KWSN Orbiting Fortress

air1ras

I just became the owner of 8 Dell XEON servers.
Five DELL Poweredge 860's
Two Dell Poweredge 2600's
One DEll CS24-SC

All are using MS Windows Server 2003. How can I use these machines to crunch using BOINC/ The BOINC download site does not specificly show a version for MS Server. Is there a way to use them? I guess I should have posted this before I bought them:-s Thanks in advance for any, and all help from the KWSN gang. Regards, Rick
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PhastPhred · Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 12:01 pm Post subject:

My PowerEdge (2950, Dual Xeons @ 3GHz) came with Server 2008
I have never installed the S/W, so can't be much help there
As for use, it was simple I just added BOINC like any other PC
You'll probably use Windows 64-bit 'XP/Vista/7/8' v7.0.64 (Recommended version)
To confirm you're 64-Bit, you might need this info:

Yankton · Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 2:13 pm Post subject:

If they are set up as domain controllers (if they are small business server 2003s then they are domain controllers) you may have conflicts when installing boinc. Boinc on a domain controller isn't supported. Small business server 2003 see

https://boinc.berkeley.edu/dev/forum_thread.php?id=4556

If they are domain controllers you can try this:

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/r27926916-Manual-Installation-of-BOINC-on-Windows-Server

and this

http://boinc.thesonntags.com/collatz/forum_thread.php?id=455&nowrap=true#7187

If you aren't using the server function and you have the discs and license keys in case you want to reinstall later it may be a lot easier to just wipe them and install linux instead.

#ni-1

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dow · Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 4:39 pm Post subject:

Linux linux linux.
It's what i do with all mine.
Ubuntu is nice and easy.

air1ras · Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 2:24 pm Post subject: Server Help #2

air1ras · Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 4:04 pm Post subject:

Yankton · Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:58 pm Post subject:

If you go linux, the desktop version should be fine. Ubuntu has a lot of stuff you don't need for just boinc. You could go with something smaller such as Fedora or Mint. I'm currently setting up a new shrubber with mint right now (just built it today). You can download the dvd image at http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php. Try the xfce version based on whether your machines are 32 or 64 bit machines. Just burn it to dvd on whatever machine you use for a desktop and have some fun!
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air1ras · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:38 pm Post subject:

Plomos · Prince Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Posts: 859

So what are you using your army of shruberries to shrub? Any particular project(s)?
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Yankton · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 4:59 pm Post subject:

You are most welcome sir. Happy Shrubbing!

#ni-1

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air1ras · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 5:38 pm Post subject:

Plomos · Prince Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Posts: 859

Cool man. I originally started with just a few projects and have evolved since then. Found POEM lets me grab a ton of points for the time spent. Also I like badges badges badges. WUprop has badges, did i mention badges yet? POGS and PG too. Almost to my next PG one. Anyways good to have you with us mate
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Pooh Bear 27 · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:21 pm Post subject:

I at one time had access to several old servers like Sir Plomos does. I was going to build an army of them, but then saw the amount of electric those old servers take. Not as efficient as newer boxes and I had to cut back. I donated the hardware to needy families at the time, which in turn gave me a very nice tax break and a good little savings on my electric bill.

I try and maintain about 5 "newer" style machines, although I do have one Core 2 Quad left. It has been reliable but is next for replacement unless one of the current boxes dies first then it gets replaced. I have suspect that the box I use for daily computing may go first. It has signs. I should work on having a good current backup on it. I had been reliably backing it up, but then something else blew up and I got behind / left it sit.

Good luck with those new shrubbers. Try and find good projects that loves those older boxes. It should not be hard.
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Yankton · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:18 pm Post subject:

I'm doing the same things. Pausing for the moment as I'm going to build a new unraid server. Been studying the dual lga 2011 server boards but nothing jumps out as solid. May go with a single 2011 server board and a nice hex core for it. Then I have a couple more machines to upgrade and I'll be good for a while.
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Plomos · Prince Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Posts: 859

I do not have an army of servers, sir Rick does. I have a single shrubber with a 3rd gen i3 in it and my galaxy s4
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