Installing and running BOINC client (with SETI project) under CentOS 7

Author:

Here is how you can install a BOINC client and attach it to a project (SETI). We use only command line tools, not GUI involved here. You can attach to a project and do some various administrative work with

boinccmd

like to get the progress of the currently running project tasks, project info, manage tasks and more.
Steps to install and run a (SETI) project:

STEP 1) Install BOINC client

The installation of the BOINC client requires using EPEL repository. Become root user and install Epel repository and Boinc client.

sudo su
yum update -y
yum install -y epel-release
yum install -y boinc-client
systemctl start boinc-client
systemctl enable boinc-client

STEP 2) Attach to a project

Here we use our SETI project to attach the server to it. There are two ways to attach to a project:

  • Using URL project and account key (strong or weak – it works with both). You can get your account keys from the site project url.
  • Using URL project and account info – username and password

To attach to a project your boinc client must be up and running and to use boinccmd – The command line interface to the BOINC client:

cd /var/lib/boinc
boinccmd --project_attach "http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/" "111111_22222233333344444444444555555555"

The first argument of “–project_attach” is the URL address of the project site, in this case, SETI with “http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/” and the account key of our account is 111111_22222233333344444444444555555555 (this is not the real one!). After successful attach your client will start to download the project files and begin to work on units:

[myuser@compute1 ~]# boinccmd --get_tasks

======== Tasks ========
1) -----------
   name: blc36_2bit_guppi_58406_31023_HIP20352_0115.19579.818.22.45.146.vlar_0
   WU name: blc36_2bit_guppi_58406_31023_HIP20352_0115.19579.818.22.45.146.vlar
   project URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
   received: Tue Apr  2 13:38:07 2019
   report deadline: Sat May 25 18:37:49 2019
   ready to report: no
   state: downloaded
   scheduler state: scheduled
   active_task_state: EXECUTING
   app version num: 800
   resources: 1 CPU
   estimated CPU time remaining: 4843.738587
   CPU time at last checkpoint: 1326.038000
   current CPU time: 1366.303000
   fraction done: 0.170349
   swap size: 54 MB
   working set size: 52 MB
2) -----------
   name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_26949_HIP20491_0103.21476.0.21.44.1.vlar_1
   WU name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_26949_HIP20491_0103.21476.0.21.44.1.vlar
   project URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
   received: Tue Apr  2 13:43:18 2019
   report deadline: Sat May 25 18:42:59 2019
   ready to report: no
   state: downloaded
   scheduler state: uninitialized
   active_task_state: UNINITIALIZED
   app version num: 800
   resources: 1 CPU
   estimated CPU time remaining: 5838.283108
3) -----------
 ....

You can see all the tasks – the one running at the moment and those on the queue.
When the “fraction done” reaches 1.0 the tasks is ready to report.

To view all running work units and some useful links in the project site like forums, account, preferences, recent tasks, list of the computers on which you are running SETI@Home, team information and more you can use “–get_simple_gui_info” (some of the data here are changed):

[myuser@compute1 ~]# boinccmd --get_simple_gui_info
======== Projects ========
1) -----------
   name: SETI@home
   master URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
   user_name: neoX
   team_name: neoX Group
   resource share: 150.000000
   user_total_credit: 14376490.970263
   user_expavg_credit: 25085.116699
   host_total_credit: 0.000000
   host_expavg_credit: 0.000000
   nrpc_failures: 2
   master_fetch_failures: 0
   master fetch pending: no
   scheduler RPC pending: no
   trickle upload pending: no
   attached via Account Manager: no
   ended: no
   suspended via GUI: no
   don't request more work: no
   disk usage: 0.000000
   last RPC: Tue Apr  2 17:19:56 2019

   project files downloaded: 1554212310.422403
GUI URL:
   name: Message boards
   description: Correspond with other users on the SETI@home message boards
   URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_index.php
GUI URL:
   name: Help
   description: Ask questions and report problems
   URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_help_desk.php
GUI URL:
   name: Account
   description: View your account information
   URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/home.php
GUI URL:
   name: Preferences
   description: View and modify your computing preferences
   URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/prefs.php?subset=global
GUI URL:
   name: Tasks
   description: View your recent tasks
   URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/results.php?userid=111111
GUI URL:
   name: Computers
   description: View a list of the computers on which you are running SETI@Home
   URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/hosts_user.php?userid=111111
GUI URL:
   name: Team
   description: View information about your team: neoX Group
   URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/team_display.php?teamid=22222
GUI URL:
   name: Donate
   description: Donate to SETI@home
   URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/sah_donate.php
   jobs succeeded: 16
   jobs failed: 0
   elapsed time: 107328.542101
   cross-project ID: 33333333333333333333333333333333

======== Tasks ========
1) -----------
   name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_27281_HIP20917_0104.20977.818.21.44.184.vlar_1
   WU name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_27281_HIP20917_0104.20977.818.21.44.184.vlar
   project URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
   received: Tue Apr  2 13:43:18 2019
   report deadline: Sat May 25 18:42:59 2019
   ready to report: no
   state: downloaded
   scheduler state: scheduled
   active_task_state: EXECUTING
   app version num: 800
   resources: 1 CPU
   estimated CPU time remaining: 4658.869936
   CPU time at last checkpoint: 1902.641000
   current CPU time: 1949.207000
   fraction done: 0.202014
   swap size: 58 MB
   working set size: 56 MB
2) -----------
   name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_28625_HIP21029_0108.20913.818.21.44.250.vlar_1
   WU name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_28625_HIP21029_0108.20913.818.21.44.250.vlar
   project URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
   received: Tue Apr  2 13:43:18 2019
   report deadline: Sat May 25 18:42:59 2019
   ready to report: no
   state: downloaded
   scheduler state: scheduled
   active_task_state: EXECUTING
   app version num: 800
   resources: 1 CPU
   estimated CPU time remaining: 4586.517845
   CPU time at last checkpoint: 1903.475000
   current CPU time: 1909.324000
   fraction done: 0.214406
   swap size: 58 MB
   working set size: 56 MB
3) -----------
   name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_27281_HIP20917_0104.20977.818.21.44.149.vlar_0
   WU name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_27281_HIP20917_0104.20977.818.21.44.149.vlar
   project URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
   received: Tue Apr  2 13:43:18 2019
   report deadline: Sat May 25 18:42:59 2019
   ready to report: no
   state: downloaded
   scheduler state: scheduled
   active_task_state: EXECUTING
   app version num: 800
   resources: 1 CPU
   estimated CPU time remaining: 4643.434099
   CPU time at last checkpoint: 1902.425000
   current CPU time: 1904.189000
   fraction done: 0.204658
   swap size: 58 MB
   working set size: 56 MB
4) -----------
   name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_26949_HIP20491_0103.21476.0.21.44.21.vlar_1
   WU name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_26949_HIP20491_0103.21476.0.21.44.21.vlar
   project URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
   received: Tue Apr  2 13:43:18 2019
   report deadline: Sat May 25 18:42:59 2019
   ready to report: no
   state: downloaded
   scheduler state: scheduled
   active_task_state: EXECUTING
   app version num: 800
   resources: 1 CPU
   estimated CPU time remaining: 4636.707813
   CPU time at last checkpoint: 1845.896000
   current CPU time: 1862.998000
   fraction done: 0.205810
   swap size: 54 MB
   working set size: 52 MB
5) -----------
   name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_28965_HIP20350_0109.21465.0.22.45.59.vlar_1
   WU name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_28965_HIP20350_0109.21465.0.22.45.59.vlar
   project URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
   received: Tue Apr  2 13:43:18 2019
   report deadline: Sat May 25 18:42:59 2019
   ready to report: no
   state: downloaded
   scheduler state: scheduled
   active_task_state: EXECUTING
   app version num: 800
   resources: 1 CPU
   estimated CPU time remaining: 4665.477705
   CPU time at last checkpoint: 1781.304000
   current CPU time: 1805.969000
   fraction done: 0.200882
   swap size: 58 MB
   working set size: 56 MB
6) -----------
   name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_28625_HIP21029_0108.20913.818.21.44.210.vlar_1
   WU name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_28625_HIP21029_0108.20913.818.21.44.210.vlar
   project URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
   received: Tue Apr  2 13:43:18 2019
   report deadline: Sat May 25 18:42:59 2019
   ready to report: no
   state: downloaded
   scheduler state: scheduled
   active_task_state: EXECUTING
   app version num: 800
   resources: 1 CPU
   estimated CPU time remaining: 4675.696451
   CPU time at last checkpoint: 1780.113000
   current CPU time: 1784.886000
   fraction done: 0.199132
   swap size: 58 MB
   working set size: 56 MB
7) -----------
   name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_28965_HIP20350_0109.21465.0.22.45.101.vlar_1
   WU name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_28965_HIP20350_0109.21465.0.22.45.101.vlar
   project URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
   received: Tue Apr  2 13:43:18 2019
   report deadline: Sat May 25 18:42:59 2019
   ready to report: no
   state: downloaded
   scheduler state: scheduled
   active_task_state: EXECUTING
   app version num: 800
   resources: 1 CPU
   estimated CPU time remaining: 4705.804477
   CPU time at last checkpoint: 1711.990000
   current CPU time: 1768.862000
   fraction done: 0.193975
   swap size: 54 MB
   working set size: 52 MB
8) -----------
   name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_28625_HIP21029_0108.20913.818.21.44.254.vlar_1
   WU name: blc34_2bit_guppi_58406_28625_HIP21029_0108.20913.818.21.44.254.vlar
   project URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
   received: Tue Apr  2 13:43:18 2019
   report deadline: Sat May 25 18:42:59 2019
   ready to report: no
   state: downloaded
   scheduler state: scheduled
   active_task_state: EXECUTING
   app version num: 800
   resources: 1 CPU
   estimated CPU time remaining: 4928.870679
   CPU time at last checkpoint: 1422.330000
   current CPU time: 1466.627000
   fraction done: 0.155767
   swap size: 54 MB
   working set size: 52 MB

boinccmd – the management tool for the command line

Here are the options you can use in version 7.14.2:

[myuser@compute1 ~]# boinccmd --help

usage: boinccmd [--host hostname] [--passwd passwd] [--unix_domain] command

default hostname: localhost
default password: contents of gui_rpc_auth.cfg
Commands:
 --acct_mgr attach URL name passwd  attach to account manager
 --acct_mgr info                    show current account manager info
 --acct_mgr sync                    synchronize with acct mgr
 --acct_mgr detach                  detach from acct mgr
 --client_version                   show client version
 --create_account URL email passwd name
 --file_transfer URL filename op    file transfer operation
   op = retry | abort
 --get_app_config URL               show app config for given project
 --get_cc_status
 --get_daily_xfer_history           show network traffic history
 --get_disk_usage                   show disk usage
 --get_file_transfers               show file transfers
 --get_host_info
 --get_message_count                show largest message seqno
 --get_messages [ seqno ]           show messages > seqno
 --get_notices [ seqno ]            show notices > seqno
 --get_project_config URL
 --get_project_status               show status of all attached projects
 --get_proxy_settings
 --get_simple_gui_info              show status of projects and active tasks
 --get_state                        show entire state
 --get_tasks                        show tasks
 --get_old_tasks                    show reported tasks from last 1 hour
 --join_acct_mgr URL name passwd    same as --acct_mgr attach
 --lookup_account URL email passwd
 --network_available                retry deferred network communication
 --project URL op                   project operation
   op = reset | detach | update | suspend | resume | nomorework | allowmorework | detach_when_done | dont_detach_when_done
 --project_attach URL auth          attach to project
 --quit                             tell client to exit
 --quit_acct_mgr                    same as --acct_mgr detach
 --read_cc_config
 --read_global_prefs_override
 --run_benchmarks
 --set_gpu_mode mode duration       set GPU run mode for given duration
   mode = always | auto | never
 --set_host_info product_name
 --set_network_mode mode duration   set network mode for given duration
   mode = always | auto | never
 --set_proxy_settings
 --set_run_mode mode duration       set run mode for given duration
   mode = always | auto | never
 --task url task_name op            task operation
   op = suspend | resume | abort

More clients in EPEL repository

[myuser@compute1 ~]# yum search boinc
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: mirror.checkdomain.de
 * epel: mirror.wiuwiu.de
 * extras: mirror.checkdomain.de
 * updates: mirror.checkdomain.de
============================================================================ N/S matched: boinc ============================================================================
boinc-client.x86_64 : The BOINC client
boinc-client-devel.x86_64 : Development files for boinc-client
boinc-client-doc.noarch : Documentation files for boinc-client
boinc-client-static.x86_64 : Static libraries for boinc-client
boinc-manager.x86_64 : GUI to control and monitor boinc-client

  Name and summary matches only, use "search all" for everything.

Troubleshooting

If you get the follwoing error:

root@srv ~ # boinccmd --project_attach "http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/" "1111_111111111111111111111111111"
Operation failed: authentication error

You must change the directory to “/var/lib/boinc” and run the command again. You may chown the directory to the boinc user. A directory for the project is created under “projects/” and a configuration file is created with name “account_boinc.bakerlab.org_rosetta.xml”.

root@srv ~ # cd /var/lib/boinc
root@srv /var/lib/boinc # boinccmd --project_attach "https://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/" "1111_111111111111111111111111111"
root@srv chown -R boinc:boinc /var/lib/boinc
root@srv /var/lib/boinc # ls -altr projects/boinc.bakerlab.org_rosetta/
total 8
drwxrwx--x 4 boinc boinc 4096 Apr  4 03:01 ..
drwxrwx--x 2 boinc boinc 4096 Apr  4 03:01 .
root@srv /var/lib/boinc # cat account_boinc.bakerlab.org_rosetta.xml
<account>
    <master_url>https://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/</master_url>
    <authenticator>1111_111111111111111111111111111</authenticator>
    <project_name>Rosetta@home</project_name>
<project_preferences>

<resource_share>15</resource_share>
<project_specific>
<color_scheme>Tahiti Sunset</color_scheme>
</project_specific>
</project_preferences>
<gui_urls>

    <gui_url>
        <name>Message boards</name>
        <description>Correspond with other users on the Rosetta@home message boards</description>
        <url>http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/forum_index.php</url>
    </gui_url>
    <gui_url>
        <name>Your account</name>
        <description>View your account information</description>
        <url>http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/home.php</url>
    </gui_url>
    <gui_url>
        <name>Your tasks</name>
        <description>View the last week or so of computational work</description>
        <url>http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/results.php?userid=xxxx</url>
    </gui_url>
    
</gui_urls>
</account>
Categories: BOINC, Linux
Tags: , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *