Help GamingOnLinux beat Coronavirus, join us on Folding@home

By Liam Dawe - 21 March 2020 at 11:08 am UTC

Alright Coronavirus, this has gone on long enough. It's time to kick your arse. Want to help? We've made a team on Folding@home for you to spare your unused CPU/GPU cycles for research.

Hold on, what is this Folding stuff? It's a distributed computing project that simulates protein dynamics, including the process of protein folding and the movements of proteins implicated in a variety of diseases. It does this using your hardware and then sends all the data back to them—for science! It can help people working on diseases to better understand them. A good time to remind people on this, with everything going on right now and they have special simulations setup for Coronavirus.

Image Credit

How to get involved: Head to the official site to download it for Debian /Ubuntu/ Mint and Redhat / Centos / Fedora. If you're on Arch/Manjaro, you can see a guide on the Arch Wiki. If you're on NVIDIA, and it won't use your GPU, ensure you have OpenCL installed.

When you're setting it up and it asks you for a team ID, enter "245680" (stats page) which is the GamingOnLinux ID and we can work together to make a better world. Right now, my GPU is purring away working on Folding, come and join me.

You might see errors and delays, as they've been a little overwhelmed. Eventually though, it should assign your PC some work to do to help. They did a little FAQ thread recently on Twitter.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.

Tags: Misc

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About the author - Liam Dawe

I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
See more from me

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The comments on this article are closed.

101 comments

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herc Mar 21, 2020

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Quoting: on_en_a_grosI just tried to install it on manjaro, but the commamd "FAHClient --configure" returned me "command not found". Any idea on what aI'm doing wrong?

I don't think it's in $PATH. You'll have to run /opt/fah/FAHClient --configure

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herc Mar 21, 2020

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Quoting: Liam Dawe
Quoting: 14The 245680 team must be freshly out of the oven because I don't see any stats populated at extremeoverclocking yet.
Really, they need to clean up the Team system. I can see no reason for it not to show up. It's listed on my PC for my own folding quite clearly and using the ID I can go back and edit the Team details but it doesn't currently show in public lists.

The stats lists seem to be a bit delayed. My stats was last updated 2020-03-19 22:11:19.

Great idea this though Liam! I've been folding for the Arch Linux team, but changed to GOL now =)

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14 Mar 21, 2020

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Quoting: Liam Dawe
Quoting: 14The 245680 team must be freshly out of the oven because I don't see any stats populated at extremeoverclocking yet.
Really, they need to clean up the Team system. I can see no reason for it not to show up. It's listed on my PC for my own folding quite clearly and using the ID I can go back and edit the Team details but it doesn't currently show in public lists.

It's one dude that runs the site. The DB stats report only runs every few hours. I imagine the GoL team will show up less than a day.

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on_en_a_gros Mar 21, 2020

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Quoting: herc
Quoting: on_en_a_grosI just tried to install it on manjaro, but the commamd "FAHClient --configure" returned me "command not found". Any idea on what aI'm doing wrong?

I don't think it's in $PATH. You'll have to run /opt/fah/FAHClient --configure

Yep it worked thanks ^_^

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scaine Mar 21, 2020

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Contributing Editor
Mega Supporter

Quoting: Salvatos
Quoting: scaineJoined the team - great idea, Liam!

I wish there was an actual client/shortcut as part of this build though. I had to visit the Arch WIKI to realise that you have to visit http://localhost:7396/ to see your progress and turn Folding on/off.
There should be one, it’s called FAHControl but I don’t remember the steps involved in installing it. Should be explained somewhere on their website :)

I downloaded the client only, which has no interface. I've now downloaded control and viewer, both of which are fat-clients. Strange approach, but it's all working now, although FAHcontrol doesn't recognise my GPU (Nvidia GTX 1080, running 440 driver). I'm looking into it now, appears I'm not the only one to have this issue.

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D Mar 21, 2020

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Another option I stick with is https://www.ipd.uw.edu/2020/02/rosettas-role-in-fighting-coronavirus/
Hopefully it could help.

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Mohandevir Mar 21, 2020

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Quoting: scaine
Quoting: Salvatos
Quoting: scaineJoined the team - great idea, Liam!

I wish there was an actual client/shortcut as part of this build though. I had to visit the Arch WIKI to realise that you have to visit http://localhost:7396/ to see your progress and turn Folding on/off.
There should be one, it’s called FAHControl but I don’t remember the steps involved in installing it. Should be explained somewhere on their website :)

I downloaded the client only, which has no interface. I've now downloaded control and viewer, both of which are fat-clients. Strange approach, but it's all working now, although FAHcontrol doesn't recognise my GPU (Nvidia GTX 1080, running 440 driver). I'm looking into it now, appears I'm not the only one to have this issue.

That's my issue too. Solved the opencl stuff in the log file and it seems to see my gpu, but it won't add a gpu slot:

*********************** Log Started 2020-03-21T16:48:18Z ***********************
16:48:18:************************* Folding@home Client *************************
16:48:18: Website: https://foldingathome.org/
16:48:18: Copyright: (c) 2009-2018 foldingathome.org
16:48:18: Author: Joseph Coffland <[email protected]>
16:48:18: Args: --child --lifeline 4599 /etc/fahclient/config.xml --run-as
16:48:18: fahclient --pid-file=/var/run/fahclient.pid --daemon
16:48:18: Config: /etc/fahclient/config.xml
16:48:18:******************************** Build ********************************
16:48:18: Version: 7.5.1
16:48:18: Date: May 11 2018
16:48:18: Time: 19:59:04
16:48:18: Repository: Git
16:48:18: Revision: 4705bf53c635f88b8fe85af7675557e15d491ff0
16:48:18: Branch: master
16:48:18: Compiler: GNU 6.3.0 20170516
16:48:18: Options: -std=gnu++98 -O3 -funroll-loops
16:48:18: Platform: linux2 4.14.0-3-amd64
16:48:18: Bits: 64
16:48:18: Mode: Release
16:48:18:******************************* System ********************************
16:48:18: CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
16:48:18: CPU ID: GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9
16:48:18: CPUs: 8
16:48:18: Memory: 31.33GiB
16:48:18: Free Memory: 28.84GiB
16:48:18: Threads: POSIX_THREADS
16:48:18: OS Version: 5.3
16:48:18: Has Battery: false
16:48:18: On Battery: false
16:48:18: UTC Offset: -4
16:48:18: PID: 4601
16:48:18: CWD: /var/lib/fahclient
16:48:18: OS: Linux 5.3.0-7642-generic x86_64
16:48:18: OS Arch: AMD64
16:48:18: GPUs: 0
16:48:18: CUDA Device 0: Platform:0 Device:0 Bus:1 Slot:0 Compute:6.1 Driver:10.2
16:48:18: OpenCL Device 0: Platform:0 Device:0 Bus:1 Slot:0 Compute:1.2 Driver:440.44
16:48:18:***********************************************************************
16:48:18:<config>
16:48:18: 
16:48:18: <fold-anon v='true'/>
16:48:18:
16:48:18: 
16:48:18: <gpu v='true'/>
16:48:18:
16:48:18: 
16:48:18: <team v='245680'/>
16:48:18: <user v='Mohandevir'/>
16:48:18:
16:48:18: 
16:48:18:</config>
16:48:18:Switching to user fahclient
16:48:18:Trying to access database...
16:48:18:Successfully acquired database lock
16:48:18:FS00:Set client configured
16:48:18:Enabled folding slot 00: READY cpu:7
16:48:18:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 65.254.110.245:8080
16:48:19:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 65.254.110.245:8080
[93m16:48:19:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '65.254.110.245:8080': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
16:48:19:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 18.218.241.186:80
[93m16:48:20:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '18.218.241.186:80': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
[91m16:48:20:ERROR:WU00:FS00:Exception: Could not get an assignment[0m
16:48:20:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 65.254.110.245:8080
[93m16:48:21:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '65.254.110.245:8080': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
16:48:21:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 18.218.241.186:80
[93m16:48:21:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '18.218.241.186:80': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
[91m16:48:21:ERROR:WU00:FS00:Exception: Could not get an assignment[0m
16:48:36:Saving configuration to /etc/fahclient/config.xml
16:48:36:<config>
16:48:36: 
16:48:36: <fold-anon v='true'/>
16:48:36:
16:48:36: 
16:48:36: <gpu v='false'/>
16:48:36:
16:48:36: 
16:48:36: <proxy v=':8080'/>
16:48:36:
16:48:36: 
16:48:36: <team v='245680'/>
16:48:36: <user v='Mohandevir'/>
16:48:36:
16:48:36: 
16:48:36: <slot id='0' type='CPU'/>
16:48:36:</config>
16:49:19:Saving configuration to /etc/fahclient/config.xml
16:49:19:<config>
16:49:19: 
16:49:19: <fold-anon v='true'/>
16:49:19:
16:49:19: 
16:49:19: <gpu v='false'/>
16:49:19:
16:49:19: 
16:49:19: <proxy v=':8080'/>
16:49:19:
16:49:19: 
16:49:19: <team v='245680'/>
16:49:19: <user v='Mohandevir'/>
16:49:19:
16:49:19: 
16:49:19: <slot id='0' type='CPU'/>
16:49:19:</config>
16:49:20:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 65.254.110.245:8080
[93m16:49:20:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '65.254.110.245:8080': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
16:49:20:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 18.218.241.186:80
[93m16:49:21:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '18.218.241.186:80': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
[91m16:49:21:ERROR:WU00:FS00:Exception: Could not get an assignment[0m

Might need to create a support forum for F@H. :)

Last edited by Mohandevir on 21 March 2020 at 4:58 pm UTC

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herc Mar 21, 2020

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Quoting: Mohandevir
Quoting: scaine
Quoting: Salvatos
Quoting: scaineJoined the team - great idea, Liam!

I wish there was an actual client/shortcut as part of this build though. I had to visit the Arch WIKI to realise that you have to visit http://localhost:7396/ to see your progress and turn Folding on/off.
There should be one, it’s called FAHControl but I don’t remember the steps involved in installing it. Should be explained somewhere on their website :)

I downloaded the client only, which has no interface. I've now downloaded control and viewer, both of which are fat-clients. Strange approach, but it's all working now, although FAHcontrol doesn't recognise my GPU (Nvidia GTX 1080, running 440 driver). I'm looking into it now, appears I'm not the only one to have this issue.

That's my issue too. Solved the opencl stuff in the log file and it seems to see my gpu, but it won't add a gpu slot:

*********************** Log Started 2020-03-21T16:48:18Z ***********************
16:48:18:************************* Folding@home Client *************************
16:48:18: Website: https://foldingathome.org/
16:48:18: Copyright: (c) 2009-2018 foldingathome.org
16:48:18: Author: Joseph Coffland <[email protected]>
16:48:18: Args: --child --lifeline 4599 /etc/fahclient/config.xml --run-as
16:48:18: fahclient --pid-file=/var/run/fahclient.pid --daemon
16:48:18: Config: /etc/fahclient/config.xml
16:48:18:******************************** Build ********************************
16:48:18: Version: 7.5.1
16:48:18: Date: May 11 2018
16:48:18: Time: 19:59:04
16:48:18: Repository: Git
16:48:18: Revision: 4705bf53c635f88b8fe85af7675557e15d491ff0
16:48:18: Branch: master
16:48:18: Compiler: GNU 6.3.0 20170516
16:48:18: Options: -std=gnu++98 -O3 -funroll-loops
16:48:18: Platform: linux2 4.14.0-3-amd64
16:48:18: Bits: 64
16:48:18: Mode: Release
16:48:18:******************************* System ********************************
16:48:18: CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
16:48:18: CPU ID: GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9
16:48:18: CPUs: 8
16:48:18: Memory: 31.33GiB
16:48:18: Free Memory: 28.84GiB
16:48:18: Threads: POSIX_THREADS
16:48:18: OS Version: 5.3
16:48:18: Has Battery: false
16:48:18: On Battery: false
16:48:18: UTC Offset: -4
16:48:18: PID: 4601
16:48:18: CWD: /var/lib/fahclient
16:48:18: OS: Linux 5.3.0-7642-generic x86_64
16:48:18: OS Arch: AMD64
16:48:18: GPUs: 0
16:48:18: CUDA Device 0: Platform:0 Device:0 Bus:1 Slot:0 Compute:6.1 Driver:10.2
16:48:18: OpenCL Device 0: Platform:0 Device:0 Bus:1 Slot:0 Compute:1.2 Driver:440.44
16:48:18:***********************************************************************
16:48:18:<config>
16:48:18: 
16:48:18: <fold-anon v='true'/>
16:48:18:
16:48:18: 
16:48:18: <gpu v='true'/>
16:48:18:
16:48:18: 
16:48:18: <team v='245680'/>
16:48:18: <user v='Mohandevir'/>
16:48:18:
16:48:18: 
16:48:18:</config>
16:48:18:Switching to user fahclient
16:48:18:Trying to access database...
16:48:18:Successfully acquired database lock
16:48:18:FS00:Set client configured
16:48:18:Enabled folding slot 00: READY cpu:7
16:48:18:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 65.254.110.245:8080
16:48:19:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 65.254.110.245:8080
[93m16:48:19:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '65.254.110.245:8080': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
16:48:19:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 18.218.241.186:80
[93m16:48:20:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '18.218.241.186:80': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
[91m16:48:20:ERROR:WU00:FS00:Exception: Could not get an assignment[0m
16:48:20:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 65.254.110.245:8080
[93m16:48:21:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '65.254.110.245:8080': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
16:48:21:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 18.218.241.186:80
[93m16:48:21:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '18.218.241.186:80': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
[91m16:48:21:ERROR:WU00:FS00:Exception: Could not get an assignment[0m
16:48:36:Saving configuration to /etc/fahclient/config.xml
16:48:36:<config>
16:48:36: 
16:48:36: <fold-anon v='true'/>
16:48:36:
16:48:36: 
16:48:36: <gpu v='false'/>
16:48:36:
16:48:36: 
16:48:36: <proxy v=':8080'/>
16:48:36:
16:48:36: 
16:48:36: <team v='245680'/>
16:48:36: <user v='Mohandevir'/>
16:48:36:
16:48:36: 
16:48:36: <slot id='0' type='CPU'/>
16:48:36:</config>
16:49:19:Saving configuration to /etc/fahclient/config.xml
16:49:19:<config>
16:49:19: 
16:49:19: <fold-anon v='true'/>
16:49:19:
16:49:19: 
16:49:19: <gpu v='false'/>
16:49:19:
16:49:19: 
16:49:19: <proxy v=':8080'/>
16:49:19:
16:49:19: 
16:49:19: <team v='245680'/>
16:49:19: <user v='Mohandevir'/>
16:49:19:
16:49:19: 
16:49:19: <slot id='0' type='CPU'/>
16:49:19:</config>
16:49:20:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 65.254.110.245:8080
[93m16:49:20:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '65.254.110.245:8080': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
16:49:20:WU00:FS00:Connecting to 18.218.241.186:80
[93m16:49:21:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from '18.218.241.186:80': No WUs available for this configuration[0m
[91m16:49:21:ERROR:WU00:FS00:Exception: Could not get an assignment[0m

Might need to create a support forum for F@H. :)

Try adding this in your /etc/fahclient/config.xml
<slot id='1' type='GPU'/>

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Maki Mar 21, 2020

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Quoting: Mohandevir
Quoting: Salvatos
Quoting: scaineJoined the team - great idea, Liam!

I wish there was an actual client/shortcut as part of this build though. I had to visit the Arch WIKI to realise that you have to visit http://localhost:7396/ to see your progress and turn Folding on/off.
There should be one, it’s called FAHControl but I don’t remember the steps involved in installing it. Should be explained somewhere on their website :)
Quoting: Salvatos
Quoting: scaineJoined the team - great idea, Liam!

I wish there was an actual client/shortcut as part of this build though. I had to visit the Arch WIKI to realise that you have to visit http://localhost:7396/ to see your progress and turn Folding on/off.
There should be one, it’s called FAHControl but I don’t remember the steps involved in installing it. Should be explained somewhere on their website :)

Yeah, but it's dependent on python-gnome2 and my spare rig's Pop_OS! refuses to install it.

Is there a way to use my gpu? It seems to run on my CPU only...

I'm just running Rosetta@Home on BOINC because of the python-gnome2 thing.

Meanwhile Linus Tech Tips is working together with Folding@Home to get them more serverspace because they hit basically 10x their normal workload thanks to people all jumping on the project to get rid of Corona. They made mention of it in the latest WAN Show.

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buono Mar 21, 2020

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Another 1000 points for the team! :)

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