Crunching for Covid
Crunching for Covid
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.
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.
Last edited by damienh on Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Crunching for Covid
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.
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.
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Re: Crunching for Covid
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:
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
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
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Re: Crunching for Covid
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:
...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
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
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
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Re: Crunching for Covid
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
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
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Re: Crunching for Covid
Hiya MikeUBT - Mikee wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:14 pmHi
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
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
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Re: Crunching for Covid
HI
Couldn't be bothered with the underscores so it's just "UBT-Mikee"
Mike
Couldn't be bothered with the underscores so it's just "UBT-Mikee"
Mike
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Re: Crunching for Covid
Fair enoughUBT - Mikee wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:47 pmHI
Couldn't be bothered with the underscores so it's just "UBT-Mikee"
Mike

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
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Re: Crunching for Covid
Never done Folding before but poking around their website I found this - https://foldingathome.org/support/faq/points/passkey/
The interesting part:
The interesting part:
So sign up for a Passkey and get bonusesPerhaps 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.

Re: Crunching for Covid
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 ... (?)
EDIT: just tried again and it worked, although seems to have re-set my stats ... (?)
Re: Crunching for Covid
I also notice that I'm now crunching a non-covid work unit.
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Re: Crunching for Covid
Hi MarkWoodles wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:04 amNever done Folding before but poking around their website I found this - https://foldingathome.org/support/faq/points/passkey/
The interesting part:So sign up for a Passkey and get bonusesPerhaps 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.![]()
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
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Re: Crunching for Covid
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
Best wishes UBT - Glenn

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Re: Crunching for Covid
Hi GlennUBT - Glenn wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:49 pmHi 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
Long time no see !! Welcome back and good luck crunching.
regards
Tim
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Re: Crunching for Covid
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.....
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.....
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Re: Crunching for Covid
HIya
I've left a vCPU and a GPU "free" for Folding but no tasks have been received

regards
Tim
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Re: Crunching for Covid
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

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


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Re: Crunching for Covid
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.
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.