1. Go to the Ships Team Page and find the "join this team" blue button.
2. Click it. If you're already running WCG and just want to join the team, sign in. Otherwise follow the "register" link at the bottom.
3. Fill in the registration field, and then you'll be taken to a download page for the software.
4. Select the software version for your operating system and follow the instructions.

You should now be up and running.

If you go to the "My Projects" page on the WCG site, you'll be able to configure whether you want to participate in all projects or just some of particular interest to you. There's also a "opt me into new projects" option at the bottom so you automatically join new projects as they're added.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Alan, it's a very long time since I first investigated this. I can't remember quite what the problem was that I didn't join years ago.

I'm no using a mini-Mac after an eMac. I have a suspicion it was a Mac problem then. Are Macs now suitable?
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
When we were still with United Devices, the software was only available for Windows. It'll now run on all major operating systems - including Mac and Linux.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Thank you. Will head over to your link.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
There are now 79 in SoF team. Thanks for bringing this to my attention again.
 

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Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
I have Linux and, when I first got it a year ago, I think I tried to sort things out, but gave up. Maybe the problem is that what I have is Acer Linux for a netbook, which has been cut down in some way (I gather). Anyway, I now think it's not worth doing while all I have is the netbook, but I am thinking of getting a proper PC again - in that eventuality, I will re-activate. The geese are flying north for the summer.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
The resources needed for the application can be fairly reasonable, especially in relation to what older netbooks have available (we got a couple for portable applications at work, six months later when we got some more the amount of memory and disc capacity were much greater). And, if it means adding more parts of an OS then I can see why it might not be worth it (I'm assuming the reduced OS was a consequence of the relatively poor memory and disc capacity of the older netbooks - we had to cut a lot of optional bits out of Windows XP for our early machines).
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
We just got a new computer. With a quad processor, I'm now running four tasks at once at home.
 

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Posted by Joyeux (# 3851) on :
 
Oooh! A shiny, newish thread! My laptop has been happy on the SoF team for nearly a year now.
(typos...)

[ 12. June 2010, 16:16: Message edited by: Joyeux ]
 

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Posted by Schroedinger's cat (# 64) on :
 
I have been a part of a long time. However, I cannot install stuff on my work computer anymore. It is still running on my home computers.

And I was at the top of some of the leader boards, until Yorkshire Lad came along. Who are you, and how dare you keep me off the top?



So join up people......
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Joyeux:
Oooh! A shiny, newish thread!

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And, I see a shiney new sig too.
 

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Posted by Emma-Jean (# 7165) on :
 
Just joined a few days ago. I must say I'm a bit competitive so I'm watching to see where I place
 

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Posted by Joyeux (# 3851) on :
 
It's good to have a real reason to update my sig! I must admit that I had to stop a minute to remember my member name for their site. The great thing about this is that you don't have to log in and do anything!

Emma-Jean, welcome to the United Dev... err... ummm... (what's this called again???) SoF World Community Grid team.

SC - Greyface is also ahead of you... take comfort in the fact that you'll almost certainly always be ahead of me.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Joyeux:
SC - Greyface is also ahead of you

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quote:

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Originally posted by Schroedinger's cat:
And I was at the top of some of the leader boards, until Yorkshire Lad came along. Who are you, and how dare you keep me off the top?

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Aha!
 

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Posted by YorkshireLad (# 12830) on :
 
Well here I am to admit my guilt, though Alan has spotted me elsewhere and beaten me to it.

I have, up to this point in my life, made my living by writing computer software. Therefore I have a fairly formidable network of computers at home (two servers, two quad core machines, and a dual core machine). This research seemed a fairly good way of making use of the time when I was not using these computers.

God has, of course, thrown a spanner in the works by calling me for Ordination, so this network may have a limited lifespan. However my competitive streak hopes that I will have got far enough ahead to stay at the top of the tables for a good while.
 

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Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :
 
In the process of joining!
 

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Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :
 
Hmmm... Well, I joined but my profile doesn't seem to have any 'Devices installed' - whilst my computer switches to the WCG during down-time and claims that it is isn't signed up to any projects. What gives?
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Sorry, I missed the last post at the time (I was away at the time).

Does it seem to be working yet? Or, are you still having problems?

I see a team member who joined 18th June ... was that you? If so, it seems to be running OK - there are some results returned anyway.
 

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Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :
 
Oh, sorry Alan - yes, I had Issues to begin with but managed to sort it - seems to be running well now anyway....
 

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Posted by Scarlet (# 1738) on :
 
Hi Alan!

I see that I'm still listed as an active member (veganthebeguine) although I've done no projects since 2007.

This is because the only time I was able to complete projects without timing out was when I ran them surreptitiously in the background on my company's powerful server that never shut down. Actually I was rather tickled at my cleverness until paranoia took over that I would get caught.

My home computer was not active that much and I slimed through projects like a snail. So I gave up on both projects I had running.

I'm at home full-time now and I've just downloaded a device and received a project that seems reasonable in completion time (12 hours or so).

Thanks for this reminder. I found the link from the UFO thread. I hope to add a miniscule amount of asset to our team.
 

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Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
I'm skimming the WG site. Does anyone have experience participating via dial-up?

Thanks!
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
In theory, there should be no problem under dial up. There's a small amount of data transferred when a module is complete - to send the results in and get the next bit of work to do. If you're online fairly regularly then it should be able to do that ... I've no idea how long the transfer would take, also I'm not sure what happens if you go offline mid transfer.
 

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Posted by Pants (# 999) on :
 
Every time this thread pops up I read it. Every time I read it I still haven't really got a clue what it's about. What is it and how does it work and what does it do and why!?!!
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
OK, put simply ...

World Community Grid is distributed computing. You take a problem that would require an awful lot of computing power and rather than get a few supercomputers working on it you distribute the task out between a large number of normal computers. The WCG uses a program designed to run such tasks in the background, ie: while the computer would otherwise be idle - as a screensaver, or even when you're just reading a thread or contemplating what you want to write in a document. Thus, once installed most of the time you won't even notice it's there - it just needs an internet connection when it needs to report the results of a piece of work and get instructions on what to do next.

Does that explain things sufficiently?
 

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Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
Thanks, Alan.

I'll continue to think about it. My connection is often iffy.

*Is there a way that I can control when the program uploads results to WG?*

If I do try it, I may go for the Muscular Dystrophy project--looks like it requires very little computer space and computer effort.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Having just had a quick look at the preferences settings on my system, there are options to control connection - including defining times when it should try to conenct if needed, and asking for connection (I'm assuming that would mean a pop up message saying it needs to connect and asking for permission).

Note that individual projects sometimes have no work to do, so by selecting just one project you may not be doing anything at some times. And, there are occasionally new projects added and finished ones removed. In the system preferences you can limit the amount of computer resource the WCG agent will use if you find it adversely affects performance.
 

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Posted by Pants (# 999) on :
 
Thanks Alan. I think so. I imagine I just don't understand the concept of such computing ideas!
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
It is a question of how do you tackle a labour intensive repetitive task such as stuffing envelope work.

You could do it by have a department in an office, with the latest equipment, fully automated and workers getting a fairly high wage packet as they are largely engineers or quality control people who work to keep the machines working efficiently.

or you can do it by

Sending out sacks to lots of people who prefer to work at home and therefore will low pay for doing it manually. They are low skilled and therefore have little ability to demand more.

The thing is that most people imagine scientists as working with with complex machinery and getting highly exciting results, rushing around and yelling eureka.

Unfortunately most of it is mind numbingly tedious, repetitive and dull. The sort of things computers do well and humans don't. Boy am I glad that you no longer get PhDs in statistics for calculating a new set of statistical tables by hand. However because it is doing the same thing over and over again, like stuffing envelopes, you can just like stuffing envelopes split it up these runs and send them to different machines.

Suppose you want to know if a specific DNA pattern occurs in any of several million different DNA segments. You could either use a big machine to do it many times, or you can send batches of segments to smaller machines who then look from the pattern just in their few segments and then send the results back to the main computer. A small machine may only be able to scan a single segment at a time but if you have hundreds of thousands of these machines doing it, they can do it together fairly quickly.

Jengie

[ 23. August 2010, 12:03: Message edited by: Jengie Jon ]
 

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Posted by Squibs (# 14408) on :
 
My AMD 3700+ might be a while in churning out the results.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
News from WCG.

There is a new project added, computing for clean water. Which is looking at water flow on a molecular level to help understand filtration processes and hopefully develop novel filters that are cheap and efficient.

Initial results from the Childhood Cancer project have identified promising drug candidates and three additional targets that have been added to the tasks for WCG volunteers.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
That sounds interesting, Alan, on water filter possible development. Something much needed in many areas.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Indeed it does sound interesting, and well worthwhile.

Just a reminder to everyone participating, there's an option to automatically sign into new projects. If you don't have this option enabled (or you're not sure) and you want to participate in the clean water project then make sure you check your settings so that the WCG software knows to send you the relevant work units.

And, if you're not participating in the WCG, or similar, why not?
 

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Posted by Scarlet (# 1738) on :
 
Sounds worthwhile indeed, Alan! I will opt in to the clean water project as soon as I earn a 14 day badge for my current choice for work-units.

Thus far, I'm a little less than having earned two days CPU time. I'm still a slow cruncher.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
The WCG are hosting a webcast with Dr. Alex Perryman from The Scripps Research Institute, where he will provide an overview and an update about the FightAIDS@Home project. The webcast will be today (December 1) starting at 3pm Eastern Standard Time (8pm GMT). The webcast can be accessed here. There's a test link to make sure your computer is set up for the webcast in advance.

The webcast will then be put on YouTube - but, of course, you'll not be able to participate in the live question and answer session.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Just an update to say that the team has just passed the 100,000 results returned landmark. Well done all who are involved, and if we get some more people active we'll reach the 200,000 post quicker than we got to 100,000.
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
Mine is suspended at the moment, as the computer is really clogged up and running very slowly. Hoping to get everything sorted out soon....
 

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Posted by Beethoven (# 114) on :
 
Finally got around to sorting this out - given the amount of time my laptop spends on, it might as well be doing something productive! Just installing the software at the moment, so will hopefully be up and running soon...
 

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Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
I've had a couple of months break, (computer dying, taking time to get new one sorted) but it's all up and running again.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Mine's been running happily for ages. I'll be moving sometime in the next six weeks and will be off air for a while till new net access is enabled and determined.
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
I have just joined, but it doesn't look like anything's happening yet. I vaguely remember this happening the first time I signed up to UD too. I'll get back to you if I don't see anything happening in the next few days.
 

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Posted by Surfing Madness (# 11087) on :
 
Just joined, seems to be doing something. (working on something, but won't be able to upload results/ get new project as will be off line for a couple of weeks.)
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Ooh ooh something's happening now - excellent! I appear to be working on something to do with Muscular Dystrophy, a nice short thing of just a few hours to be getting on with.
 

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Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I am still here and have donated several days of computer time in the name of cancer research.
 

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Posted by itokro (# 16135) on :
 
Doing science? Sign me up!

(Apparently I'm the 100th member of the SoF team. This makes me feel special)
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
The team is still plugging away for the good of humanity. Good deeds for no effort ... there aren't many opportunities for that, so if you're not already signed up .... well, you know what to do!
 

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Posted by Surfing Madness (# 11087) on :
 
Me and technology don't go together well, so hope some one can answer my question. I've been running the community grid happily in the back ground for a while. When I set it up I didn't opt in to many projects. How do I know opt in to some extra ones? Thanks
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
If you log in, there's a link on the left hand side to "My Projects". That will list all the projects currently available, and those which are 'intermittent'. Check the boxes for any projects that you want to participate in (or the "Participate in all projects" one). Also, at the bottom there's an "opt into all new projects" option. When you're happy with the selection click "save".
 

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Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
Thanks for bumping this, Alan. I couldn't get it to work on my old computer, but my nice new Mac (which has lots of idle time) is now part of the project.
 

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Posted by Surfing Madness (# 11087) on :
 
Thanks Alan added some extra projects to the list my computer can work on.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
And, on the subject of extra projects ... WCG have just launched a new project Drug Search for Leishmaniasis.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
And, another new project GO fight against malaria has just been announced.
 

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Posted by no_prophet (# 15560) on :
 
Joined. Used existing package within repositories versus installing from the website using their shell script. Running Linux Mint 11 on a new install on an old confuser that happens to be dual core. I don't get many old castoffs with that!

Will have to see if there is a minimize to taskbar applet available.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Well done team!

The total computational time from the Ship of Fools team has just exceeded 100 years! Here's to the next century.
 

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Posted by Tukai (# 12960) on :
 
Alan: thank you for bumping this thread up, so that it came to my attention.

As a semi-retired scientist, now working from home (mainly just writing), I am pleased to contribute to this effort, and have now registered

As my home computer and internet have only modest performance , I have had to decline its services for two of the projects that are most relevant to my 'professional' interests, but I'm sure that all contributions are welcome.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tukai:
Alan: thank you for bumping this thread up, so that it came to my attention.

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quote:

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Originally posted by ShadoK:
I have a question that saves you having to bump...

Are there any plans for WCG to work on ARM-based devices, such as the iPad, the Excito B3 or the Raspberry Pi (when I get one!), etc.?

When I tried to install BOINC/World Community Grid on my B3, there was no work available for it. That's a pity as the B3 uses less energy than the PCs so is more likely to be left switched on continuously.

Shadok

---

I've had a very quick trawl through the WG forums, and it appears that there isn't currently a BOINC option for non-Windows ARM devices (it appears that the current Windows versions work OK on ARM devices). But, there's work ongoing that might get such an application in 18-24 months. There is some discussion as to whether it would be practical to run WCG on such devices given their power-saving architecture, running WCG would prevent the almost complete power-down when not in use (because, they would be in use crunching WCG data) and thus significantly increase average power consumption and reduce battery life. Would people really want a very low average power device and then operate it in such a way as to have power consumption not much less than coniderably cheaper x86 devices?
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
A new project has been launched on WCG, Computing for Sustainable Water it's being run by University of Virginia and builds on existing work for Chesapeake Bay, but will hopefully provide information transferable to other areas where sustainability of clean water is of more vital importance.
 

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Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
*slips below thread, tucks in head and then BUMP!*
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
News from the World Community Grid, they have just passed the milestone of 1 billion results returned. The Ship team has contributed 146000 of those, so well done all (and, well done those who also contribute to WCG and other similar projects but aren't members of the Ship team).
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Since my latest Windows 7 upgrade I am getting an error message every time I log on about the BOINC manager not being connected. I'm meant to log onto my account to link to a project, but can I remember my password?

Will keep trying.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
There is a "forgotten password" link on many WCG pages, including the top of the Ships Team Home Page
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
We recently passed the 150,000 results mile stone. Well done all, and keep crunching numbers.
 

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Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Two of the projects at WCG are nearing completion. You can get information about what your computing power has achieved; Help cure muscular dystrophy phase 2 and Computing for sustainable water.
 

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