Climateprediction.net System Requirements
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[edit] Recommended System Requirements
Please read this page before downloading BOINC and starting Climateprediction.net (CPDN). Running the Climateprediction.net (CPDN) Science Application is quite demanding on your PC. Laptops, especially, can easily overheat if they are performing intense operations over a long period, and machines that do not have enough RAM can experience problems as they need to continuously write to disk. We don't want to cause disk crashes, so please take careful note of the technical requirements below.
If your machine is under the minimum specification, we recommend that you do not start the Climateprediction.net (CPDN) project. If you have attached to the project, and decide that it is "over-stressing" your computer, simply Detach from the project. You should find other BOINC projects that are suitable for your machine.
The main requirement for participating in Climateprediction.net (CPDN) is a certain amount of commitment. Each Work Unit (in this case, a Climate Model or simulation will take a few weeks or months to complete, depending on how fast your computer is and how much you leave it on. Incomplete runs cannot be handed on to another participant to complete.
[edit] Operating System and Hardware Requirements
Windows XP/2000/2003 Server 1.6 GHz or higher
Mac OS X 10.3, or later 1.6 GHz or higher
Linux (32-bit)
Red Hat Linux 8.X, 9.X 1.6 GHz or higher
Mandrake Linux 10.x 1.6 GHz or higher
Debian Linux 3.0 1.6 GHz or higher
The recommended 1.6GHz is not a hard limit; slower processors should work but they will be slow. If you are considering running on a slower system than recommended then do be aware of how large the work units are and consider whether you are likely to be able to finish one. Results received after the one year deadline have been accepted but I cannot guarantee that this will still be true in a year's time.
[edit] Memory Requirements
Hard Disk
For Slab Model 750MB maximum requirement (later compresses to 330MB)
For Sulphur Cycle 2.7GB maximum requirement (later compresses to 1 GB)
For Transient Coupled Model 600MB ???
Note: Above figures are per model. If running a dual or hyperthreaded processor you may have two or more models. Thus a hyperthreaded processor running two Sulphur Cycle models will have a maximum requirement of 5.4GB.
RAM Memory
For Slab Model 128MB though 256MB is better (192MB minimum for Mac)
For Sulphur Cycle 256MB though 512MB is better if you want to be able to use the computer
For Transient Coupled Model 512MB ???
[edit] Internet Connection
Any type of Internet connection (e.g. dial-up, broadband, ISDN, LAN) is suitable to
(i) download the model and (ii) send us back the results at the end of the run.
[edit] Overclocking
If you are in the habit of deliberately overclocking your CPU, you will be more prone to random crashes of the model than other people.
[edit] Graphics Compatibility
The application graphics requires a graphics card that supports OpenGL.
[edit] Additional Notes
The model can only run when you have your computer switched on. Note that the extra greenhouse gas emission generated by the use of your PC is very small (for an explanation, go to this page). However, whenever you need to switch your computer off, the simulation will be saved and will restart from close to the last place it reached when you next switch the computer on. You do NOT need to leave your computer connected to the internet all the time. Access is needed at the beginning to download the program and model. If you allow it, it will Trickle information about where it is up to from time to time. There are also uploads at the end of Phases.
If you have a technical question not answered by the information above, you may find the answer elsewhere in this Wiki; but if not, please ask on the BOINC questions and problems forum.
Also See
