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Send message Joined: 19 Jul 10 Posts: 627 Credit: 19,303,095 RAC: 855 |
In my experience, the BOINC client often resorts to put various tasks into waiting state — or starts tasks from the queue of downloaded tasks in an order which is unexpected to the user — whenever it is faced with a mixture of tasks with various thread counts in its buffer.That's not just your experience and was the reason for all the requests for a single core version of N-Body in the past years as well as questions about limiting the thread count for N-Body, in particular from people running more than one project at the same time. "Max # CPUs = 2…256" — The server assigns only tasks for the multi-threaded app_version to the host. Furthermore, the application's built in upper limit of thread count per task is overridden by this setting.That's easy to check, I've set now my to 2, i.e. what I have in my app_config.xml. If that's how it works, than again, the default should be 16 as it was until now to avoid complanis from users, who were happy with the situation. On the positive side, with some ST tasks in the mix, the CPU utilization and energy usage is higher while the CPU is still constantly boosting at 4.6 GHz, so the production should be higher with the ST application. |
Send message Joined: 8 May 09 Posts: 3339 Credit: 524,010,781 RAC: 0 |
Link wrote:now there are 4 ST tasks waiting to run while 8 2-thread tasks are running. Doesn't make sense at all.In my experience, the BOINC client often resorts to put various tasks into waiting state — or starts tasks from the queue of downloaded tasks in an order which is unexpected to the user — whenever it is faced with a mixture of tasks with various thread counts in its buffer. Obviously the client has to have a scheduling algorithm which aims among else for good host utilization. The outcome of this algorithm may not always be what the user believes to be expected or optimal. Wouldn't it be far easier for MilkyWay to just add a check box for the single and MT tasks, so we can check one or both of them and let Boinc figure it out. That way everyone with an app_config file wouldn't have to do anything at all, except uncheck the ST tasks box if they choose too, and those only wanting the ST tasks can get them. |
Send message Joined: 14 Oct 23 Posts: 4 Credit: 90,012 RAC: 0 |
Wouldn't it be far easier for MilkyWay to just add a check box for the single and MT tasks, so we can check one or both of them Let's not add more complexity than necessary - both for the users and the administrator. First it should be checked if the mt application can run one thread just like it can run any other number. If it can there's no need to handle two applications and three combinations of those. Okay, you couldn't have different numbers of threads at the same time but I can't think of a good reason why I'd want that anyway. That way everyone with an app_config file wouldn't have to do anything at all Wasn't this about getting rid of the need for app_config? With its most popular settings now available through the GUI that's a good opportunity to remove it instead of creating a new use. Many users don't feel comfortable with editing config files or don't even know about them. And I can do with one less place of configuration. |
Send message Joined: 19 Jul 10 Posts: 627 Credit: 19,303,095 RAC: 855 |
Seems to work so far, no new ST tasks anymore. Will let it run for a while like that to confirm and than switch to ST tasks and compare performance."Max # CPUs = 2…256" — The server assigns only tasks for the multi-threaded app_version to the host. Furthermore, the application's built in upper limit of thread count per task is overridden by this setting.That's easy to check, I've set now my to 2, i.e. what I have in my app_config.xml. If that's how it works, than again, the default should be 16 as it was until now to avoid complanis from users, who were happy with the situation. |
Send message Joined: 14 Oct 23 Posts: 4 Credit: 90,012 RAC: 0 |
First it should be checked if the mt application can run one thread It works. I can't comment on the speed though, the tasks are too heterogeneous. Plus no real st tasks for me at this time, despite resetting to "unlimited". |
Send message Joined: 1 Jan 17 Posts: 39 Credit: 112,535,473 RAC: 103,574 |
Mixed thread counts of concurrent tasks in the same client: Link wrote: That's not just your experience and was the reason for all the requests for a single core version of N-Body in the past years as well as questions about limiting the thread count for N-Body, in particular from people running more than one project at the same time.If tasks with very differing runtime behaviour come from different projects though, then the user has a few more instruments to deal with this. app_config.xml and web prefs interaction: Magenta wrote: Let's not add more complexity than necessary - both for the users and the administrator.I agree. Those who write an app_config.xml or app_info.xml generally need to be prepared to watch what goes on at the projects and to adapt when necessary anyway. Since the addition of the new preferences items here at MW@H, app_config.xml owners can simply either switch the new prefs once such that they best work with their app_config.xml, or opt to remove their apt_config.xml for good. One hurdle is that the new options aren't named very intuitively, but at least they are the same as at some other projects with multithreaded applications, apparently. (Just the 1T + MT mix in case of #CPUs=Unlimited seems to be unique.) PS, @Kevin Roux, thanks for the continuous care and improvements to the project. |
Send message Joined: 30 Apr 09 Posts: 101 Credit: 29,874,293 RAC: 0 |
I guess the following settings should be for just the multi thread app on a 4 thread CPU:Is it working as expected? Because "Max # of jobs for this project" isn't very specific, is it like max_concurrent in the app_info.xml or is it max task on the computer from this project, i.e. something like WCG has for each of their subprojects? Also "Max # of CPUs for this project" is pretty much wrong if it's actually "Max # of threads per task for this project". It's nice that you are still also BOINC-active like me :D after SETI@home closed :( For a perfectionist like me, it don't work so well... ;) I have an app_config.xml with <cmdline>--nthreads 4</cmdline>. (on a 4 core (thread) CPU ;) The above project preferences set. 1 / 4 Maximale Anzahl Aufgaben 1 Maximale Anzahl CPUs 4 and: Startet nur die ausgewählte Anwendung/en Milkyway@home N-Body Simulation: nein Milkyway@home N-Body Simulation with Orbit Fitting: ja Wenn keine Aufgaben für die ausgewählten Anwendungen vorhanden sind, Aufgaben von anderen Anwendungen akzeptieren? yes My WU cache is 0 / 0 days and additional days. Because of this WU cache, BOINC ask for new WU around 2 mins. before the WU will finish. This happened: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14.04.24 | 02:37:33 Sending scheduler request: To fetch work. 14.04.24 | 02:37:33 Requesting new tasks for CPU 14.04.24 | 02:37:36 Scheduler request completed: got 0 new tasks 14.04.24 | 02:37:36 No tasks sent 14.04.24 | 02:37:36 No tasks are available for Milkyway@home N-Body Simulation with Orbit Fitting 14.04.24 | 02:37:36 This computer has reached a limit on tasks in progress 14.04.24 | 02:37:36 Project requested delay of 91 seconds 14.04.24 | 02:39:27 Sending scheduler request: To fetch work. 14.04.24 | 02:39:27 Reporting 1 completed tasks 14.04.24 | 02:39:27 Requesting new tasks for CPU 14.04.24 | 02:39:30 Scheduler request completed: got 1 new tasks 14.04.24 | 02:39:30 Project requested delay of 91 seconds ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For a perfectionist, the red lines shouldn't happen. ;) The CPU idled a few seconds, because BOINC got not a WU after the 1. work request. :( |
Send message Joined: 19 Jul 10 Posts: 627 Credit: 19,303,095 RAC: 855 |
For a 4 core / 4 threads CPU you don't need app_config with <cmdline>--nthreads 4</cmdline>, it does exactly nothing, just like I didn't need <cmdline>--nthreads 2</cmdline> on my Core 2 Duo, I used that however on my new Ryzen until it became possible to configure that on the server, now it's removed from it too, only <fraction_done_exact/> left for both applications and everything works as it should. No idea, why you have no cache, that will always result in some idle time, not every scheduler request is successful. I think you should be used to have some cache after all those years of SETI. ;-) And than of course you should have "no limit" for number of tasks and 4 CPUs, than everything will work as you want it to. But good to know, how "Max # jobs" work, thanks for posting it here. |
Send message Joined: 19 Jul 10 Posts: 627 Credit: 19,303,095 RAC: 855 |
Kevin Roux wrote: After some testing, the single-threaded executable and multi-threaded executables running on one thread have very little difference in between them with the MT executable even being slightly faster in most casesThanks for testing this. |
Send message Joined: 8 Nov 22 Posts: 3 Credit: 8,617,255 RAC: 95 |
Hello all, Looks like "Max # of simultaneous MilkyWay@home tasks" actually means "Total number of tasks, running and cached"... I set my preferences to: Max # of simultaneous Milkyway@home tasks 7 Max # of threads for each Milkyway@home task 4 In order to have 28 cores dedicated to Milkyway@home. I sometimes get the same results as Sutaru Tsureku, i.e: "This computer has reached a limit on tasks in progress". BOINC (v.8.0.1) is not caching any work for Milkyway@home, even though it should: Store at least 0.2 days of work Store up to an additional 0.3 days of work What am I doing wrong ? Cheers, Sam |
Send message Joined: 19 Jul 10 Posts: 627 Credit: 19,303,095 RAC: 855 |
Max # of simultaneous Milkyway@home tasks 7Set this to "no limit". This setting is actually intended for projects with applications, which for example use a lot of RAM and running more than x of them simultaneously might cause issues. No need for that here for the average user, the cache settings alone will make sure, that you have your 0.2+0.3 days of work in your cache if that's what you want (I however suggest changing it to something like 0.49+0.01 or simply to 0.5+0.0, in particular if you are running more than one project simultaneously). |
Send message Joined: 4 Jul 09 Posts: 98 Credit: 17,396,531 RAC: 1,443 |
Max # of simultaneous Milkyway@home tasks 7Set this to "no limit". This setting is actually intended for projects with applications, which for example use a lot of RAM and running more than x of them simultaneously might cause issues. No need for that here for the average user, the cache settings alone will make sure, that you have your 0.2+0.3 days of work in your cache if that's what you want (I however suggest changing it to something like 0.49+0.01 or simply to 0.5+0.0, in particular if you are running more than one project simultaneously). Link From above your suggestion of ....simply to 0.5+0.0, if you are running more than one project simultaneously). Would your advice change on the mix of programs or the power / resources of the systems attached ? I run Windows and Android only and I am currently set at 0.2 days and 1 Thanks Bill In October of 1969 I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; There was no expiration date. |
Send message Joined: 19 Jul 10 Posts: 627 Credit: 19,303,095 RAC: 855 |
Would your advice change on the mix of programs or the power / resources of the systems attached ?Ressource share between projects is a different setting, my advice will only make it easier for the BOINC client to follow that setting. It might change it in case your additional 1 day made it hard for your BOINC client to follow your resource share setting by forcing it into "high priority" mode. So, yes, the result might look a bit like a change of ressource share, but it isn't. In general you should simply set the cache to what you want to have it, "additional days" are only to limit the amount of scheduler requests and are basically a leftover from dial-up days and old BOINC versions, which reported completed tasks up to 24 hours after file upload. With current versions, which report latest 1 hour after upload, they don't really make much sense. Small values, which equal 1-2 hours can be used to avoid unnecessary load on project servers, in particular if running only one project nothing can go wrong with that, but if running more projects, this will result in projects reporting completed tasks filling up the cache and projects, which actually should request work, not requesting it because there's enough in the cache, in particular with settings like yours, where the additional days are several times of the actuall cache settings. |
Send message Joined: 1 Jan 17 Posts: 39 Credit: 112,535,473 RAC: 103,574 |
magic_sam wrote: Looks like "Max # of simultaneous MilkyWay@home tasks" actually means "Total number of tasks, running and cached"...More precisely: It is the sum of downloading, downloaded (including executing or suspended), uploading, successfully finished but not yet reported, and failed or aborted but not yet reported tasks. In short, it is the limit of "tasks in progress" on a host — from the perspective of the MilkyWay@Home server! The server will assign only at most this many tasks to a host until the host reports results (or errors) back to the server. I.e. this setting controls a server-side limit, not a client-side limit. |
Send message Joined: 4 Jul 09 Posts: 98 Credit: 17,396,531 RAC: 1,443 |
Kevin, Around the middle of April you had posted an Admin update that the GFLOPS error had been worked on and that it would require some testing prior to release. I don't remember seeing an update on the Testing and possible release. Where are you on this update fix ? Thank you Bill F In October of 1969 I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; There was no expiration date. |
Send message Joined: 9 Aug 22 Posts: 82 Credit: 2,941,477 RAC: 7,048 |
Kevin, There was an error in the first attempt to fix the GFLOPS and had to be put on pause for some other projects. I am still working on it and hope to have the fix completed in the next couple of weeks. |
Send message Joined: 4 Jul 09 Posts: 98 Credit: 17,396,531 RAC: 1,443 |
Kevin Thank you for the update. Bill F |
Send message Joined: 23 Nov 14 Posts: 4 Credit: 60,794,114 RAC: 0 |
Hello all! It has been months since I received any Work Units from MilkyWay@Home. Is there any timetable for when Units will again be available? I use both a Mac & a Windows computer & have the same situation on both? Thanks, Phil Slaughter |
Send message Joined: 19 Jul 10 Posts: 627 Credit: 19,303,095 RAC: 855 |
It has been months since I received any Work Units from MilkyWay@Home. Is there any timetable for when Units will again be available? Work units are available, you likely need to update your MilkyWay@home preferences and allow both N-Body applications. Unfortunately the project does not have any applications for MacOS anymore, so you will have to move your Mac to another project (Einstein for example). |
Send message Joined: 8 May 09 Posts: 3339 Credit: 524,010,781 RAC: 0 |
Hello all! Also there are NO tasks for your gpu's anymore, they discontinued those and only have cpu tasks now. |
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