If you want to use BoincTasks on the same computer as BOINC is running.
Just start BoincTasks and start working.
Choose Computers -> Add and type localhost in the column IP address. In the column Computer, type in the name of the computer. NEVER use the ip address of the local machine, but always use localhost.
Don't use the password field on the localhost, as it isn't used.
If you want to use BoincTasks with several remote computers, follow the same steps as above and add the localhost.
Choose Computers -> Add and add as many computers as you need.
Fill in the IP addresses of these computers and give every computer an unique name, in the column Computer.
If they are not there already, make the files remote_hosts.cfg and gui_rpc_auth.cfg on each remote computer.
These files are located in the BOINC data directory. How to find them? Look in the messages tab of BOINC Manager (at the start) for the line: Data directory: C:\ProgramData\BOINC remote_hosts.cfg should have the line 192.168.10.1 or the IP address of the computer that runs BoincTasks.
There are two options when using passwords.
1) Copy the password in gui_rpc_auth.cfg and place it in the password field of BoincTasks.
2) Make you own password and place it in the password field of BoincTasks. Put the same password in the file gui_rpc_auth.cfg.
192.168.10.x are just examples, your computer may have an entirely different IP address.
BoincTasks uses port Pi 31416 to communicate with all (remote) computers.
Leave the port column empty in the computers window, unless you know exactly what your are doing.
BoincTasks will hide itself in the taskbar. Clicking on the BoincTasks Icon will open the program
Closing BoincTasks, by pressing the right mouse button over the BoincTasks icon and selecting "Exit".
Adding computers
Select computers->show. Or use the to show the computers window.
The first column "Computer ID" is for your convenience only, and is to more easily identify the computer.
The second column "Computer ID" holds the unique computer name.
The IP address is the name, the computer is locally known. Localhost is your local computer and an IP is the safest way to go for any remote computers. But names may be resolved as well.
For the local computer you may leave the password empty.
When you are done, close BoincTasks and start it again. This to be sure all data is stored properly.
Got more computers, the find computers dialog can help a lot. Select Computers->Find computers.
While opening the dialog, the computer is scanned for known computers, this can take some time.
On some computers, names can be used instead of IP addresses, but it tends to be less reliable. Sometimes they are found, sometimes they are not.
If not all computers are resolved and you are missing some, give in a address range. Make this range as short as possible, because it can take up to one minute per address, when there is no computer found.
Ip addresses are added when BOINC or TThrottle is found on the other side.
You will normally find 2 localhosts one with the default internal IP address of 127.0.0.1 and one with the real IP address. Never use 127.0.0.1. You can't select the localhost.
Finding TThrottle and not BOINC (missing yes), indicates a missing remote_hosts.cfg or a missing entry in the file.
Check the computers you want to add and press Add selected.
Don't forget to add a password when you're ready.
Starting
After adding the computer(s), select at least one computer and press This will start BoincTasks, in the preferred combined mode.
Alternatively you can use . This will start every computer in a separate window.
You can automate the startup, by selecting Extra->Auto startup with->Combined.
Now BoincTasks will automatically connect to any selected computers at startup.
Switching between pages
Switch to the project page. Switch to the tasks page. This is the default at startup. Switch to the transfers page. This shows the uploads and downloads. Switch to the messages page. Switch to the history page. Display graphic dialog.
Projects page
Pressing on the right mouse button, over a project, will display the project menu.
Tasks page
Pressing on the right mouse button, over a taks, will display the task menu.
When there are a lot of WU in ready to start, enabling the filter will reduce the number of WU that are displayed.
All WU are combined by application. The deadline is that of the WU with the earliest deadline.
A efficiency column, gives you info how your GPU task is doing or has completed.
The first number is the wall clock time an application has ran. The second the actual CPU time it took and the percentage is the CPU efficiency. The lower the % the less CPU it took to keep the GPU working.
Set warnings
You can set warning on the CPU %, to warn you, when a task is not running as usual. E.g. taking up more, or less CPU time than expected.
In this example, the first warning rule is a CPU only task. A warning color is shown, when the CPU % is between 0 and 50.
The second warning rule is a typical GPU task, running on the GPU and uses the CPU as feeder. So the CPU % is typically quite low. A warning is shown, when the CPU % is above 50%, meaning the CPU is being used, way too much.
Typically the GPU tasks, has gone into CPU fallback mode, by a GPU error.
The CPU and GPU values, of the first 4, can be found in the Use column. The last two values are the CPU % column values.
Sorting Tips:
^ and V are the main sorting indicators, they are sorted last.
Press the Right Ctrl key first and hold it down while clicking on the top of the row, the V3 indicator appears.
This is the tertiary sorting row. This row is sorted first.
Press the Left Ctrl key first and hold it down while clicking on the top of the row, the V2 indicator appears.
This is the secondary sorting row. This row is sorted second.
Messages
When you have more than one computer, use the computer bar to select the right computer. Alternatively, press on the right mouse button and select a computer.
History
In combined mode only. Displays all tasks that are in upload, waiting to report or reported. The tasks are deleted after a user definable time period.
To check what has happened the last day.
Graphics
Graphics can be displayed, selecting multiple computers and multiple projects.
All colors are user adjustable by clicking on the rainbow button.
In the menu, open Extra->Settings. In the general tab, check Connect to TThrottle
In the same dialog, in the Tasks tab, at the end there are 2 Columns set to hide. Change these into throttle and temperature. To apply these changes press Apply.
In TThrottle open the dialog and go to the tab preference and check Enable BoincTasks
WU regulator
Instead of having a work buffer for a number of days, BoincTasks has the option for a work buffer of xx Work Units.
Even as BoincTasks doesn't have much problems with larger amounts of WU, the BOINC client can get into problems with WU above 1500, but this depends on the system.
In the computer screen type in the WU you want in "Wanted WU". Optionally type in a maximum daily work buffer in the "Days Work" field.
The last one limits an eventual overshoot. Expect an overshoot of 10%, depending on how fast BOINC reacts.
After changing the values in the "Wanted WU" field, best to close all BoincTasks windows and open them again. Or to exit BoincTasks and restart.
To be clear, the WU regulator doesn't let you get any more work, than you otherwise would get using e.g. Boinc Manager.
And with some projects you may never reach the "Wanted WU" number.
The "Wanted WU" works as a ceiling so you don't get too many WU, more than you computer can handle.
Tips
In the task view, you can select multiple tasks, by holding down the Control key. These selections, automatically follow the task name. So this is also a good way, to follow a task all the way to completion.
You can sort on 3 columns at the same time by clicking on the top of a column (last sorting). Holding down the left or right Control key selects the first and second sorting v2 & v3.
The Message view, keeps focused on the last line. To change this, select a line above it and the focus shifts.
Sometimes it's quit convenient, to have the task window open, together with the message view.
You can do this, by opening the combined window, together with the non combined window. Setting up the first, for task viewing and the second for the message view, at the same time.
Impact, explained
Every time all the work units are send from BOINC master to BoincTasks. This is no problem when you have 10 WU, but above 1000 you will notice it... and above 5000 you certainly will.
This is one of the reasons I started this project. The default BOINC Manager is not capable of doing this is an acceptable manner.
BoincTask can handle these amounts without any problems. But the impact or overhead on the system that runs BoincTask will be noticeable. So minimize BoincTasks as soon as you are done looking. This will put BoincTasks into idle mode.
Leaving the messages open is no problem, as the impact is quite low.
Suggestions as always are welcome.
Thank you for using BoincTasks.
Contact: b#o#i#n#c#at#efmer.eu (without the # and at = @)
BoincTasks will hide itself in the taskbar. Clicking on the BoincTasks Icon will open the program
to show the computers window.
This will start BoincTasks, in the preferred combined mode.
. This will start every computer in a separate window.
Switch to the tasks page. This is the default at startup.
Switch to the transfers page. This shows the uploads and downloads.
Switch to the messages page.
Switch to the history page.
Display graphic dialog.
