Should we buy a backup server?

[Paulie]

Originally posted by QuintLeo
I personally have had cases where one of my machines finished an exponent, started on a second exponent, found a factor in less than a day in the TF stage, and needed a 3'd exponent - all in less than a 24 hour period. If I had left those machines at the 30 day default, they WOULD have run out of work - and one of those cases happened during a PrimeNet outage of some days length.

Prime95 used to run factoring work immediately when it received new work. You can set the behavor back to that; from the undoc.txt file:

The program used to do factoring and P-1 testing on exponents even if
they were not the first entry in worktodo.ini.  The rationale was that
if the number had a factor, the server could be contacted and another
exponent reserved.  This avoids the possible scenario where the LL test
for the first worktodo.ini line completes, a factor is quickly found for
the second line in worktodo.ini and the computer now sits idle until
the server can be contacted.  This behavior was confusing, especially
to newcomers.  To restore this old behavior add this line to prime.ini:
	SequentialWorkToDo=0
One added benefit is time estimates in Test/Status will be more accurate
because we'll know no factors will be found and the LL test must be run.

This is one of the first settings I put on a machine. :-)

[QuintLeo]

Wouldn't have helped on at least 2 of the machines in question - K5 (slow by current standards) boxes doing TF work specifically.

[PrimeCruncher]

Originally posted by QuintLeo
Wouldn't have helped on at least 2 of the machines in question - K5 (slow by current standards) boxes doing TF work specifically.

K5? Ouch, I see what you mean. I have a K6-II that was going to be decomissioned soon since I was building a new PC. It runs at 500 MHz and takes ~11 days to factor through 2^67. Going on pure clock speed (I'm guessing at yours) then those K5s should be taking about 2 months! I don't run any machines that take longer than a month to complete a TF, not worth the electricity.

[QuintLeo]

2 months sounds about right - and when it's winter here, it's cheaper to keep them running and heat with the electric than to use the furnace more (natural gas).

I've also got a few K6 boxen running, but most of those I think I have set for LL work. At a year or somewhat more per.

Patience sometimes IS a virtue.

8-)

[clowns789]

What does v5 mean?

[patrik]

Originally posted by clowns789
What does v5 mean?

That means version 5. Scott Kurowski is developing a new version of the Primenet server. See the PrimeNet v5 Server part of the forums.