Installation for a multi-CPU system (Systray version)
This section describes how to install one or more additional copies of the CPU Systray client for use with multi-core processors. This section is based on the CPU Systray client installation, and assumes the first CPU Systray client is already installed and running well. If not, please follow the CPU Systray version install guide before continuing with this multi-client setup. It is much easier to make additional copies from a working client.
Note: If the CPU Systray client installer created a shortcut in the Windows startup folder during the original installation, please delete that shortcut now. The shortcut is usually found in Start -> Programs -> Startup
Next, open Windows Explorer and find the directory where the FAH Systray installer created a data folder under the current Windows user name. Below is the typical path to the data folder (operating system dependent):
XP/2003: C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\
Vista/Win7: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\
Note: This folder is usually hidden. Type the whole path in to the address bar, or enable the search option to view all files and folders.
After locating the directory, copy the folder called Folding@Home-x86 and paste it back into the same location. Rename the new copy by removing the Copy of and by adding a -2 after the directory name. Repeat the same steps again for each additional client to match each processor core. The second client directory should look like this:
Note: Please delete the work folder and queue.dat file in the newly copied FAH client folder to prevent the new client from duplicating the work unit from the original client.
Go to the original FAH client installed in this C:\Program Files\Folding@Home\Folding@Home-x86 folder. Find the FAH client executable and make a new shortcut (right-click on the
Folding@home.exe icon and then select Create Shortcut). After creating the shortcut, move the shortcut to the desktop. Rename the shortcut with a convenient name like CPU1 as pictured:
Do not create another shortcut yet because because additional changes are needed on the first shortcut. Right-click on the first shortcut then select Properties. A window similar to this will open (note this is actually the finished view):
The Target: field should look like this:
"C:\Program Files\Folding@home\Folding@home-x86\
Folding@home.exe"
However, the Start in: path needs to be updated. Change the Start in: path to point at the FAH client data folder. Use the OS specific example below (and replace [username] with your Windows user name):
XP/2003 : C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Folding@Home-x86
Vista/Win7: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Folding@Home-x86
Be sure to use quotes at the start and end of the Start in: path. The updated shortcut properties for the first client should look like this:
Target: "C:\Program Files\Folding@home\Folding@home-x86\
Folding@home.exe"
Start in: "C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Folding@Home-x86" (XP/2003) or
Start in: "C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Folding@Home-x86" (Vista/Win7)
Click on Ok to close the properties window.
Now that the shortcut for the first client has been created, it is time to make another shortcut for each additional client that will run on each additional CPU core.
Copy the first shortcut and paste as many copies (based on how many CPU cores you have, and clients you want to run) you need on the desktop. Rename each shortcut with a simple yet distinct names (to help identify which client) like CPU2, CPU3, etc. When you are done, right-click on each new shortcut and select Properties to edit the properties. This time, since you did most of the configuration above, all you need to do is to point the Start in: path to each data folder that you created. After you are done, you should have something like that :
Target: "C:\Program Files\Folding@home\Folding@home-x86\
Folding@home.exe"
Start in: "C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Folding@Home-x86-2" (XP/2003) or
Start in: "C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Folding@Home-x86-2" (Vista/Win7)
When you are done editing each shortcut, click on the first shortcut and configure your client as demonstrated in the Systray version installation guide above. The key things to make sure you do are :
On the Connection tab :
Click yes to accept WUs larger than 10 megabytes.
On the Advanced tab :
Check the Core Priority for Slightly Higher
Click do not lock cores to specific CPU
Make sure the Machine ID is different then any CPU or GPU client you have running. Note: default is 2.
Now hit accept and repeat the step above for each shortcut and make sure to pick a unique Machine ID for each client. When done, all that remains to do is double-click every shortcut to start the clients. Monitor them closely to make sure they run well.
For More Information, Please See:
FAH FAQ
Folding Support Forum
Last Updated on May 06, 2010, at 11:38 PM
