Console Installation Question

[nemowolf]

So i dont know if i am reading this wrong but i thought the console installation would work as a service and just launch and stay in the background. Right now i have it starting a cmd window and running fah exe but it never goes away. Is there a way to make this run without having it actually have a window opened?

[nunyadam]

one of the options when you set it up is run as a service.

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

one of the options when you set it up is run as a service.

Oooh, that was the only thing stopping me doing that as part of the base build of my computers........

What version is it that can do that..?

[Sky King]

Oooh, that was the only thing stopping me doing that as part of the base build of my computers........

What version is it that can do that..?

When you download the normal (non-GPU, non-SMP) client, you can download either a systray version or a console version. For a service, you use the console version.

As you start up the client and do your initial config--the place where you enter in your folding name, team name, etc... when you get to the question about "advanced options", answer yes, and it will go on to ask you 4 or 5 more questions. One of those questions asks if you want the client to run automatically by installing it as a service. You say yes to this, as the default is no.

At that point, the service is not yet running. So... you can either reboot, which you don't need to do... or, you can close your CMD window (use Crtl-C to stop the client if it started running a work unit, or, if you started the client with -configonly, just close the window.)

Then go into Computer -> Manage -> Services, find the service named something like "Folding@home..." and start it.

So... That's the part that confuses people and probably tripped you up... If you just start the client up in the CMD window, do the configuration, but did NOT use the -configonly flag to start it... then it just plows ahead and starts running, right in that window. You can either let it run, and it will "become" a service by itself on the next reboot; or, you can kill it and start the service your own bad self.

That's it. Watch your task manager to see if a process called something like "FAHCore_xx.exe" has been spawned and is burning up some serious CPU within about one minute of starting, and if it is, you are probably on the right track. Then you have to use a tool, like FAHmon, to actually monitor it, or just view the logs periodically yourself.

[KarmaKiller]

And I'm late as always!


I would recommend FahSpy though. I don't get any of the "hung" read outs with it.

Folding Forum • View topic - FahSpy (monitoring tool)

[nunyadam]

Folding@home - WinUNIGuide


You want the console client.
To install it as a service you will need to pay attention instead of blindly clicking through the options. Look for this line.

Change advanced options (yes/no) [no]? yes

If you want to change the advanced options, enter yes but it's not mandatory. (if you want a service install enter yes, or you will not see the option.)

Launch automatically, install as a service in this directory (yes/no) [no]?

If you want the client to run as a service, say yes and it will install a new entry in the services list. Next time you restart the computer, the service will start automatically and run in the background.

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

Hi,

I've downloaded it, and am part-way through the CLI install..

I haven't used F@H for ages, so while I have found the Team and Username details, I can't remember what the "Passkey" was....

Is there any way I can find/reset/change it, or does it even matter...??

[KarmaKiller]

Passkey doesn't matter...

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

Ok, installed...

I'll restart the computer shortly, but I haven't seen anything in the Services that stands out as being F@H...

[KarmaKiller]

Sky's post above tells you how to start it with out a reboot.

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

I'm back...

The reason I restarted was that I couldn't find anything that looked like it was F@H in the Services list.

It wasn't there after a restart either, so I had a poke around in the folder I'd created for it (C:\F@H) and after a coulpe of minutes I saw the top of the log that said that it wouldn't run as a service as I hadn't started it with an account that has admin rights...

Fixed it now, and I can see schtuffs in the "Work" folder...

[KarmaKiller]

Ah cool..
Now you need to set up a little monitor app so you know what it's doing.
The choices are pretty much:

FahMon or FahSpy.

Both work ok. Lately I switched over to FahSpy, and I like it a touch better.

Can't wait to see you in the stats.

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

Is it possible to monitor what another computer (on the same domain/network) is doing..?

Asking as I've now got it installed on two computers (one of which is a multi-boot - XP Pro/Fista Business/W7) and I'd like to be able to monitor the other computer without interupting the person who uses it normally....

[Sky King]

Is it possible to monitor what another computer (on the same domain/network) is doing..?

Asking as I've now got it installed on two computers (one of which is a multi-boot - XP Pro/Fista Business/W7) and I'd like to be able to monitor the other computer without interupting the person who uses it normally....

Most monitor programs like FAHmon and FAHspy are merely scraping their data out of the logs. You "point" the monitor software at each folding instance by navigating to wherever the log files for each instance are.

Thus, if you setup file shares in such a way that the monitoring PC can see the FAH folders on the monitored PC, you are golden.

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

(EDIT.....Eh, that wasn't meant to go here)

[nemowolf]

Wow, talk about a late response right??!! Was on vacation this weekend and didnt get a chance to get online like i had hoped. Ohh well...

Okay so i need to rerun my config again and set it up as described earlier. Let ya know if i have any troubles!

[KarmaKiller]

You can type the command to start folding, but follow it with a space, then -configonly

That will take you though the config again.

[nemowolf]

You can type the command to start folding, but follow it with a space, then -configonly

That will take you though the config again.

yep, i managed to remember that! WOOO!!! i just started the service!


Now to make my slave army of kiosk computers running this.

[KarmaKiller]

You forgot your evil laugh, but I'll put that in for you..

Muhahahahahahahahahahah

[nemowolf]

You forgot your evil laugh, but I'll put that in for you..

Muhahahahahahahahahahah

Toooo true! I have to set up a bunch of kiosk computers for my company and i think i will now install this as a nice addition to their otherwise frivolous use.