Important settings for DF

[Nofinger]

Important settings for Distributed Folding:
(this is for windows Txt client but I believe its usefull in other OS also, if not post updates)

For Non-interactive Auto-updating:

To enable this feature and allow automatic updating without your intervention required, simply create a text file in the same directory as the client, called "autoupdate.cfg" with the digit 1 on a single line.

For Increasing the Buffer Size:

(recommended/needed for no-netting but also usefull for the rest of the users)
Simply edit the foldit script (foldit.bat on Windows) and add "-df" (without the quotes) to the end of the line containing "foldtrajlite -f protein -n native".

For Disabling Network access:

(no-netting)
Add '-i f' to the foldit.bat script (without the quotes) to the end of the line containing "foldtrajlite -f protein -n native".
IMPORTANT: it is highly reccommended that you use an increased buffer size with this option (see Increasing the Buffer Size, above)

Upload Only Option:

add '-u t' to the foldit.bat script (without the quotes) to the end of the line containing "foldtrajlite -f protein -n native".
The client will perform all normal startup procedures such as checking for new versions and uploading buffered
data, but then it will exit before starting to generate any structures.
(I use this option after I have harvested results from other machines without internet connection to upload them from my main machine)

(Extra)

I copied the foldit.bat file and made 2 extra files, 1 I called “folditupload.bat” and the other “folditoffline.bat”
So I got:
1. Foldit.bat
2. folditoffline.bat
3. folditupload.bat
(names speak for it self I hope)

The line wich need to be edit in these files is: ‘.\foldtrajlite -f protein -n native’ (without the quotes + 3rd line in the file).

This line looks (after editting) in my foldit.bat like this: .\foldtrajlite -f protein -n native –df

This line looks (after editting) in my folditoffline.bat like this: .\foldtrajlite -f protein -n native -df -i f

This line looks (after editting) in my folditupload.bat like this: .\foldtrajlite -f protein -n native -df -u t

So if I want to fold “normal” I use the foldit.bat file to start the client, if I want to no-net I use the folditoffline.bat file.

Making the client run faster( you'll need atleast 256mb of ram)
--------------------
The software can be made to run roughly twice as fast, at the cost of using
more memory.
Normally the software uses about 25MB RAM while running, but if you add
the '-rt' option to the line ".\foldtrajlite -f protein -n native" in the foldit script,
the client will then use up to 150MB RAM, but run twice as fast.
Make sure you have enough free RAM (and NOT virtual memory) or you will not
benefit from the speed improvement.

For the same effect with the Screensaver, simply select the 'use more RAM'
option in the Configuration Dialog Box.

If you are running the Windows NT/2000/XP service mode of the client, edit the
service.cfg file (you may have to /remove and then /install the service if
this file is missing in your folding directory).
The service.cfg normally contains a single line with a number (to tell it whether it is
copy #1 or copy #2 of the service).
Add a second line to this file with the text 'useram=1' (without the quotes) in
order to tell the service to use up to150MB RAM as well.

Running as an NT/2000/XP service
--------------------------------
The Windows version of the client can be set up to run as a normal Windows NT
service, so that it will start automatically whenever your computer starts up
and run in the background until you shut down. Structures will be uploaded
every 5000 still, and buffered for later upload at shutdown (so your shutdown
procedure will not be delayed). It runs at low priority so other tasks will
push it out of the way and so it should not noticeably slow your machine
down. Be warned that it will only upload after making 5000 structures (a few
hours, depending on your machine speed) so make sure you are connected to the
internet when using the client as a service. Also, updates will automatically
be accepted (provided they are digitally signed) in this mode and a large
amount of data may be buffered if you do not connect to the network for a long
period of time. To check progress while running as a service, a file called
"progress.txt" will be written to the directory where the program is installed
so you can monitor its progress still.

To setup the program to work as a service:

1. Open a DOS prompt to the directory you installed the client.
2. If it is not already there, create a new file called "handle.txt" and in it
type your 8 character handle followed by Enter (or alternatively, run
foldit.bat first, enter your handle when asked for it, then quit)
3. Type: foldtrajlite /install (and hit Enter)
4. The next time you reboot your machine it will start automatically

To remove the service:

1. Go to Administrative Tools -> Services
2. Find and Stop the service called Distributed Folding Project
3. Open a DOS prompt to the directory you installed the client.
4. Type: foldtrajlite /remove (and hit Enter)
5. It will not be run on your machine automatically anymore

You may install a second instance of the service by changing step 3 above
from 'foldtrajlite /install' to 'foldtrajlite /install2'. Similarly, to
remove this second instance, change step 4 to 'foldtrajlite /remove2'.
Note that if you wish to run two instances, you must install two full
copies of the software in separate directories and install one using
/install and the other /install2. Not following this procedure correctly
will result in unpredictable behaviour.

(Edit/use on own risk, this post will be updated if/when it is needed)

[siggy]

Great information Nofinger, Thank you :hugz:

[Benjamino]

I got it going on my machine for a day or two to see what I think. So far I have only found a way to input my username. It wasn't something I chose, but what the site gave me. Also I used your batch files above, a note, you cannot add the "-df" for the first launch or it will error out, but after that it's fine. Also, do I always use the batch files to launch the program? If I use them, it seems to work fine but is there another way?

[phil]

Hey Ben, yes you must use the .bat files to launch the program. You can add a shortcut to the start menu if you wish or even add the client as a service with NT* (check the docs). You input you handle into the program, but you can change your displayed username by logging into your profile here: http://www.distributedfolding.org/login.html - this is where you join/start a team etc.

[MikeTimbers]

One thing I found was that on my W2KPro box I had to rename the .bat to a .cmd.

[phil]

Originally posted by MikeTimbers
One thing I found was that on my W2KPro box I had to rename the .bat to a .cmd.


Really? It worked fine on my 2kpro/2k Server/XP systems :confused:

[siggy]

Hey Phil is there anyway to add Nofingers post to the :news: section on the front page? It really is great information, and I think it is very well written. :hugz:

[Nofinger]

Originally posted by siggy
Hey Phil is there anyway to add Nofingers post to the :news: section on the front page? It really is great information, and I think it is very well written. :hugz:

:o :o :o :o :o

Thanks Siggy :hugz: But I can't take all the credits, I did some cut and paste from the readme file of the df client.

I only put it in a kind of user friendly version so anybody could understand it and to get rid of some of the unnecessary stuff.

+ I added some of my own stuff :)

I'm still :o from your kind words :hugz: :D

[Nofinger]

I edited the text of the first post and added info on the faster setting option.

[MikeTimbers]

One interesting point about the "use extra RAM" option. Even on a machine with 128MB, I got 50% increase in performance. Although it had to swap like crazy when I was actually doing any work, over the course of each day I got 50% more with the option enabled than without.