what will bring more participants?

[ixfd64]

Those ideas aren't really practical, but I'm just curious. Which of these will bring more participants?

I personally think that the software bundling will bring in the most users.

[jinydu]

I think the most practical option of those listed is to get schools, especially large universities, to install Prime95. If GIMPS could persuade an IT manager from a major university to join, many thousands of computers could be added to the project.

[fatphil]

The best way is to transmit client code around with a virus-based rootkit.
100,000 machines could be crunching within days.

Phil

[Greenbank]

http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/trojrc5dr.html
http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/w32bymera.html

Click on Description. The virus downloaded the dnetc.exe client for the RC5 brute force cracking.

[Mystwalker]

Just rename it to $sys$prime95.exe...

[xilman]

Originally Posted by fatphil

The best way is to transmit client code around with a virus-based rootkit.
100,000 machines could be crunching within days.

Phil

My irony detector is on the blink again, so I'll interpret the quoted material literally.

In my opinion, and that of many other working in the field of distributed computing, this is quite possible the worst way.

Leaving aside the fact that such an action is illegal in many jurisdictions and could result in your food and housing being provided by the state for some significant time, it is also widely regarded as unethical to use other people's machines without authorization.

Pulling such a trick also damages the future prospects of those who would rather use persuasion to acquire computation.


Paul

[Prime95]

This poll begs the question, is it a good thing to have more participants? I've always felt it is better for the discoverer to have an appreciation of Mersenne primes and their history.

[Peter Nelson]

Originally Posted by Mystwalker

Just rename it to $sys$prime95.exe...

Very funny!

But that only works on people who buy Sony music CDs ;-)

Seriously,

I think a way to promote the project would be to have made up some of those square case badges.

Instead of "Intel inside" they should say "PRIME STABLE".

As Prime95 is well known as a stability testing tool, it would be popular (especially if officially from mersenne.org maybe it could even have the URL on it).

That would result in more curiosity like "What's Prime Stable" and more coverage at attracting potential users.

The badges could be given out at computer fairs, user clubs, enthusiast meets etc and could be quite prestigious (limited edition in Silver???)

I think you could get a few thousand made very cheaply.

Mail boxes of them to participants around the world for distribution to the uninitiated.

Perhaps to qualify, a pc has to at least have run torture test (thus ensuring the software is at least on the machine if it was subsequently connected to the primenet project).

How about it, George? I can SMELL those cycles already!