I'm proud to announce general availability of [H] Ubuntu DC Appliance.
Note: subscribe to this thread to receive updates/announcements et al.
Thanks go to #area51, esp. sc0tty8, the main instigator of this development.
Main objective of [H] Ubuntu DC Appliance is simplifying installation
and setup.
While [H] Ubuntu Installation Guide (which is, for the most part, automated)
shares same goals, there are few differences that make the appliance attractive
in certain scenarios.
As such, treat [H] Ubuntu DC Appliance as an alternative, not a competition
to [H] Ubuntu Installation Guide.
Notably, [H] Ubuntu DC Appliance:
For hackers --
Project is hosted at github -- https://github.com/team33/h-ubuntu
Kernel changes were made against ubuntu-precise kernel git tree, commit 2df0160076bee3aabb7cf2b6c4ac21e82bc34b41.
Diff is available at http://darkswarm.org/Ubuntu-3.2.0-47.72-2df0160076bee3aabb7cf2b6c4ac21e82bc34b41-h3-20130604.diff
Release comparison/history:
v6:
- first public release
v7:
- resolves a bug that prevented Langouste from starting up
- automatically sets hostname to fah-ETHERNETMAC at first boot
- uses text mode in GRUB out of the box
- preconfigures HFM
- removes stock Ubuntu kernel [3.5.0-23-generic]
- [advanced] doesn't start GUI in runlevel 3 (courtesy of brilong)
v8:
- automatically adjusts fah-ETHERNETMAC hostname if the drive is moved
  to another machine
v9 (special thanks to bowlinra for feedback and suggestions):
- is much smaller, raw image size has been reduced to 5GB (from >7GB);
  this should enable use of any not-exactly-8GB drive
- features automatic partition and filesystem expansion (to completely
  fill the device)
- generates fresh swap and root-fs UUIDs at first boot
- generates fresh self-signed SSL certificate at first boot
- updates documentation on the Desktop (DOUBLE-CLICK ME)
- removes log files generated during setup (for cleanliness)
v9.1:
- quick respin of v9
- now includes BOINC client! (henceforth called DC Appliance --sic!)
- includes updated FAH utilities
Setup -- background
[H] Ubuntu DC Appliance, being an image, needs additional machine that's
used for transferring the appliance to target drive. We'll be calling it 'host machine'.
Naturally, you will also need a target drive which will have to be connected to the
host machine through the process of transferring the image to the target drive.
Target drive may be an USB drive, HDD, SSD, connected directly or indirectly
(via USB<->SATA adapter) to the host machine.
Size requirement is currently 5 GB or larger.
Linux instructions are available in the [post=1040001861]next post[/post].
For FAQ, [post=1040002108]click here[/post].
Setup [Windows] -- steps
I'm proud to announce general availability of [H] Ubuntu DC Appliance.
Note: subscribe to this thread to receive updates/announcements et al.
Thanks go to #area51, esp. sc0tty8, the main instigator of this development.
Main objective of [H] Ubuntu DC Appliance is simplifying installation
and setup.
While [H] Ubuntu Installation Guide (which is, for the most part, automated)
shares same goals, there are few differences that make the appliance attractive
in certain scenarios.
As such, treat [H] Ubuntu DC Appliance as an alternative, not a competition
to [H] Ubuntu Installation Guide.
Notably, [H] Ubuntu DC Appliance:
- is a device image (like linuxfah's folding appliance), not an ISO -- it can
be easily transferred w/o resorting to SATA DVD drive or Virtual DVD - includes custom BOINC client, with optimizations for multisocket/dedicated machines
- runs custom [H] kernel configuration, dedicated for high-output (2P/4P intel and AMD) machines
- includes all necessary OS tweaks
- comes with most common folding/OC-related utilities preinstalled: HFM, tpc, i7z,
ocng-utils, langouste (not configured by default), Kraken - features spanking [H] desktop background
For hackers --
Project is hosted at github -- https://github.com/team33/h-ubuntu
Kernel changes were made against ubuntu-precise kernel git tree, commit 2df0160076bee3aabb7cf2b6c4ac21e82bc34b41.
Diff is available at http://darkswarm.org/Ubuntu-3.2.0-47.72-2df0160076bee3aabb7cf2b6c4ac21e82bc34b41-h3-20130604.diff
Release comparison/history:
Code:
+---------------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+
| | v6 | v7 | v8 | v9 | v9.1 |
+---------------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+
| build date | 6/26/2013 | 6/28/2013 | 7/2/2013 | 10/24/2013 | 2/7/2014 |
| download size (MiB) | 773.94 | 771.72 | 765.39 | 770.18 | 758.33 |
| raw size (MiB) | 7600.00 | 7600.00 | 7511.77 | 5120.00 | 5120.00 |
| usable swap (KiB) | 462844 | 462844 | 356348 | 510972 | 510972 |
| Ubuntu | 12.04.2 | 12.04.2 | 12.04.2 | 12.04.2 | 12.04.2 |
| BOINC | - | - | - | - | 7.0.65~a3 |
| fahinstall* | 2.15 | 2.16 | 2.16 | 2.21 | 2.28 |
| fahdiag* | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.15 | 0.17 |
| thekraken* | 0.7-pre15 | 0.7-pre15 | 0.7-pre15 | 0.7-pre16 | 0.7-pre19 |
| Langouste3* | 15.9 | 15.9 | 15.9 | 15.14 | 15.20 |
| HFM | 0.9.1.595-h5 | 0.9.1.595-h5 | 0.9.1.595-h5 | 0.9.1.595-h6 | 0.9.1.595-h6 |
| ocng-utils | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| tpc | 0.44-rc2 | 0.44-rc2 | 0.44-rc2 | 0.44-rc2 | 0.44-rc2 |
| i7z | 0.27.2 | 0.27.2 | 0.27.2 | 0.27.2 | 0.27.2 |
+---------------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+
*) automatically updated when 'sudo fahinstall' is run, also see FAQ two posts down
v6:
- first public release
v7:
- resolves a bug that prevented Langouste from starting up
- automatically sets hostname to fah-ETHERNETMAC at first boot
- uses text mode in GRUB out of the box
- preconfigures HFM
- removes stock Ubuntu kernel [3.5.0-23-generic]
- [advanced] doesn't start GUI in runlevel 3 (courtesy of brilong)
v8:
- automatically adjusts fah-ETHERNETMAC hostname if the drive is moved
  to another machine
v9 (special thanks to bowlinra for feedback and suggestions):
- is much smaller, raw image size has been reduced to 5GB (from >7GB);
  this should enable use of any not-exactly-8GB drive
- features automatic partition and filesystem expansion (to completely
  fill the device)
- generates fresh swap and root-fs UUIDs at first boot
- generates fresh self-signed SSL certificate at first boot
- updates documentation on the Desktop (DOUBLE-CLICK ME)
- removes log files generated during setup (for cleanliness)
v9.1:
- quick respin of v9
- now includes BOINC client! (henceforth called DC Appliance --sic!)
- includes updated FAH utilities
Setup -- background
[H] Ubuntu DC Appliance, being an image, needs additional machine that's
used for transferring the appliance to target drive. We'll be calling it 'host machine'.
Naturally, you will also need a target drive which will have to be connected to the
host machine through the process of transferring the image to the target drive.
Target drive may be an USB drive, HDD, SSD, connected directly or indirectly
(via USB<->SATA adapter) to the host machine.
Size requirement is currently 5 GB or larger.
Linux instructions are available in the [post=1040001861]next post[/post].
For FAQ, [post=1040002108]click here[/post].
Setup [Windows] -- steps
- Round up a Windows PC (host machine) and make sure you have 7zip installed
  - Connect target drive (the one you want to install [H] Ubuntu Folding Appliance to) to the
host machine, make sure it's at least 5 GB large
  - Download and install RMPrepUSB image write tool:
http://darkswarm.org/dc-appliance/Install_RMPrepUSB_Full_v2.1.706.zip
  - Download the image.
Use Torrent (preferred):
Magnet link
or HTTP (in case of issues):
http://darkswarm.org/dc-appliance/team33-ubuntu-9.1-20140207.7z
  - Un7zip the image
  - Launch RMPrepUSB, you should see something along these lines:
RMPrepUSB is extremely flexible but we'll only use few of its features -- don't be alarmed.
  - If using HDD/SSD, go to Settings and make sure that 'List HARD DISKS option is checked', if not -- click it
  - Highlight target device in the drive list.
IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE TO SELECT THE RIGHT DRIVE
  - Click File->Drive button
  - Select the file (extracted in step 5)
  - After you select the file, RMPrepUSB will present you three configuration screens (one at a time)
-- accept default values by clicking 'OK' button.
  - Next, RMPrepUSB will display final confirmation screen.
As this is last chance to cancel the operation, make sure appropriate drive is about to be written to!.
Click 'OK' button to proceed with the write.
  - Writing is performed by external console program; you shall be notified of the success as well -- see below.
  - Power the host machine down, move the drive to target machine and power it on.
The machine will boot the OS, perform several first-boot tasks and reboot again -- don't
be alarmed.
  - Once the target machine boots, log in.
user: horde
pass: team33ftw
  - Configure the time zone:
(a) click on the Dash Icon (top-left), then
(b) type: 'time' (remove quotes) and press Enter
(c) select your location/time zone on the map
(d) close the window -- use (X) icon in top-left corner of the window
  - BOINC is preinstalled and starts at boot-time. If you wish to BOINC:
(a) click the Dash Icon (top-left), then
(b) type: 'boinc' and press Enter
  - Due to terms of Folding@Home EULA, you need to install the client
yourself. Automated setup script is available. Proceed according
to following steps to complete the installation.
  - Open a terminal:
(a) click on the Dash Icon (top-left), then
(b) type: 'terminal' and press Enter
  - In the terminal window, type: 'sudo fahinstall' (remove quotes) and press Enter.
  - After few moments, fahinstall will ask if you accept Folding@Home EULA.
If you accept the EULA, press Enter.
  - Fahinstall will then download and run the client in -configonly mode which will ask you
for your donor name, team number and passkey.
Enter the values as requested.
 
If you don't have a passkey, request one at:
http://fah-web.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/getpasskey.py
 
Add'l passkey info is available at:
http://folding.stanford.edu/English/FAQ-passkey
  - You may leave remaining items at their defaults (Press Enter to accept each value).
If you wish to use Langouste answer 'yes' to 'Use proxy' question.
 
NOTE: client is preconfigured for your hardware configuration;
       however, if you have a 24-thread machine that won't meet
       bigadv deadlines (ask us, if you're not sure), you will
       have to answer 'yes' to 'Change advanced options' question
       and remove '-bigadv' parameter from 'Additional client
       parameters' list.
  - Upon completing the installation, fahinstall will print your host name and IP address
and will ask you to reboot the machine.
  - Optionally, you may now change host name to your liking. To do so, type:
    sudo hostname-persistent <hostname>
Replace <hostname> with desired name and press Enter.
For instance, to set your hostname to 'neptune' type:
    sudo hostname-persistent neptune
and press Enter.
  - Reboot the machine: type 'sudo reboot' (remove quotes) and press Enter
  - Once the machine reboots, log back in.
  - To start folding, open a terminal and type (press Enter after each line):
    cd ~/fah/
    ./fah6
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