From what I've read, it looks like a number of you use the latest ubuntu distro for folding. If I install that on my folding machines, should I do a default install? Does Linux still give you 100s of options for what to install, and if so (and assuming the default install isn't best), which apps and libraries are needed for the folding software to work? Is networking as easy to set up as it is under Windows? Does the V7 client for Linux include gpu folding, or will I need a VM (or wine)? If it is not supported natively, which VM is best (and free), or is wine better? One of the folding machines (the 2700K) doubles as a file server. If I do a minimal install to only support what I need, what extras will be needed to make it as easy as possible to use it as a file server? Finally, I know some distros need more than one partition. All my systems have SSDs, but any HDDs I have are in the 2700K system. Will that pose a problem? Looking forward to a ppd boost soon
Go for a default install, you can delete unwanted applications later with the software manager. Networking - it depends what you are trying to do! wireless can be problematic but Ubuntu is one of the best distros in that respect. V7 client does not support gpu folding. I believe someone did post about this recently. SSDs or HDs all seen the same. Normally one partition for the file system and another for a swap file. Again it depends on what you intend to do and the memory you have. My 4P build has 16GB ram and no swap file.
Not sure I can answer all the questions, but; 1. Don't do a standard install. Choose manual set up and create a swap partition (say 10GB) and an ext3 partition for the rest (ext4 doesn't work so well for Folding). 2. I install the synaptic package manager (if it's not on by default - depends on which version of Ubuntu), and then use this to install the ia32-libs, samba/smbfs. I also install things like x11vnc for remoting. 3. Networking is easy, and using samba/smbfs you can 'see' windows machines easily. 4. The v7 client doesn't support GPU's yet (unfortunately). You can set up GPU Folding, however, using Wine, though the route is quite convoluted - there are some good guides on the official Folding forum by 'tear'.
If you want to practice, do it in a VM to go through the process. That way, you still have a host OS that's familiar with you to read guides. Running linux in a VM for folding will give you a performance hit, but at least you can try different things, and quickly clone machines etc so you can perfect the install before going for it on a physical box. I'd recommend virtualbox. It's free, and supports 64bit, unlike Windows Virtual machine.
Thanks for all the suggestions and advice. I'll experiment with an install on the 2700K tonight, that'll keep my best system running while I try it out. Windows is complaining abaout not being activated on both systems (one license, 3 PCs running permanently) so I need to figure it all out pretty quickly - can't keep reinstalling Windows every few weeks
Windows XP £26.00 http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/110927220200?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla
I got Ubuntu installed, installed FAHClient then FAHControl, I think the part that took longest was searching Stanford for details how to install FAH, and that only took 5 minutes First wu under Linux on the 2700K is giving me about 50% more points than under Windoze.
were use folding with V6, A3 core under windows debs? ive noitced when you first start folding with V7 A4 core you get some good WU's then you get stuck with really crap ones hence why a few of us have gone back to the V6 client
No, I've been using the latest v7 since the first public beta, so a4 all the way. I may get the 3930K swapped over tonight (if not tomorrow), then I'll be seeking info on how to run the gpu client under wine
That's a marked improvement! Let me get this right... When comparing like for like, Windows < Ubuntu by a Significant margin Wonder what the performance delta is like running folding in an ubuntu vm, so I can keep Windows as my host OS, but still fold... I'll install and let you know when it gets a bit cooler, and the pennies flow a bit more freely....
