28/08-02/09 NFS@home Air Strike on lasieve5f Application

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 1:36 pm

http://boincstats.com/en/stats/challenge/team/chat/704

Name NFS@home Air Strike on lasieve5f Application
Status Upcoming
Project NFS@Home
Issued by SETI.USA
Start time 2015-08-28 00:00 UTC
End time 2015-09-02 00:00 UTC
Late entrants allowed? Yes
Number of teams participating Â» 7
Number of users participating 0

Post by **Dirk Broer** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 4:38 pm

Looks like you are in need of some WUs here too!

John Cleese rants about soccer vs 'foot'ball

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 1:05 am

Dirk Broer wrote:Looks like you are in need of some WUs here too!

Yeah, it's on our to-do list to pound some NFS and gain another spot in NSF on Formula BOINC.

Perhaps John Cleese should do a show with the Super Fans...https://screen.yahoo.com/bill-swerskis- ... 00191.html

Silver · Post by **Silver** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 10:54 am

Maybe we need to create a "Dirk winds up TSBT members" thread Scole?
It would keep all his trash talk in one place instead of spread throughout the forum

Post by **Dirk Broer** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 12:15 pm

Silver wrote:Maybe we need to create a "Dirk winds up TSBT members" thread Scole?
It would keep all his trash talk in one place instead of spread throughout the forum

Just trying to stir up some competition :blackknight:

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 11:48 pm

Trash talk is better than no talk on the TSBT forum :)

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:35 pm

Just a reminder this challenge starts on the 28th at 00:00:00 UTC and in case you've considered loading a bunker before a challenge, now is a good time to start prepping.

NFS@home competition guide

If you plan to run the 1GB lasieve5f WUs, no need to block uploads until the 21st after 00:00:00 UTC.
If you plan to run the .5GB lasievee WUs, no need to block uploads until the 24th after 12:00:00 UTC.

Alez has put together a good "Competition FAQ and how to Bunker" thread here...http://www.dunadd.co.uk/seti/forum/view ... =17&t=2092
for further reference.

I'll follow up with more info about how to load a full bunker after I catch up with my day job work :)

Silver · Post by **Silver** » Mon Aug 17, 2015 6:38 pm

Great post there Scole. I'll have to try and sort out ip blocking with my firewall.
I managed to get it to work in the past but I think the last minute panic has not helped my efforts the last couple if times.

Post by **utopia-i** » Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:30 pm

[removed]

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 3:49 am

Well I'm glad you think it's simple. My head was spinning after I re-read it.

Alez also has a good post here, in the same thread, about how to configure Windows firewall...
http://www.dunadd.co.uk/seti/forum/view ... 092#p16184
Look for the section labeled "SETTING UP A RULE WITH WINDOWS FIREWALL"

I never delete a rule though. I just disable it when I don't want access to the site blocked.

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 1:02 am

There are 8 days before the NSF challenge begins. You can see that count down at the team challenge page at BOINCStats at the link in the first post. Here's a bunker tip...

If you plan to bunker the lasieve5f (16e Lattice Sieve) WUs, you still have at least 1 day before you can block completed WU uploads. Starting now, you need to make sure you keep your cache of WUs low. If you have your minimum work buffer set too high, when we get within the 7 day window for lasieve5f WUs you will still have WUs downloaded that expire before that 7 days window starts. They will have a deadline before the start of the team challenge. If you have a bunch a WUs loaded which have a deadline before the challenge starts, then once you load your challenge bunker, there won't be a way to upload those early deadline WUs (which will expire before the start of the challenge) without accidentally uploading WUs you want to keep in your bunker until the challenge starts. That make sense?

As an example, if your minimum work buffer is set to 5 days, then in 1 day (the optimal time to load a bunker and block the upload), you will still have 4 days worth of WUs that will expire before the challenge starts. If that happens, you will either have to wait to block the uploads until those WUs are finished or abort the WUs so you don't waste time crunching them only to be marked invalid. We don't consider that good form here on TSBT, but I've never gotten a visit from the BOINC police either .

Just something to consider to load a killer bunker

Post by **utopia-i** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 12:24 pm

Am I the only one *trying* to bunker ? I can only seem to hold 3 days worth back before running out of WUs, but every little helps! (hopefully)

http://www.ubtstats.co.uk/tsbt/UBT.php? ... roject=NFS

Silver · Post by **Silver** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 1:11 pm

There's times I manage to bunker properly and there's times where I get it completely wrong!
If you're only getting 3 days worth of work before running out, to me, it sounds like you need to increase the amount of work your looking for.
Depending on how you run your computer/computers you need to increase the amount work your computer is looking for. In computing preferences (in bam manager, boinc software, or project website) you need to increase the work buffer to a value, in days, higher than the number of days till your into the comp.

I hope that makes sense, and also that I picked up your question properly and haven't tried to explain something that you already know!

Janos (retired) · Post by **Janos (retired)** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 1:22 pm

I won't be trying to bunker on this one, I left it too late.

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 1:39 pm

utopia-i wrote:Am I the only one *trying* to bunker ? I can only seem to hold 3 days worth back before running out of WUs, but every little helps! (hopefully)
http://www.ubtstats.co.uk/tsbt/UBT.php? ... roject=NFS

I have over 6000 WUs in the pipeline 8) But I do have a couple systems I'm just letting run and upload.

Alez has thread about how to bunker here...
http://www.dunadd.co.uk/seti/forum/view ... =17&t=2092

Some projects will give you as many as you ask for. Some limit the number based on various attributes such as cores. NFS appears to do this. To get around it, you can fool the project into thinking your system has more cores than it really does.

CAUTION: Be sure you know how many WUs you can finish before they expire. When using this method, it's easy to download too many and they can't be finished in time.

To do this:
First, make sure you don't have any other projects set to allow new WUs, else you'll get loaded with WUs for those as well.

Next, change the Minimum work buffer initially to the number of days work you want to bunker. Sometimes, the BOINC Manager and project get right and that's all it takes. If it doesn't give you enough, keep increasing the number of days and see if it will give you more.

If you still need more, you'll need to fool NFS to give you more WUs, so next, make sure you have an app_config.xml in the escatter11.fullerton.edu_nfs folder that limits the number of active tasks to the actual number of cores you have. Be sure to use the BOINC Manager to read the config files after it's changed. Should look like this for a 4 core cpu...
<app_config>
<project_max_concurrent>4</project_max_concurrent>
</app_config>

Next, add this line to your cc_config.xml file and set the ncpus value to a higher value. Again, be sure to use the BOINC Manager to read the config files after it's changed....
<ncpus>12</ncpus>

Update the project and more WUs should download. If you still don't get enough, increase the ncpus value and try again.

After you have enough WUs, set the ncpus back to the correct value (4 for a 4 core cpu), read the config files and set the minimum work buffer back to a lower value.

Finally, block the uploads by either suspending network activity or enable the firewall rule.

Here's a link to a Bunker Calculator I use...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7Q1OY ... sp=sharing

Post by **utopia-i** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 7:10 pm

Impressive posts on how I can do better, Im a bit late on this competition I fear but I'll be experimenting before the next one

thanksfor the knowledge sharing and enthusiasm

I may be to blame of course, I did, washing my mouth out with soap, zap some WUs that had a deadline pre start date of comp, some new WUs download I can bunker now but not enough it seems

So Friday after 9am Scottish time will see what I can bunker download, gotta be more than my usual trickle ..
so hopefully of some value.

Looking forwards to Asteroids@home comp in the future, never crunched that project at all ......

Thanks again ....

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:00 pm

You wouldn't be the first nor the last to either download too many, download too soon or accidentally release a bunker. Has happened and still happens to all of us. I actually have a few systems I think I have too many WUs on and won't complete them all before their deadline. I apparently didn't use a large enough sample of completed WUs to calculate the avg amount of time to complete a WU. 200-300 WUs might not get done in time. It happens.

Silver · Post by **Silver** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:12 pm

I thought I'd posted a reply in here... I must have typed and then not submitted it

In light of the above admission it might be safer if you direct any questions to someone that can actually manage to post properly on a forum

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 12:03 am

BTW Skywalker, I'm coming for that #1 team spot in NFS :)

Post by **Bryan** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:39 pm

scole250 wrote:
I have over 6000 WUs in the pipeline 8)

You greedy pig ... isn't bunkering cheating? Personally I would never lower myself to that level

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:39 pm

Bryan wrote:You greedy pig ... isn't bunkering cheating? Personally I would never lower myself to that level

Cheating! I'll have you know that during the SETI@Home team challenge in March of 2007 this same issue came up in the now famous debate Anderson vs. McAdams. It was settled when McAdams successfully argued that if a project will give you 7 days of WUs, there shall be no infraction for downloading them.

Post by **Bryan** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:21 pm

scole250 wrote:
Bryan wrote:You greedy pig ... isn't bunkering cheating? Personally I would never lower myself to that level
Cheating! I'll have you know that during the SETI@Home team challenge in March of 2007 this same issue came up in the now famous debate Anderson vs. McAdams. It was settled when McAdams successfully argued that if a project will give you 7 days of WUs, there shall be no infraction for downloading them.

I didn't realize that it had been formally debated and an appropriate conclusion was reached. I stand corrected ... thank you for the words of wisdom

There are 3 I7-3770s on the 1st page of the project's top computers that have 800 WU in progress w/ 0 valids. Are those yours? If not, Carlos may be correct that P3DN is going to do some bunkering.

I don't think there will be much of a hole shot from SUSA. We've been hammering Universe to be the 1st team to 100M. Kinda cool, a Polish project and B@P had a 16M lead. We didn't finish until this morning so there has been no opportunity to bunker.

Good luck guys!!

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:36 pm

Bryan wrote:There are 3 I7-3770s on the 1st page of the project's top computers that have 800 WU in progress w/ 0 valids. Are those yours? If not, Carlos may be correct that P3DN is going to do some bunkering.

Not mine. Can't tell who it is. It's one of those chaps who hides their computers.

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 12:26 am

Finally got a connection. No bunker here, simply trying to get the systems off Yafu to try and help the team here. Straight off standing start.

Post by **Sphynx** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:20 am

scole250 wrote:
Bryan wrote:You greedy pig ... isn't bunkering cheating? Personally I would never lower myself to that level
Cheating! I'll have you know that during the SETI@Home team challenge in March of 2007 this same issue came up in the now famous debate Anderson vs. McAdams. It was settled when McAdams successfully argued that if a project will give you 7 days of WUs, there shall be no infraction for downloading them.

Bryan, I guess you got schooled! Good going Scole. Nice bunker BTW! Good luck to TSBT

Post by **utopia-i** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:11 am

... and after trying my own trial and error method on bunkering, I eventually managed a 101K upload ... for me that's more than respectable

(set Activity to No network connection was a techy as it got! and I'll not go into detail about how I not only suspended the network but all the WUs as well, getting a big bunkered 0.00 on one PC

)

However I have room to do better for future competitions with the info above which looks more than achievable - so thanks to all for that ..

Hopefully the Team will do GOOD and move the science onwards ..

----------

where is alez [ TSBT's Pirate ] = we NEED you 8) + plenty room for others to join in

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 1:45 pm

Sphynx wrote:...Scole. Nice bunker BTW! Good luck to TSBT

Until I can figure out how to knock off 100K per hour like some of you SUSA folks, that's the best play I have.

utopia-i wrote:... and after trying my own trial and error method on bunkering, I eventually managed a 101K upload ... for me that's more than respectable

That's an excellent start!

Alez got caught with a bunch of Yafu WUs on his systems. Those WUs have a mind of their own. You never know how long they'll take to finish.

Post by **Bryan** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 8:13 pm

With regards to bunkering you can do the Windows "Rules" thing. But you want to check to see if your router/modem supports "parental controls". If it does then take a look if you can block a website by entering a "keyword". For example, on my modem, I can tell it to block "escatter" which is contained in the NFS URL. I can then tell the router/modem that my laptop is "trusted" so the rule doesn't apply to it so I can still access the NFS site but all the crunchers are blocked.

If your modem will do this then it is extremely simple to bunker since you only have to do one thing rather than creating a rule on each machine.

Well dang Steve, you mean you haven't figured out the 100k an hour trick? That one is top secret

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:17 pm

Bryan wrote:Well dang Steve, you mean you haven't figured out the 100k an hour trick? That one is top secret

To be honest, I'd be happy to master the 10K per hour trick. Trying to work out a plan to swap out a 4 core rig with a 24 core rig without anyone noticing. :hiding:

Silver · Post by **Silver** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:24 pm

Bryan wrote:With regards to bunkering you can do the Windows "Rules" thing. But you want to check to see if your router/modem supports "parental controls". If it does then take a look if you can block a website by entering a "keyword". For example, on my modem, I can tell it to block "escatter" which is contained in the NFS URL. I can then tell the router/modem that my laptop is "trusted" so the rule doesn't apply to it so I can still access the NFS site but all the crunchers are blocked.

If your modem will do this then it is extremely simple to bunker since you only have to do one thing rather than creating a rule on each machine.

Now that's so simple it's genius Bryan.
I was looking at keyword blocking but didn't think of using "escatter", I didn't think it would work well using "number" or "field"

Post by **Sphynx** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 1:25 am

Oh no, you didn't use the work genius...we'll never be able to live with Bryan now. It actually wasn't that easy before, but FYI...you're not helping.

Post by **Bryan** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 1:32 am

Sphynx wrote:Oh no, you didn't use the word genius...we'll never be able to live with Bryan now. It actually wasn't that easy before, but FYI...you're not helping.

I don't think I've ever seen my name and genius in the same sentence before. However, it is very common to see my name and "simple" or "simpleton" together!

Post by **Bryan** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 2:15 pm

The top dude from P3DN is not going to have a good day. Haunted Forest just passed him and dropped him to 4th. When the P3DN guy dropped his bunker I started bunkering some of my machines and within the hour I'll cut them loose and drop him to 5th

Dang I hate those guys with their big bunkers ... it is so hard to run them down. I think I need more horsepower. Hey Steve, I don't suppose you have an 8 thread machine you could run on my account for the next 3 days do you? I'd be glad to pay you back DOUBLE on your next challenge!

BTW, I think you guys are getting a wee bit of help already, but you'll get a little boost when I do the dump.

Janos (retired) · Post by **Janos (retired)** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 2:27 pm

Bryan wrote: Hey Steve, I don't suppose you have an 8 thread machine you could run on my account for the next 3 days do you? I'd be glad to pay you back DOUBLE on your next challenge!

I can send a couple of i7's your way if you need.

Post by **Bryan** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:05 pm

Janos wrote:
Bryan wrote: Hey Steve, I don't suppose you have an 8 thread machine you could run on my account for the next 3 days do you? I'd be glad to pay you back DOUBLE on your next challenge!
I can send a couple of i7's your way if you need.

That works for me!

Janos, you don't know how much I appreciate the offer! However, Steve is the one with the big bunker that I won't be able to run down

I'd drop him in a heartbeat if I could, but I can't do it with hired guns

His bunker drop was a thing of beauty!

I truly thank you for the honest offer but I'm afraid I must decline. Of course if you send me a PM so he doesn't know then we could work something out :bounce:

Janos (retired) · Post by **Janos (retired)** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:09 pm

Aye, he has the bunkering down to an artform :)

Janos (retired) · Post by **Janos (retired)** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:15 pm

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 4:05 pm

Bryan wrote:Hey Steve, I don't suppose you have an 8 thread machine you could run on my account for the next 3 days do you? I'd be glad to pay you back DOUBLE on your next challenge!

That's kind of like Warren Buffett asking to borrow money from you

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 10:43 pm

TSBT is holding 2nd and here's the current TSBT cruncher standings in the comp...

scole of TSBT 2
Crannog of TSBT 11
utopia-i 12
Paul of TSBT 20
Janos of TSBT 21
alez [ TSBT's Pirate ] 23
Skywalker TSBT 30
phildemeur 56
Megacruncher of TSBT 64

Welcome Crannog of TSBT! Always good see a new cruncher and these comps seem to bring them out of woodwork!

Meanwhile, any wagers on the tally the zombie67 apocalypse will rack up

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 12:29 am

Just typical, the competition all the boys come out to play on and I'm stuck offshore with a lousey connection and no idea what my systems are up to, except that it's not what I want. I have tried to force more NFS but it will either work or most of the systems will have crashed by end of tonight.
Time will tell

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 1:41 pm

Guess we should have properly introduced our guest cruncher. Crannog of TSBT also goes by cineon_lut of SETI.USA. If I didn't know better, I'd say those guys might just be looking for an official invite to join our team.

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 7:54 pm

No invite required, they are welcome anytime

On a bit of a better progress now, Skywalker, tick, Paul, tick, Janos, tick ..... utopia-i .... let's see if i can catch you

Post by **utopia-i** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 8:20 pm

Alez, yes, YES YES please catch me, Im not standing in your way, honest!, get into 2nd gear and your be passed in a flash ...

better late in the competion than never, Im trying to hold onto a top 20 finish if I can depite my bunkering effort ... I need to master a 6 or 7 day bunker for ghe next competition, not a 3 day one

A prize to someone/anyone to who recognises my favourite author, following centiment .. 'Hail to the Cheif'

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 8:42 pm

Does it count if you had to google it?

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 8:47 pm

My first thought is All the President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, am I on the completely wrong track ?

Either that or I'm going for Washington Irvine

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:02 pm

Sir Walter Scott

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 2:36 am

sorry utopia-i but just cost you another place

if this was a 7 day challenge might have a shot at top 10, going for top 15 as things stand.
Think TSBT should hold 2nd place when the fat lady wraps it up.

Post by **utopia-i** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:01 am

... sorry Alez, I had a secret bunker of 94K and have roared past you, not for long you SHOUT!

, I've played my cards too soon at a guess but hopefully hang onto a top 20.

Talking of secret bunkers, hands up to those of you who has visited http://www.secretbunker.co.uk/, I found it all rather tooooo claustrophobic

and ..

To put you out of your misery and for those who didn't use GooGle

, Hail to the Chief (87th Precinct) is by Ed McBain, aka Evan Hunter ... the prize will be carried forwards

.... http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/produc ... 0000000206

Who is this zombie67 [MM] - impressive crunching for sure

8) 8), has the invite to join(t) our team gone out yet ? .. but hey, its not about the winning, its the taking part ......

Silver · Post by **Silver** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 11:45 am

utopia-i wrote:... sorry Alez, I had a secret bunker of 94K and have roared past you, not for long you SHOUT! , I've played my cards too soon at a guess but hopefully hang onto a top 20.

Nice move there utopia

Post by **Bryan** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 2:17 pm

utopia-i wrote: Who is this zombie67 [MM] - impressive crunching for sure 8) 8), has the invite to join(t) our team gone out yet ? .. but hey, its not about the winning, its the taking part ......

Zombie is a guy who is currently afflicted by this medical condition "epidemic parotitis".