Linux People!! Help me (Seti)

[PieDerro]

I have NO IDEA at all how to use Linux. I merely know how to switch between the command line and the menu subsytem on by Linux machine.

I am using what I think is a Red Hat variant of Linux called E-Smith (website). It is running on a PIII 933 machine and is acting as a Proxy Server for my network. However, I have no idea how to assimilate this machine for SETI. I know it would add about 3.5 WU/day to the team, and I have another identical machine on another network that would also be assimilated, returning a total of 7 extra WU/day. I know it's not much, but these days, every last WU counts

What I would really appreciate is that somebody who knows how to install and run SETI on a Linux command line based machine of this sort to post or PM me exact instructions on what to do. If I had the time, I'd probably try to learn a little Linux, but as my field of expertise is not in computers, I haven;t been able to do so thus far.

Downloading instructions would be highly appreciated, as well as if someone could tell me how to keep track of my progress. I don't need SETI to be loaded on startup, as I can manually load it, and the machine will remain on for years hopefully

Also, I would like it to connect to my setiq. Thanks so so much in advance!!

-PieDerro

 

[Electrode]

Here's how to install and run the native Linux SETI client on Linux. This is all done at the command line, except for the first step.

1. Download the native client. You want i686-pc-linux-gnu-gnulibc2.1. Save it in your home directory (/home/youraccount or just ~).
2. Unpack it. tar -xvf setiathome-3.03.i686-pc-linux-gnu-gnulibc2.1.tar
3. give the directory a nicer name. mv setiathome-3.03.i686-pc-linux-gnu-gnulibc2.1 seti
4. Go there. cd seti
5. Run the client. ./setiathome -proxy your setiqueue's address:port

There you go!

EDIT: Just noticed you said you had a P3. AMD instructions deleted.

 

[PieDerro]

Wow!!

Thanks a stack Electrode

I will have at least one of these up and running by tomorrow.

Just a quick question, how do i download files from the command line

 

[Shuxclams]

It will do it on its own. I prefer to run it like this

./setiathome -proxy xxx.xxx.x.xx:5517 &

That way it is out of the way and you'll be able to do other things while it runs.
Also, if you want to see how its progressing

cat ./state.sah | more

Look at the "prog=" line to see the percentage completed.




SHUX

 

[zeruty]

to download files you can use the text based web browser lynx
easiest way would probably to just run this command on the command line
lynx ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/setiathome/setiathome-3.03.i686-pc-linux-gnu-gnulibc2.1.tar
it should ask you if want do download the file, hit d for yes
then it should ask you if you want to save it to disk, hit yes and then enter on the filename
it should be saved to either your current directory, or your home directory
then use electrodes instructions....

 

[Shuxclams]

I didnt realize thats what you meant, yeah, click this.












SHUX

 

[GulDukat]

On my machines, I also "nice" the client so that it doesn't steal cycles from other (possibly) important processes. So, if my SETI client is named "setiathome," I run the command:

./setiathome -proxy xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:5517 -nice 19 &

Dukat

 

[PieDerro]

Thanks a heap Electrode, Shux, Dukat and zeruty

I'm going to try Dukat's idea so that it doesn't run at too high a priority. After all, this machine is a proxy AND a fileserver.

I'll let you all know how i go

btw, what does the "19" stand for, Dukat?

 

[ShotgunSi]

Bump.

I'm trying to run it on an old P200 MMX with Red Hat 7.2
What version should I download? I downloaded the version listed above but got a "Illegal Instruction (core dumped)" error?

 

[Shuxclams]

i586 = P5 (Pentium) so I would get i386-pc-linux-gnu-gnulibc2.1 instead of the i686.










SHUX

 

[ShotgunSi]

Ahhhh! They didn't have a 586 version so I ended up with the 386 version, and it works now.
BTW
Whats the diff between: ?
i386-pc-linux-gnu-gnulibc2.1
i386-pc-linux-gnulibc1-static

 

[Shuxclams]

<< btw, what does the "19" stand for, Dukat? >>

Nice can set the priority to LOW so it wont grab cycles unless just about everything isn't running. I would suggest trying different settings from 19 to -19.












SHUX

 

[ShotgunSi]

Shux, any good programs in Linux that run with Seti, that will log output, processing time etc? Kinda like SetiSpy for Windows?

 

[Shuxclams]

<< Whats the diff between: ?
i386-pc-linux-gnu-gnulibc2.1
i386-pc-linux-gnulibc1-static >>



To be honest I don't know exactly. Intrested to hear, I have always used the gnulibc2.1 version.









SHUX

 

[Shuxclams]

xsetiathome comes by default with the CLI you just downloaded so you can have skymap and stuff, Linux type SETI Driver, for KDE (X) theres KSetiWatch, TKSeti and more, look around.











SHUX

 

[ottawanker]

someone should probably give instructions on how to edit the rc.d files...

on slackware, that I run, you would edit the /etc/rd.c/rc.local file

you could do this with an editor such as pico by doing (as root):

pico /etc/rc.d/rc.local

then just add the filename to the end of the file, such as:

/root/apps/seti/seti &

save it, and you should be good to go. for redhat, I have no idea, it might be in a /etc/rc.d/rc.local/ folder or something.. someone help a bit?

 

[ShotgunSi]

<< someone should probably give instructions on how to edit the rc.d files...
on slackware, that I run, you would edit the /etc/rd.c/rc.local file
you could do this with an editor such as pico by doing (as root):
pico /etc/rc.d/rc.local
then just add the filename to the end of the file, such as:
/root/apps/seti/seti &
save it, and you should be good to go. for redhat, I have no idea, it might be in a /etc/rc.d/rc.local/ folder or something.. someone help a bit? >>



Sorry for the newb question, but what would that accomplish?

 

[ottawanker]

ooops! forgot to mention that (stupid crack! hehe .. )

the rc.d files are like the autoexec.bat of does.. it starts things automatically when the computer is started..

in slackware, rc.local is typically where you put stuff like that, and when you boot, the shell script is run, and voila! the programs start..

 

[Shuxclams]

You can add that to your rc.local in Red Hat and Mandrake as well to make it run on boot. There are ways of converting it into a Daemon and as its own rc.x service.













SHUX

 

[torque2k]

<< I am using what I think is a Red Hat variant of Linux called E-Smith (website). >>



WHOA! Before you attempt to follow the above directions for installing SETI@Home, remember that you're running e-smith server, which is a highly modified, locked-down version of Redhat Linux 7.1... You shouldn't (notice I didn't say CAN'T) just go installing packages and modifying the rc.d scripts without first checking on the e-smith site and doing a search in the forums for what you want to add.

I know this because I've been installing e-smith for about a year on small-business servers. It's a nice system, I used to use it on my own network (I'm actually trying out a new server system called Clark Connect, really seems better for simple admin, but not locked down much).

Anyway, I checked out the forums for you, and found this link: Installing SETI@Home on an e-smith server...

This should get you most of the way there.

And I'm sorry to sound like the above answers were incorrect; they were nuts-on for most Linux distros, but the way e-smith uses templates to customize their system requires you to not modify the "real" scripts on the install.

Good luck finding ET!
Torque2k

 

[PieDerro]

Hey Torque,


Thanks a stack for the heads up... I didn't want to go in and lose 6 months worth of saved files on that server cos I mucked around with some of the core files

But I take it that you are referring to not installing SETI, but getting it to run at startup, am I right? (if i'm not just yell! )

I don't want to set it to automatically start up, nor do I need to. The machine only gets restarted 4 times a year, so it's the first thing I do when I go in at the beginning of each term I can't be bothered hassling the OS too much, so I think I'll keep doing it manually.

The server seems to be working OK so far

 

[torque2k]

<< I don't want to set it to automatically start up, nor do I need to. >>



You, sir, are correct. You don't need to, but it's one less thing that you have to remember to do. You would basically be loading the SETI client as a daemon, running automatically at reboot and forcing it to a background task. Take a look at that site I linked earlier... even if you don't decide to do it, it's a good bit of info on how you SHOULD go about installing things on an e-smith server. Luckily, the client doesn't really install anything, so there's no tampering of files done. That's up to you.

e-smith's forums are great for getting old information, but the regulars there are very picky about what they'll bother to answer. If you don't at least make an attempt at searching for previous posts relating to a problem you're having, they'll basically blacklist you. Very clique-ish...

Oh, and if you're new to e-smith, make sure you use the Blade installs to update your system with security patches! And, beta version of 5.1 is out now, so a point update is coming soon. Keep your eyes peeled!

Torque2k

 

[PieDerro]

Wow!!

Thanks a heap for the information Torque2K

I had a brief look at the forums just then, and they've already helped me answer a couple of unrelated questions, so thatnks for that too!

I don't know if I'll be getting too into Linux and E-Smith in particular, as this server system is a stop-gap system until the Education Department in my state upgrades the entire Public School network services, apparently in about 6 months time... more learning to be done... more...more...more..

Oh, and more assimilating too

 

[torque2k]

<< I don't know if I'll be getting too into Linux and E-Smith in particular, as this server system is a stop-gap system until the Education Department in my state upgrades the entire Public School network services >>



As long as they don't try to shove Windows 2000 Server or .NET Server down your throats...

If you want a system with much more control (but a bit higher learning curve), try out Caldera Open Linux Server or TurboLinux Server, or use Mandrake Linux 8.1 and set it up with Server abilities. Then, install a sweet program called Webmin. It's a browser-based control system for most modern *NIX installs, including Solaris. Allows you much more control over your system than e-smith does, without making you go to a command line interface all the time. There are also addon thirdparty modules available, more every day! It's the fun side of administration...

Of course, if you go Windows, then the fun disappears quickly. Good luck; I hate my job administering a ton of NT/2000 servers (mostly Terminal Servers and Citrix [thank God for Citrix]), so I'm learning Linux Administration on my own time (lots of books available now, like Marcel Gagne's new one). I may go for the RedHat certifications soon... At least I have an HPUX N-class server to play around with (a nice toy if you can swing the $340,000!).

Good luck to you! Maybe you can take that e-smith knowledge and use it on your home network. All learning is not in vain!