Crunching for Covid

[damienh]

Hi Folks,

I thought I would add a new thread for Covid-related crunching, since the WCG challenge thread has turned to this topic.

I still have most CPU on TN-Grid for now. There is a non-FB challenge on there and it is somewhat related to Covid, in that they are now focused on human gene expansion and one of the target genes codes for a protein that is a functional receptor for the coronavirus.

The project that seems to be focused on Covid at the moment, and the one that there has been a lot of press about, is Folding@Home. There is a big groundswell of companies and people getting behind their Covid work as detailed here:

https://foldingathome.org/news/

I know that Richard (Homefarm) and Chris C (ncoded) have moved across to crunch Folding@home. I've enabled 5 GPUs and pointed them at Folding@home, and may yet decide to abandon the TN-Grid sprint and to move CPU over as well, at least through to the next Formula Boinc sprint.

If you do join Folding@home, don't forget to join the UK Boinc Team, which is team ID 45392. Unfortunately it's not a BOINC project and doesn't work quite the same way as our other projects.

The Folding@home software can be found here: https://foldingathome.org/start-folding/. Just don't forget you've installed it, since it will auto-start by default in the future and likely cause issues with your BOINC capability!

Cheers & happy crunching.

[damienh]

As a practical item, I found that I wasn't able to enable GPU folding on Linux. That was despite having both OpenCL and nvidia drivers installed.

Perhaps others will have better luck. I've chosen to run all Windows for now.

You may also find that you don't pick up work units right away, or that they are sparse. There's a huge amount of new resource coming online and the Folding@home folks are working hard to keep up / get ahead.

[UBT - Timbo]

Hi Damien

One thing that should be taken into account about both the Folding@home and TN-Grid efforts on Covid-19 is this:

Whatever may be learned, will not help anyone who has caught the virus now (though it may help to understand the virus and provide a vaccine for the future).

The reason is simple: Any new vaccine or drug must go through lots of testing to be sure that any side-effects are minimal, as well as providing a cure or at least respite from the effects of the virus.

And, one can assume that this will take a while - the fastest drug approval I have heard about is around 15 months after the initial formulation was created until it was approved and available to the general public.

Edit: The BBC website has a news item about a US trial with a newly developed vaccine called "mRNA-1273":

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51906604

And please note the last paragraph:

But even if these initial safety tests go well, it could still take up to 18 months for any potential vaccine to become available for the public.

So, the challenge (for medical science) is there and is real...but anything that is found from these two projects is not going to benefit anyone quickly...and indeed the virus may well be stopped from spreading and just "die off" within the next few months.

regards
Tim

[UBT - Timbo]

Hi all

I've had a chance to check the Folding @home website and download the Teams and Usernames lists.

So, UBT DOES have a Team on Folding@home - so if you want to get involved, our Team Number is: 45392 - enter this on the Folding@home app "Configure > Identity" tab - and use your BOINC name as your username (if you want)

And currently we are in 6925 position and with a score of: 1,813,773 and having completed 4,727** wus

We do have some current stats as follows:

Code: Select all

username				score	wu	team
Christopher_N._Lewis			1145532	2600	45392
ChrisR					202937	449	45392
UBT_NaRyan				87266	204	45392
Whitecrow				75040	299	45392
melter65				70655	284	45392
Bruto246				46446	227	45392
Deepest-blue				43076	171	45392
DaveIrish				29630	118	45392
sigma-7					25440	53	45392
matthewh4271				21810	77	45392
Koranzite				18730	54	45392
Wompus					15574	62	45392
UBT_Nogbo				11035	25	45392
myddrak					7317	39	45392
UBT-PiezPiedPy				5645	12	45392
garethpl				1325	1	45392
Knightlight				861	3	45392
Cheule					750	6	45392
UBT-Timby				623	2	45392
OwenThomas				562	2	45392
JamesBradbury				506	2	45392
PS3					502	2	45392
59c7a842f5b9640e9d84640e9d6b5b717	500	4	45392
Joc					500	2	45392
stuart264				385	2	45392
Joshrandom				384	1	45392
WTBroughton				307	2	45392
UBT_Cris_keys				234	1	45392
drhen123				220	1	45392
UBT_-_Timbo				201	2	45392
kevan-in-devon				0	21	45392
Total: 31 usernames, 1,813,773 (or 1,813,993 if you add it correctly) score and 4,727 wu

...and YES that DOES appear to be me propping up the bottom of the table. But I don't recognise any of the username as being current forum members on this list so if you already have a Folding@home account, maybe you've not joined the Team? (PS If you joined since Sun Mar 15 18:51:47 GMT 2020, then you won't appear in this listing as that's the time and date of the listing I downloaded).

EDIT: I found out where the extra 21 WU came from - the last name in the table completed 21 tasks, but didn't earn any credits (score) !

regards
Tim

[UBT - Mikee]

Hi

I should be there. Been a member for years but never actually did a WU! Been active since Saturday and done some but not sure why I'm not on the list. Possible GDPR thing?

Mike

[UBT - Timbo]

Hi

I should be there. Been a member for years but never actually did a WU! Been active since Saturday and done some but not sure why I'm not on the list. Possible GDPR thing?

Mike

Hiya Mike

What username did you use and I can check you on the username listing I downloaded

It might also be that if you have ZERO credit score then you are not included (as all the usernames I can see have scores >0 !!)

So, just run the FAH program and make sure you enter the team number as mentioned above.

regards
Tim

[UBT - Mikee]

HI

Couldn't be bothered with the underscores so it's just "UBT-Mikee"

Mike

[UBT - Timbo]

HI

Couldn't be bothered with the underscores so it's just "UBT-Mikee"

Mike

Fair enough

I did a search (of the username listing) and I couldn't find you...

EDIT: BUT I found you here:

https://stats.foldingathome.org/team/45392

regards
Tim

[Woodles]

Never done Folding before but poking around their website I found this - https://foldingathome.org/support/faq/points/passkey/

The interesting part:

Perhaps more interestingly, we have introduced a new Quick Return Bonus (QRB) points program, which is tied to passkeys. To earn this bonus, you must use a passkey.

So sign up for a Passkey and get bonuses

[damienh]

I've submitted the passkey request a couple of times and nothing has shown up in my email.

EDIT: just tried again and it worked, although seems to have re-set my stats ... (?)

[damienh]

I also notice that I'm now crunching a non-covid work unit.

[UBT - Timbo]

Never done Folding before but poking around their website I found this - https://foldingathome.org/support/faq/points/passkey/

The interesting part:

Perhaps more interestingly, we have introduced a new Quick Return Bonus (QRB) points program, which is tied to passkeys. To earn this bonus, you must use a passkey.

So sign up for a Passkey and get bonuses

Hi Mark

Good call - I've set up a passkey - took all of about 20 seconds from visiting the website, entering my info and then getting an email.

Would be nice to get bonuses...but also nice to know one is doing one's "bit" too...though until the end of March, I'll be cracking on with SETI@home and chasing down some "pre-hibernation" credits.

regards
Tim

[UBT - Glenn]

Hi Guys I hope everyone is well. Im back after a little time aways... ill sign up for this now as im one of the "High Risk groups" so finding a cure to me is important.

Best wishes UBT - Glenn

[UBT - Timbo]

Hi Guys I hope everyone is well. Im back after a little time aways... ill sign up for this now as im one of the "High Risk groups" so finding a cure to me is important.

Best wishes UBT - Glenn

Hi Glenn

Long time no see !! Welcome back and good luck crunching.

regards
Tim

[homefarm]

HI

I have a passkey now and registered it, it seems to increase security. However nothing received today, but everything seems in order waiting for units to crunch..... here's hoping.....

[UBT - Timbo]

HI

I have a passkey now and registered it, it seems to increase security. However nothing received today, but everything seems in order waiting for units to crunch..... here's hoping.....

HIya

I've left a vCPU and a GPU "free" for Folding but no tasks have been received

regards
Tim

[homefarm]

Still some outages, see url

https://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?p=314382#p314382

[chriscambridge]

The stats on F@H have not been updated in days as they are still showing the folding I did years ago for CureCoin team; since then I have done multiple tasks under UBT.

Personally I have left F@H now for a couple of reasons:

1) They are far more folders than there is F@H work.

2) When 80% of hosts were sitting idle with no work, F@H were sent requests that perhaps they should inform their users that there are other medical projects on BOINC doing similar and/or equally important work.

F@H response to this was to completely ignore all messages. Both WCG and Rosetta were fully aware of the approach as well as the lack of any response.

2) Rosetta are now publicly promoting via social media the fact that they are actively working on Covid19 related areas

[chriscambridge]

Plenty of Covid19 Rosetta work now...

[homefarm]

Now running Folding GPU tasks, but its only using about 20% or less GPU power.
Not sure why this - but very inefficient??
Using GPUGRID to pick the balance of GPU crunch power.
CPUs given over to Rosetta, postponing all PrimeGrid work for the foreseeable future.