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Move tasks between computers

Message boards : Number crunching : Move tasks between computers
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Profile Alan K

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Message 63133 - Posted: 19 Dec 2020, 23:32:37 UTC

This might be a daft question but is it posible to transfer/move tasks ffrom one computer to another?
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Profile geophi
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Message 63135 - Posted: 20 Dec 2020, 0:22:07 UTC - in response to Message 63133.  

The only way I've ever done it is by moving boinc directory from one computer to another. Even then you probably need to ensure that the files and directories have the right user:group and permissions on the new computer.

It's likely possible to move individual tasks to another computer with a pre-existing installation of boinc, by copying the pertinent task directories and files to the other computer, and edits to client_state.xml on the new computer. Files would need to have the right user:group and permissions as well. I wouldn't want to try it myself.
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Les Bayliss
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Message 63137 - Posted: 20 Dec 2020, 0:34:31 UTC

And you'll end up with a final result for a different set of starting values.
There's a research paper about it somewhere on the main site.
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Profile Dave Jackson
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Message 63138 - Posted: 20 Dec 2020, 9:19:04 UTC - in response to Message 63137.  

I wouldn't even think of trying it myself as unless the hardware is virtually identical tasks will be prone to crashing. There are some recent posts on the BOINC site that indicate tasks on the same computer can crash when because of scheduling GPU tasks get suspended and then restart on a different GPU. Sometimes they crash on supposedly identical cards. I realise that the nature of climate science means GPUs are not well suited to it so we don't use them here but the hardware changes between boxes can easily mess things up.
Please do not private message myself or other moderators for help. This limits the number of people who are able to help and deprives others who may benefit from the answer.
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Profile Alan K

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Message 63146 - Posted: 20 Dec 2020, 23:26:00 UTC

Thanks all for the comments. Its just that I have two VMs on the samecomputer and was wondering whether one was better than the other. I'll stick with what I have and wait for the tasks on the one VM to finish then restart the other VM.
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Profile Dave Jackson
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Message 63148 - Posted: 21 Dec 2020, 11:24:24 UTC - in response to Message 63146.  

Thanks all for the comments. Its just that I have two VMs on the samecomputer and was wondering whether one was better than the other. I'll stick with what I have and wait for the tasks on the one VM to finish then restart the other VM.


At least with it being 2 VM's on the same machine, the hardware will be identical which stops one of the common reasons for transfers crashing.
Please do not private message myself or other moderators for help. This limits the number of people who are able to help and deprives others who may benefit from the answer.
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marmot

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Message 63152 - Posted: 21 Dec 2020, 19:19:03 UTC
Last modified: 21 Dec 2020, 19:28:59 UTC

Since they are in a VM that is your best situation for moving them to even another box as the VM is divorced from most all specific hardware drivers and is emulating video/harddrive/NIC.

I've successfully moved a BOINC VM to another machine.
Also have successfully moved a harddrive, with a windows 7 install (it can be tricky and needing to edit the registry to eliminate hard drive controller entries) to another machine and had BOINC continue from where it left off (CPU only tasks).

Going to attempt a Windows X HD move (new motherboard, other died) but the WU's are long expired.
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Les Bayliss
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Message 63153 - Posted: 21 Dec 2020, 19:44:33 UTC - in response to Message 63152.  

The important things for climate models is, are the maths exactly the same?
This includes the FPU, and any other built in cals.
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lazlo_vii

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Message 63155 - Posted: 21 Dec 2020, 23:42:39 UTC - in response to Message 63153.  

I move BOINC tasks between computers at times. Instead of using a VM I use an LXD container. See the HOWTO in the UNIX/Linux sector of these boards.
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Message boards : Number crunching : Move tasks between computers

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