am on the upper end of what would qualify right now usually in the 13-10th spot daily. I would personally like the little boost just for pie.

 

[[Ion]]

OK. I'll try to get one of the dualies up and get an idea of what sort of ppd it does on UGM. Once I have that information in hand I'll have a good idea of who would benefit most from a giveaway.

What model is it? I ought to be able to extrapolate based on the X5670 and dual-X5672s....

 

[twilyth]

What model is it? I ought to be able to extrapolate based on the X5670 and dual-X5672s....

They're either 5645's or 5660's. I'm not sure. Probably 5645's running at 2.4ghz.

edit: The other chips are in the EVGA SR2 board which is just too loud to run w/o changing the fan/heatsinks.

 

[Mindweaver]

Don't feel bad for @Mindweaver. His Duron will probably be the most famous and remembered rig on the team

@[ion] and @twilyth LOL yea don't feel bad for me.. hehe The one thing that I've not shared with anyone is that..... I really don't know where it is.. hehe other than it's in my building somewhere crunching.. lol I stepped away from WCG for a few months and didn't realize I still had my Duron crunching along side my 2x atom's.. lol The last time I put it on my work bench the heatsink had bonded to the processor.. I can't remove it with out ripping it off the motherboard.. hehe I was able to put a new fan on top of it thought. The last time I touched it was around 2010 or 11.. lol I can't believe it's still crunching strong. Oh, and before it started crunching for WCG it ran F@H for a few months and before that when it was purchased in 2000 it ran SETI and a few other projects til about 09', and played Quake... lol

 

[BUCK NASTY]

@[ion] and @twilyth LOL yea don't feel bad for me.. hehe The one thing that I've not shared with anyone is that..... I really don't know where it is.. hehe other than it's in my building somewhere crunching.. lol I stepped away from WCG for a few months and didn't realize I still had my Duron crunching along side my 2x atom's.. lol The last time I put it on my work bench the heatsink had bonded to the processor.. I can't remove it with out ripping it off the motherboard.. hehe I was able to put a new fan on top of it thought. The last time I touched it was around 2010 or 11.. lol I can't believe it's still crunching strong. Oh, and before it started crunching for WCG it ran F@H for a few months and before that when it was purchased in 2000 it ran SETI and a few other projects til about 09', and played Quake... lol

LMFAO that "I really don't know where it is". Hmmmn, where did I see that rig last? That Duron has been the inspiration for many jokes and laughter. It really is a beautiful thing. Very few high end rigs can claim to be as entertaining as that little ol' Duron!

 

[Mindweaver]

LMFAO that "I really don't know where it is". Hmmmn, where did I see that rig last? That Duron has been the inspiration for many jokes and laughter. It really is a beautiful thing. Very few high end rigs can claim to be as entertaining as that little ol' Duron!

Now, watch we are talking it up, and today will be the day it lays down on me.. lol I believe when it dies I'll turn it into a keychain... lol

 

[[Ion]]

Well, provided that I'm able to sell the dual-E5420 today (an outcome that seems far more likely than not) I have a replacement already lined up: a Supermicro dual-G34 board + two Opty 6238s + two G34 HSFs for $300 shipped. I'm sure that my TX750 has enough power for it, so I'll just need to set it up with another 8pin connector, one of my spare HDDs from home, and some RAM and it'll be ready to go.

@BUCK NASTY , I know that you've said that the Optys need 4 sticks of RAM per CPU....but say I was to go with two or even one, would that work?

 

[Nordic]

There is a 6 core pre built refurb on newegg shell shocker at 10am. I dont know how low it will go.

 

[[Ion]]

There is a 6 core pre built refurb on newegg shell shocker at 10am. I dont know how low it will go.

It'll be interesting to see what price it goes for. My HP Z400 is certainly pretty good, but for something of its age the price would have to be pretty good.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

There is a 6 core pre built refurb on newegg shell shocker at 10am. I dont know how low it will go.

I looked at that (HP Z600, Six Core 2.66Ghz X5650, 6GB RAM, 160GB 7.2K HDD, Dual DVI, DVDRW, Windows 7 Pro 64 Bit, 650W Power Supply) and then did a search on e-bay for X5650 and was surprised by the prices of dual processor X5650 systems from Dell, Lenovo, and HP. Might be an option for the "less adventurous." [Ion], how loud is that Z400?

 

[xvi]

Those Z400s seem to go for ~200 on fleabay, single quad core proc. The included processor on the Newegg one is about $60-70 each to upgrade it later.

Edit: I just lowballed one on and "accidentally" won it. Looks like my fleet is expanding.

 

[[Ion]]

I looked at that (HP Z600, Six Core 2.66Ghz X5650, 6GB RAM, 160GB 7.2K HDD, Dual DVI, DVDRW, Windows 7 Pro 64 Bit, 650W Power Supply) and then did a search on e-bay for X5650 and was surprised by the prices of dual processor X5650 systems from Dell, Lenovo, and HP. Might be an option for the "less adventurous." [Ion], how loud is that Z400?

Basically silent. Wonderful system. If I can find another one locally for $20 (like the current one) I'm buying it. Even with the $80 CPU upgrade it's still just $100 for a very capable system.

Those Z400s seem to go for ~200 on fleabay. The included processor is about $60-70 each too.

Edit: I just lowballed one on and "accidentally" won it. Looks like my fleet is expanding.

What are the specs of yours?
Mine's a Z400/X5670/4GB/320GB/2008R2 Enterprise.

 

[xvi]

What are the specs of yours?

Z400/X5570/4GB/500GB/OSless. How'd you score one for $20?

 

[[Ion]]

Z400/X5570/4GB/500GB/OSless. How'd you score one for $20?

I have a "special" relationship with a local charity (http://kramden.org/ -- they take donated computers, mostly corporate donations, and refurbish and give them to low-income students without a computer at home)--computers that they don't want and would otherwise be sold for recycling I buy at bargain-bin prices. This HP, they decided, wasn't a good choice to refurb to give out to the kids, and the particular one I bought (dual-core + case damage) wasn't worth refurbishing to actually sell as normal.
That's where I get things like the gaudy Apevia case that I have the dual-X5672 in or other miscelaneous stuff (older PSUs, small HDDs, etc).

EDIT: When I bought mine, it had the worst CPU it supports (dual-core no-HT), 2GB RAM, no HDD, and no GPU....so it required a bit of work to get it into worthy state.

EDIT2: And the OS is "TPB Edition"