Is there a guide to config.xml?

[Instance]

This might not be a very basic question. I have a server-grade machine in a remote data centre that's used for backup storage. This means that the only interface is CLI and at most three of its eight cores get intermittent use.

I'd like to set the configuration to maximize use of 5 cores and to take advantage of the other three when a transfer isn't underway, but I am unsure as to how to do that. At the moment it's running one core but we can do better than that!

Any guidance or a reference to the contents of config.xml would be much greatly appreciated. The OS is CENTOS 7.7

[Joe_H]

I don't know of any guide, and we usually recommend only modifying config.xml with the client. The client is looking for very specific formatting and errors can bork the client.

Is there a system there with display you can use or remote connect to? FAHControl can be installed on a separate machine and be used to control one or more systems on the network remotely.

[rixon]

@PantherX has a lot of good info in viewtopic.php?p=261089&f=24#p261088. A lot of these flags are the same as the XML tags. I'm in a similar environment as you, and was able to use this to cobble together an XML file for deployment to multiple machines. I tested individually first, verified proper operation/with FAHControl. Once I had a good template I could deploy on out.

[Denisok]

<slot type="CPU" id="0">

<cpus v="XXX"/>

</slot>

Where XXX is number of cores you want.

[v00d00]

The basics can be found by running the client with --help

Code: Select all

fah@Sithis:~/fahclient-smp$ ./fahsmp --help
20:10:57:INFO(1):Read GPUs.txt
Usage: ./fahsmp [[--config] <filename>] [OPTIONS]...
Command line options:
  --chdir <string>
      Change directory before starting server. All files opened after this
      point, such as the configuration file, must have paths relative to the new
      directory.

  --config <string=config.xml>
      Set configuration file.

  --configure
      Create a basic configuration file, then exit.

  --dump <string>
      Dump either 'all' or a specific work unit, identified by its queue ID,
      then exit.

  --finish
      Finish all current work units, send the results, then exit.

  --help [string]
      Print help screen or help on a particular option and exit.

  --info
      Print application and system information and exit.

  --license
      License information and exit.

  --lifeline <integer>
      The application will watch for this process ID and exit if it goes away.
      Usually the calling process' PID.

  --lspci
      List the PCI bus devices, which can be helpful for finding GPU vendor and
      device IDs.

  --print
      Print configuration and exit.

  --queue-info
      Print work unit queue then exit.

  --send
      Send all finished work units, then exit.

  --send-command <string>
      Send a command to an already running client.

  --send-finish [string]
      Finish a slot or all slots on an already running client.

  --send-pause [string]
      Pause a slot or all slots on an already running client.

  --send-unpause [string]
      Unpause a slot or all slots on an already running client.

  -v
      Increase verbosity level.

  --version
      Print application version and exit.

  -v
      Increase verbosity level.


Configuration options:
The following options can be specified in a configuration file or on the command
line using the following syntax:

    --<option> <value>

  or:

    --<option>=<value>

  or when marking boolean values true:

    --<option>

Client Control:
  client-threads <integer=6>
    The number of client processing threads.

  cycle-rate <double=4>
    The maximum cycle frequency in Hz of client threads.

  cycles <integer=-1>
    Run at most this many cycles. A value less than zero means run indefinitely.

  data-directory <string=.>
    The directory, relative to the current directory, where WU data and cores
    are stored.

  disable-sleep-when-active <boolean=true>
    Attempt to keep the system from sleeping when folding, unless on battery.

  exec-directory <string=/opt/fah/fahclient-smp>
    The directory, relative to the current executable, where executables and
    dynamic libraries are located.

  exit-when-done <boolean=false>
    Exit when all slots are paused.

  fold-anon <boolean=false>
    Start folding even if not configured.

  idle-seconds <integer=300>
    Number of seconds of system idle time before enabling idle folding. Set to
    zero to ignore system idle time.

  open-web-control <boolean=false>
    Make an operating system specific call to open the Web Control in a browser
    once client is fully loaded

Configuration:
  config-rotate <boolean=true>
    Rotate the configuration file to a backup when saving would overwrite the
    previous configuration.

  config-rotate-dir <string=configs>
    Put rotated configs in this directory.

  config-rotate-max <integer=16>
    The maximum number of rotated configuration files to keep. A value of zero
    will keep all configuration file backups.

Error Handling:
  max-slot-errors <integer=10>
    The maximum number of errors before a slot is paused.

  max-unit-errors <integer=5>
    The maximum number of errors before a work unit is dumped.

Folding Core:
  checkpoint <integer=15>
    Tell cores to checkpoint at least every # minutes.

  core-dir <string=cores>
    The directory to store core files in.

  core-prep <string>
    Run this command on cores after they are downloaded. This option is useful
    for running Linux cores on BSD machines.

  core-priority <string=idle>
    Set the core priority. Valid values are: idle or low

  cpu-affinity <boolean=false>
    If true, try to lock core processes to a fixed CPU

  cpu-usage <integer=100>
    The maximum percentage of the CPU a core should use. Not implemented by all
    cores.

  gpu-usage <integer=100>
    GPU usage as a percent from 10-100

  no-assembly <boolean=false>
    Tell cores to disable optimized assembly code.

Folding Slot Configuration:
  cause <string=ANY>
    The cause you prefer to support.

  client-subtype <string=LINUX>
    The client subtype

  client-type <string=normal>
    The client type. Can be 'normal', 'advanced' or 'beta'.

  cpu-species <string=X86_AMD>
    CPU species.

  cpu-type <string=AMD64>
    CPU type.

  cpus <integer=-1>
    How many CPUs a slot should use. <= 0 will use all the CPUs detected in the
    system.

  cuda-index <string>
    The CUDA device index of the GPU, counting starts from 0.

  extra-core-args <string>
    Pass extra arguments to the core.

  gpu <boolean=true>
    Enable or disable auto-confiugration of GPU slots, requires appropriate
    hardware.

  gpu-index <string>
    The index of the GPU as detected by the client. This index corresponds
    directly to the GPUs listed in the client's '--info' output.

  max-packet-size <string=normal>
    Max size in bytes of a work unit packet. Can be small=5MB, normal=10MB,
    big=500MB or a number.

  memory <string>
    Override memory, in bytes, reported to Folding@home.

  opencl-index <string>
    The OpenCL device index of the GPU, counting starts from 0.

  os-species <string=UNKNOWN>
    Operating system species.

  os-type <string=LINUX>
    Operating system type.

  project-key <integer=0>
    Key for access to restricted testing projects.

  smp <boolean=true>
    Enable or disable auto-configuration of SMP slots, requires appropriate
    hardware.

GUI:
  gui-enabled <boolean=true>
    Set to false to disable the GUI. A GUI is not currently supported on all
    operating systems.

HTTP Server:
  allow <string=127.0.0.1>
    Client addresses which are allowed to connect to this server. This option
    overrides IPs which are denied in the deny option. The pattern 0/0 matches
    all addresses.

  connection-timeout <integer=60>
    The maximum amount of time, in seconds, a connection can be idle before
    being dropped.

  deny <string=0/0>
    Client address which are not allowed to connect to this server.

  http-addresses <string=0:7396>
    A space separated list of server address and port pairs to listen on in the
    form <ip | hostname>[:<port>]

  https-addresses <string=>
    A space separated list of secure server address and port pairs to listen on
    in the form <ip | hostname>[:<port>]

  max-connect-time <integer=900>
    The maximum amount of time, in seconds, a client can be connected to the
    server.

  max-connections <integer=800>
    Sets the maximum number of simultaneous connections.

  max-request-length <integer=52428800>
    Sets the maximum length of a client request packet.

  min-connect-time <integer=300>
    The minimum amount of time, in seconds, a client must be connected to the
    server before it can be dropped in favor or a new connection.

  threads <integer=6>
    Sets the number of server threads.

HTTP Server SSL:
  certificate-file <string>
    The servers certificate file in PEM format.

  crl-file <string>
    Supply a Certificate Revocation List. Overrides any internal CRL

  private-key-file <string>
    The servers private key file in PEM format.

Logging:
  log <string=log.txt>
    Set log file.

  log-color <boolean=true>
    Print log messages with ANSI color coding.

  log-crlf <boolean=false>
    Print carriage return and line feed at end of log lines.

  log-date <boolean=false>
    Print date information with log entries.

  log-date-periodically <integer=21600>
    Print date to log before new log entries if so many seconds have passed
    since the last date was printed.

  log-debug <boolean=true>
    Disable or enable debugging info.

  log-domain <boolean=false>
    Print domain information with log entries.

  log-domain-levels <string ...>
    Set log levels by domain. Format is:
      <domain>[:i|d|t]:<level> ...
    Entries are separated by white-space and or commas.
      i - info
      d - debug
    For example: server:i:3 module:6
    Set 'server' domain info messages to level 3 and 'module' info and debug
    messages to level 6. All other domains will follow the system wide log
    verbosity level.
    If <level> is negative it is relative to the system wide verbosity.

  log-header <boolean=true>
    Enable log message headers.

  log-level <boolean=true>
    Print level information with log entries.

  log-no-info-header <boolean=true>
    Don't print 'INFO(#):' in header.

  log-redirect <boolean=false>
    Redirect all output to log file. Implies !log-to-screen.

  log-rotate <boolean=true>
    Rotate log files on each run.

  log-rotate-dir <string=logs>
    Put rotated logs in this directory.

  log-rotate-max <integer=16>
    Maximum number of rotated logs to keep.

  log-short-level <boolean=false>
    Print shortened level information with log entries.

  log-simple-domains <boolean=true>
    Remove any leading directories and trailing file extensions from domains so
    that source code file names can be easily used as log domains.

  log-thread-id <boolean=false>
    Print id with log entries.

  log-thread-prefix <boolean=true>
    Print thread prefixes, if set, with log entries.

  log-time <boolean=true>
    Print time information with log entries.

  log-to-screen <boolean=true>
    Log to screen.

  log-truncate <boolean=false>
    Truncate log file.

  verbosity <integer=3>
    Set logging level for INFO and DEBUG messages.

Network:
  proxy <string=>
    Set proxy for outgoing HTTP connections

  proxy-enable <boolean=false>
    Enable proxy configuration

  proxy-pass <string=>
    Set password for proxy connections

  proxy-user <string=>
    Set user name for proxy connections

Process Control:
  child <boolean=false>
    Disable 'daemon', 'fork', 'pid' and 'respawn' options. Also defaults
    'log-to-screen' to false. Used internally.

  daemon <boolean=false>
    Short for --pid --service --respawn --log='' --fork

  fork <boolean=false>
    Run in background.

  pid <boolean=false>
    Create PID file.

  pid-file <string=Folding@home Client.pid>
    Name of PID file.

  priority <string>
    Set the process priority. Valid values are: idle, low, normal, high or
    realtime.

  respawn <boolean=false>
    Run the application as a child process and respawn if it is killed or exits.

  run-as <string>
    Run as specified user

  service <boolean=false>
    Ignore user logout or hangup and interrupt signals

Remote Command Server:
  command-address <string=0.0.0.0>
    The address to which the command server should be bound.

  command-allow-no-pass <string=127.0.0.1>
    IP address ranges that are allowed access to the command server with out a
    password if the 'password' option is set. These addresses will also have to
    be allowed IP based access.

  command-deny-no-pass <string=0/0>
    IP address ranges that are not allowed access to the command server with out
    a password if the 'password' option is set. Overriden by
    command-allow-no-pass

  command-enable <boolean=true>
    Set to false to disable the command server.

  command-port <integer=36330>
    The port to which the command server should be bound.

  eval <string>
    Evaluate the argument as a script.

  password <string>
    Set a command server password. Warning, setting a password disables the
    default IP address blocking.

  script <string>
    Run commands from a script file.

Slot Control:
  idle <boolean=false>
    Only run slot when idle.

  max-shutdown-wait <integer=60>
    The maxumum amount of time to wait in seconds for a unit to exit on
    shutdown.

  pause-on-battery <boolean=true>
    Pause the client or slot when the OS indicates the machine is running on
    battery power.

  pause-on-start <boolean=false>
    If true the slot will be started in a paused state.

  paused <boolean=false>
    True of client is paused.

  power <string=medium>
    Set the client's power level. Valid values are 'light', 'medium' or 'full'.
    This setting affects the defaults of several other options such as 'cpus',
    'pause-on-battery', etc.

User Information:
  machine-id <integer=0>
    The machine ID.

  passkey <string=>
    Your passkey.

  team <integer=0>
    Your team number.

  user <string=Anonymous>
    Your user name.

Web Server:
  web-allow <string=127.0.0.1>
    Client addresses which are allowed to connect to this Web server. This
    option overrides IPs which are denied in the web-deny option. This option
    differs from the 'allow'/'deny' options in that clients that are not allowed
    are served an access denied page rather than simply dropping the connection.
    The value '0/0' matches all IPs.

  web-deny <string=0/0>
    Client address which are not allowed to connect to this Web server.

  web-enable <boolean=true>
    Set to false to disable the web server.

Web Server Sessions:
  session-cookie <string=sid>
    The name of the session cookie.

  session-lifetime <integer=86400>
    The maximum session lifetime in seconds. Zero for unlimited session
    lifetime.

  session-timeout <integer=3600>
    The max maximum amount of time in seconds since the last time a session was
    used before it timesout. Zero for no session timeout.

Work Unit Control:
  dump-after-deadline <boolean=true>
    Dump units if their deadline has passed.

  max-queue <integer=16>
    Maximum units per slot in the work queue.

  max-units <integer=0>
    Process at most this number of units, then pause.

  next-unit-percentage <integer=99>
    Pre-download the next work unit when the current one is this far along.
    Values less than 90 are not allowed.

  stall-detection-enabled <boolean=false>
    Attempt to detect stalled work units and restart them.

  stall-percent <integer=5>
    Minimum estimated percent work unit completion since last frame before a WU
    can be considered stalled, if zero the percentage is ignored.

  stall-timeout <integer=1800>
    Minimum time, in seconds, since last frame before a WU can be considered
    stalled.

A basic config that uses 5 cores.

Code: Select all

<config>
  <!-- Folding Core -->
  <checkpoint v='10'/>
  <cpu-usage v='100'/>

  <!-- Folding Slot Configuration -->
  <client-type v='advanced'/>
  <cpus v='5'/>
  <extra-core-args v='  -service   '/>

  <!-- HTTP Server -->
  <http-addresses v='127.0.0.1:7396'/>

  <!-- Slot Control -->
  <power v='FULL'/>

  <!-- User Information -->
  <passkey v='xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'/>
  <team v='0'/>
  <user v='yourname'/>

  <!-- Folding Slots -->
  <slot id='2' type='CPU'/>
</config>

Also consider using taskset to assign FAHClient to 5 cores, eg:

Code: Select all

taskset -c 03,04,05,06,07 ./FAHClient

If it was running GPU you can also isolate cpu cores using isolcpus= during boot. Its quite useful if you are running a number of GPUs and allows you to isolate each FAHClient to one core with no possibility of the process moving to any other core. Total process seperation. isolcpus is only useful for uniprocessing use. So far I havent found a way to isolate say 5 cores and then allow fah to use all of them. For GPU it works because you ideally want one core for every GPU and this allows it to be dedicated so no system processes can use those cores, so each GPU will get 100% cpu time on that core. If you were using this you would use taskset to assign FAHClient to each core and change the gpu index in each config so each client uses a different card.

[Instance]

Is there a system there with display you can use or remote connect to? FAHControl can be installed on a separate machine and be used to control one or more systems on the network remotely.

Fortunately I speak fluent XML. Manually edited the file, restarted the service and now it's waiting for tasks. No GPU of course, but now four cores are pegged with work.

[Instance]

@v00d00 thanks, that was very helpful!

Okay, second question.

My laptop is a gaming machine, but since I use it mostly for development and less often photography, the CPUs tend to be busy while the GPU sits idle. My current status is running a task on a CPU core but the GPU is "waiting for idle". Meanwhile my GPU utilization is 2%. Is there any way to tell the client to favour the GPU? Ideally FAHClient can have all the GPU it wants; I can manually tell it to back off when doing image work.

[v00d00]

Set a slot to GPU and delete any CPU slots. Make sure you are running the official grpahics drivers, regardless of which OS you are using. Make sure OpenCL works/is installed.

If you are using Windows on the laptop, use FAH Control to pause/unpause as and when you need it. You can also use FAHControl on Linux, or the web interface. FAHControl is easier, but i personally prefer the web interface.

Make sure you have good cooling on the laptop, like one of those fan bases that you sit it on to promote better air flow, as FAH will hammer it and produce all sorts of heat that you need to dissipate.

[Instance]

Thanks again v00d00!