Attaching The BOINC Client Software To A BOINC Powered Project
From Unofficial BOINC Wiki
[edit] General
To be able to process work for a BOINC Powered Project the BOINC Client Software on the Participant's Computer must be "Attached" to the BOINC Powered Project. To do this, the Participant has to have an Account with the BOINC Powered Project.
Once the linkage between the Participant's Computer and the BOINC Powered Project has been made, the BOINC Client Software is now able to ask for work from the Project's Scheduling Server (also known as "the Scheduler").
[edit] Preconditions
In order to complete the procedure outlined in this guide, you must meet the following preconditions:
- You must have an operational computer.
- You must have Internet Access from this computer.
- You must be able to operate the computer and access the Internet.
- A BOINC Powered Project has been selected and the BOINC Client Software must be properly installed.
- See "Installing the BOINC Client Software And Participating In A BOINC Powered Project" (Master Guide)
[edit] Initial Steps
[edit] Explanation
When the Participant decides which BOINC Powered Projects that they wish to contribute to, they will use the "Attach to Project" button on the Projects Menu.
When the "Attach to Project" wizard window is present, the Participant enters the Project's Master URL and then either creates a new account or uses an existing account to log in and pressed Next.
The wizard will confirm the success or failure of the attach.
Pretty simple, well, I made a bunch of images so, you can be sure you are doing it correctly.
[edit] Attaching To The BOINC Powered Project
[edit] Explanation
Now we are going to do the "real" work portion of this process. Actually "Attaching" our computer to the BOINC Powered Project.
[edit] Overview of the "Attach" Process
To "Attach" the BOINC Client Software to a BOINC Powered Project the following will be done:
- You will read the EULA for the BOINC Powered Project and agree to the terms.
- Check to see that the Project's Scheduling Server is on-line.
- On starting the BOINC Client Software for the first time, it should automatically start the "Attach to Project" wizard. If it doesn't or you are already running another BOINC Powered Project, you can start that wizard by choosing the Projects Menu, "Attach to project" menu option.
- Enter the Project's Master URL for example climateprediction.net.
- Enter your existing Account Information of e-Mail address and Password, Or enter your e-Mail address and a new Password if you do not already have an Account for the Project. Take care to avoid typing mistakes.
- If successful, an "Attached to Project" message should display. Click finish to end the "Attach to Project" wizard.
[edit] Reading the "Rules and Policies" for the BOINC Powered Project
You need to know what you are getting into, so, read the Rules and Policies for the Project.
From the list below, select a Project and click on the link in the second column to get the "official" Rules and Policies for the Project for which you wish to be a Participant. If you need help with the page, there is documentation available for the page, click on the "Page Doc." icon in the first column.
| Project | URL | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| Climateprediction.net (CPDN) | Rules and Policies | "Rules and Policies" Page |
| Einstein@Home | Rules and Policies | |
| LHC@Home | Rules and Policies | |
| Predictor@Home | Rules and Policies | |
| Rosetta@Home | Rules and Policies | |
| SETI@Home | Rules and Policies | |
| SIMAP@Home | Rules and Policies | |
| SZTAKI Desktop Grid | Rules and Policies | |
| World Community Grid | See the link "Software License Agreement" on this page. |
[edit] Verify The State of The BOINC Powered Project
We suggest that you check to see if the new BOINC Powered Project is On-Line by checking with the specific "Server Status" Page. Use the following table to link to the status page:
Many of the Third Party Statistics Sites also show server status, see:
What you are looking for is an "Up" status, primarily on the Scheduling Server. If you are unsure, you can ask other experienced Participants on the Forums. Some projects, Predictor@Home and LHC@Home have a simple "Up"/"Down" indicator on the "Index" page. Other BOINC Powered Projects have more complex schemes showing the state of many of the components of the Back-End Systems.
If the Scheduling Server is off-line you will not be able to "Attach" to the Project.
[edit] Open the BOINC Manager
Open the BOINC Manager window if it is not already open.
- Note:
- If you are continuing from one of the "Install Process" "How-To" Guides, if you followed our suggestion, the BOINC Manager's window should be open.
[edit] Open the Projects Menu of the BOINC Manager
Click on the "Projects Menu".
[edit] Click the "Attach to Project" item
In the menu there is an item labeled as "Attach to Project", click on this button to open the "Attach to Project" wizard.
[edit] "Attach to Project" Wizard Opening Page
The first page of the wizard just describes what you are about to do.
Click "Next >".
[edit] Project Master URL
Click in the field named "Project's Master URL" in the "Attach to Project" dialog window. "Paste" the Project's Master URL into the field. Use Control-"V" (Microsoft Windows®) or Command-"v" (Apple Macintosh OS-X).
Select the Project's Master URL from the table:
| Project | Project Master URL | Status |
|---|---|---|
| BBC Climate Change Experiment | http://bbc.cpdn.org/ | Production |
| Climateprediction.net (CPDN) | http://climateprediction.net/ | Production |
| BURP | Alpha Test | |
| Einstein@Home | http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/ | Production |
| The Lattice Project | Alpha Test/Inactive | |
| LHC@Home | http://lhcathome.cern.ch/ | Production |
| Orbit@Home | Alpha Test/Inactive | |
| Predictor@Home | http://predictor.scripps.edu/ | Production |
| PrimeGrid | Alpha Test | |
| Rosetta@Home | http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/ | Production |
| SETI@Home | http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/ | Production |
| SIMAP@Home | http://boinc.bio.wzw.tum.de/boincsimap/ | Production |
| SZTAKI Desktop Grid | http://szdg.lpds.sztaki.hu/szdg/ | Production |
| World Community Grid | http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/ | Production |
- Note:
- This list contains some BOINC Powered Projects that are still in Alpha/Beta Test and the actual Project Master URL will be added when the Project goes into a production mode.
- Note:
- Some of the BOINC Powered Projects in the table are in a test phase. We do not recommend that you "Attach" to any BOINC Powered Project this is not in "Production" status.
Click "Next >".
[edit] Proxy Configuration
You only need to complete this step if you are behind a proxy server and receive this dialog during the attach process. If you have not configured proxy settings when you should have done, you get a screen like this.
You are most likely behind a Proxy Server. Please see BOINC FAQ: Running BOINC behind a proxy server for more information.
Just fill in the details and click "Next >".
[edit] Communication Required
Wait while this communicating message is displayed. The BOINC Client Software must obtain some information from the Project's Scheduling Server.
[edit] Create a New Account or Log Into An Existing Account
In this dialog, you need can either create a new Account by entering the required information into the fields. There will be restrictions on the content of the Password and its length.
If you make an error, you will be prompted to correct the error.
Take care to avoid typing mistakes.
or
If you have already created an Account at the Project's Web Site, you can log in, by clicking on "Use existing account" and filling in your e-mail address and password.
Click "Next >".
[edit] Communication Required
Wait while this communicating message is displayed. The BOINC Client Software must exchange the information entered with the Project's Scheduling Server.
In the case of a new Account creation the Server must create the Account. If it is a usage of an existing Account, the Account Information must be validated.
[edit] Success
You should get an attached message as depicted above. If you get the message below, you need to check your details.
That should be it! The BOINC Client Software should look after downloading the Science Application, the details of your particular Work Unit and all the other communications necessary. If this does not happen, see BOINC FAQ: Troubleshooting on attaching to a project or Climateprediction FAQ - Issues with Getting started or the BOINC FAQ.
For more on what the BOINC System does to get you started see "Getting Started".
Click "Finish".
[edit] Failure
In this example of a failure the Password or the e-Mail address was incorrect and must be changed or the attempt to "Attach" to the Project must be abandoned.
Check to make sure your firewall allows the BOINC Client Software full browsing capability on port 80.
Also see BOINC FAQ: Troubleshooting on attaching to a project or Climateprediction FAQ - Issues with Getting started or the BOINC FAQ.
Click "Finish" if you do not want to correct the problem.
or,
Click "< Back'" after you have corrected the problem.
[edit] Finished
You have completed the procedure.
[edit] Related Messages
[edit] Success
[edit] Failure
- BOINC couldn't get main page for '(url)'
- Can't resolve hostname '(host-name)' host not found
- Scheduler request to '(url)' failed
[edit] Also See
[edit] BOINC "How-To" Guides Related To Installation
The list that follows contains the BOINC "How-To" Guides, in rough order of use, that are used in the installation and set-up of the BOINC Client Software.
- Note:
- Don't panic! I have pictures and everything!
- Installing the BOINC Client Software And Participating In A BOINC Powered Project (Master Guide)
- Choosing a BOINC Powered Project
- Joining a BOINC Powered Project
- Installing:
- Installing The BOINC Client Software on Microsoft Windows® (all versions).
- Installing The BOINC Client Software on Apple Macintosh OS-X (only; do not attempt to install or run the BOINC Client Software on OS-9)
- Installing The BOINC Client Software on Linux (x86 versions only)
- Installing The BOINC Client Software on SPARC/Solaris
- BOINC and SETI@Home Quick Install Guide for HPUX
- Attaching The BOINC Client Software To A BOINC Powered Project
- Updating or Repairing the BOINC Client Software:
- Detaching The BOINC Client Software From A BOINC Powered Project
- Uninstalling the BOINC Client Software:
- Miscellaneous Installation Related Tasks
- Deprecated Procedures
