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Message 5062 - Posted: 24 Nov 2016, 3:51:09 UTC
Hi,
Does anyone have an outline app_info.xml to run 2 tasks at the same time on an
Nvidia GPU?

Having tried in the past and having boinc dump my entire cache of WU, I thought that perhaps someone with a few more grey cells might have the anwer.

Thanks
Regards,
Cliff
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mmonnin

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Message 5070 - Posted: 30 Nov 2016, 9:23:35 UTC - in response to Message 5062.  
<app_config>
  <app>
    <name>period_search</name>
    <max_concurrent>4</max_concurrent>
     <gpu_versions>
      <gpu_usage>0.5</gpu_usage>
      <cpu_usage>0.2</cpu_usage>
     </gpu_versions>
  </app>
</app_config>
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Message 5072 - Posted: 1 Dec 2016, 0:19:18 UTC - in response to Message 5070.  
Hi Mmonnin,

<app_config>
  <app>
    <name>period_search</name>
    <max_concurrent>4</max_concurrent>
     <gpu_versions>
      <gpu_usage>0.5</gpu_usage>
      <cpu_usage>0.2</cpu_usage>
     </gpu_versions>
  </app>
</app_config>

Well I can confirm that with boinc 7.6.22 under Windows7 ultimate it does NOT work:-)

Errors out with unknown application, when I changed period search to the actual application name boinc says it see's it, but that's it! no change in number of WU run on the designated GPU..

Thanks for the advice, who knows what's actually preventing it doing what its told to do..But I did get boinc to actually see the aapp_config it just doesn't care to actually do owt:-)
Regards,
Cliff
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Message 5077 - Posted: 1 Dec 2016, 15:16:47 UTC
You ask for an app_info.xml file and then refer to an app_config.xml file.

They are different. If you get them mixed up it will cause you confusion.

For example an app_info.xml file requires BOINC to be stopped and restarted before it works, whereas an app_config.xml file can be activated by clicking "Read config files" option in BOINC Manager. An incorrectly configured app_info.xml file will immediately delete an existing cache of tasks as soon as BOINC is restarted.
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Message 5078 - Posted: 1 Dec 2016, 18:26:07 UTC - in response to Message 5077.  
Hi Kashi,
You ask for an app_info.xml file and then refer to an app_config.xml file.

They are different. If you get them mixed up it will cause you confusion.

For example an app_info.xml file requires BOINC to be stopped and restarted before it works, whereas an app_config.xml file can be activated by clicking "Read config files" option in BOINC Manager. An incorrectly configured app_info.xml file will immediately delete an existing cache of tasks as soon as BOINC is restarted.


Yup I know they are different, and I've had a misconfigured app_info zilch WU before:-(

The app-config was someone else's solution to the task of running 2 WU together on 1 GPU.

I tried it, minor error on filename, boinc wanted the exact name as found in client_state, when I changed it to comply, boinc saw the file, logged it, but didn't run 2 WU.

Since I'd already had tasks binned I decided to post asking for an app_info.xml
but the reply I got was for an app_config.xml.

I'd still like to see an app_info.xml to work with the current cuda exe from a@h.
Regards,
Cliff
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Message 5079 - Posted: 2 Dec 2016, 7:17:59 UTC
I see. You had me confused when you said BOINC wouldn't accept an app_config.xml with the correct app name of "period_search" as shown in client_state.xml. I had a look at your configuration and realised you have 3 Nvidia cards and are running them on different projects. This is a complication that may cause a simple app_config.xml file to not work as expected.

For this it may be necessary to experiment with also using the <coproc> option in app_config.xml file in combination with an app_info.xml file. I don't know exactly what you are trying to achieve but <exclude_gpu> and <ignore_nvidia_dev> are other options available to give fine grain control when multiple Nvidia cards are being used.

I had related problems years ago when running multiple graphics cards caused by the cards being enumerated differently by BOINC and the individual projects. There was no app_config.xml back then only app_info.xml. Thankfully I only need to deal with one card now. Hopefully you won't find the challenge too frustrating. Good luck with it.
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Message 5081 - Posted: 2 Dec 2016, 16:17:28 UTC - in response to Message 5079.  
Hi kasha,
Yup I use 'exclude gpu' to ensure that I can dedicate a particular GPU to a project.

I run A@H, MW@H and E@H each one gets its own GPU:-) That way I don't have 99% completed tasks with 3 secs to go, dumped in favour of the next project to use the GPU, that used to 'really' annoy me:-)

Anyway I lack the skill to make my own app_info, so for now at any rate the idea is on the back burner..

Thanks for your assistance.
Regards,
Cliff
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Message 5082 - Posted: 3 Dec 2016, 2:32:16 UTC
Hi cliff,

A complex app_info.xml like that is beyond the ability of most GPU crunchers. Some of the theoretical possible configurations also exceed the available BOINC command options.

Running 3 separate GPU projects concurrently on the one box is already quite an achievement. I don't have a computer with 2 or more graphics cards any more so I can't experiment myself.

Had an overclocked HD 5970 and HD 5870 and reached 149th world ranking but they really sucked the juice. When electricity tariffs increased greatly here was forced to reduce the amount of GPU crunching I do. Now even have one box that doesn't have a separate graphics card. Not jelly though, still like to see others enjoying going to town with multiple powerful graphics cards.
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Message 5083 - Posted: 3 Dec 2016, 3:01:08 UTC - in response to Message 5082.  
Hi Kashi,


A complex app_info.xml like that is beyond the ability of most GPU crunchers. Some of the theoretical possible configurations also exceed the available BOINC command options.

Running 3 separate GPU projects concurrently on the one box is already quite an achievement. I don't have a computer with 2 or more graphics cards any more so I can't experiment myself.

Had an overclocked HD 5970 and HD 5870 and reached 149th world ranking but they really sucked the juice. When electricity tariffs increased greatly here was forced to reduce the amount of GPU crunching I do. Now even have one box that doesn't have a separate graphics card. Not jelly though, still like to see others enjoying going to town with multiple powerful graphics cards.


Yeah, electrikery prices are a pita:-( Now and then I get bitten by the 'to hell' with it bug, and run my rigs 24/7

However a recent bout of said 'bug' left me having to pay and extra £256.37 to my supplier... So I've cut back again to run mainly off peak.

I've [if the vendor' ever gets his finger out] a replacement server mobo coming
and with that mobo I can run up to 6 GPU's [which I aint got right now] as well as about 8 cpu tasks..

The original mobo fired up and I got as far as installing Win7 and doing some of the mandatory updates, then after a reboot, it didn't and even after changing every component I had available it still failed to boot, so it went back, but its taken over 2 weeks and I still haven't got the replacement:-(

If I can manage it I'll save up some more and buy another mobo, but from a more reputable vendor, Amazon methinks they don't quibble or mess about, but send replacemnts as soon as they are notified. Trouble is a similar Asus server board costs about a hundred quid more.. Time to tell my cat its on short rations:-)
Regards,
Cliff
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Message 5085 - Posted: 6 Dec 2016, 3:26:19 UTC
Ahh yes I did post app_config.xml file which is 100% correct and works. I am running it now. I don't recall editing any app_info file but I use cc_config.xml file to limit projects to one card or another. I used it to run asteroids on a 970 and E@H on a 1070 in the same machine. Before Asteroids released its Pascal capable app. The same app_config.xml file works then and now.
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Message 5086 - Posted: 6 Dec 2016, 3:36:17 UTC - in response to Message 5085.  
Hi mmonnin,

Ahh yes I did post app_config.xml file which is 100% correct and works. I am running it now. I don't recall editing any app_info file but I use cc_config.xml file to limit projects to one card or another. I used it to run asteroids on a 970 and E@H on a 1070 in the same machine. Before Asteroids released its Pascal capable app. The same app_config.xml file works then and now.

Well, it simply failed to do anything for me:-) As I posted earlier I use 'exclude' to run 3 separate projects, each with its own dedicated GPU I'm assuming that the plethora of 'excludes' confused boinc and it just looked, saw the app_config.xml and did nothing about implementing it..

Not serious, new mobo arriving later today, so I'll be putting another late night running rig up with some old NVidia GPU's and that should take care of things.
Regards,
Cliff
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