FR Folding@Home Project Update -- We're Now 62 of all teams

Stanford University ^ | 10/18/2006 | Texas Booster

[texas booster]

Time for a new Free Republic folding@home thread.

Our Free Republic team of 391 members comprised primarily of Free Republic members in good standing have banded together to donate their excess CPU cycles to a worthy cause. Via distributed computing, millions of computers around the world, contribute directly to scientific research, in the quest for a greater understanding of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Cancer, and Mad Cow (BSE).

Currently, the team is in 63th place (with 1,039 active CPUs - 74,650 completed Work Units and 13.75 million points).

This is an entirely voluntary program, and if you want to learn more, please see the links posted below (or read one of the previous 20+ folding threads)

[texas booster]

Toss me on the diabetes list.

Struggling to keep my insulin effective without medication. Doctor says its something about being old, overweight, bad diet and sedentary.

Other than that ...

[hatfieldmccoy]

Hmmm. I'm somewhat familier with the concept but I have security concerns-- am I opening up a port that can be hacked??

[MrBlueSky2005]

I'll be adding two more 3.0 Ghz CPUs this weekend to the 3 I've already got folding... :-D

[texas booster]

No. F@H does not open a port, but pings only the Stanford server IP addresses through a normal internet connection. It resides on your system and just folds away when nothing else is happening.

Stanford has designed the project so that YOU are very secure, and they spend a lot of CPU time verifying results that may be spoofed. 2048-bit signatures make a difference.

It became a joke that the DUmmies thought that we could just send any old result to Stanford and FR would get credit.

From the Stanford University FAQs:

What about security issues? We have worked very hard to maintain the best security possible with modern computer science methodology. Our software will upload and download data only from our data server here at Stanford. The Cores are also digitally signed (see below) to make sure that you're getting the true Stanford cores and nothing else.

How is this possible? We take extensive measures to check all of the data entering your computer and the results we send back to Stanford with 2048 bit digital signatures. If the signatures don't match (on either the input or the output) the client will throw away the data and start again. This ensures, using the best software security measures developed to date (digital signatures and PKI in version 3.0), that we are keeping the tightest possible security. Finally, the client/screen saver are available for download only from this web site, so that we can guarantee the integrity of the software. We do not support Folding@home software obtained elsewhere and prohibit others to distribute the software.

[IslandJeff]

You're on.

DM can be a killer, but it's much more likely to just be a chronic pain in the ass.

As some of us say, Keep Control.

Thanks for the Folding Ping. DM-I could be one of the first to fall under the results of the project.

[texas booster]

Remember - the name is Texas_Booster on all new CPUs ...

Are they dual core or HT CPUs? I have one HT system that just sits and runs two instances of F@H. I may get a true dual core for Christmas.

[brityank]

I started Seti Classic on my PacBell/386 Win95, then moved it onto my current Dell PII WinME. Then they went BOINCers, and ME couldn't BOINC. So I was glad to join up with FR's F@H team. Fold on.



Become a FR Monthly Donor -- it's painless!

[DocRock]

bttt

[texas booster]

A 386?? A PacBell 386?? Its a wonder that SETI ever got a completed unit!

I am actually upgrading a 486 this weekend for a widow who just wants to send email.

Of course the only thing that I am actually using from her old box is the floppy.

PacBell allowed me a good living for many years, fixing systems even though they were still under warranty. Many an owner paid me just to make it work, after hours on the phone with PB.

[Route66]

"Please join the team" bump

[texas booster]

I'm off to bed. Can't stand another 3:00 am ending.

Keep up the pings!

[zeugma]

Yikes thought that program had been killed!!!!! ET we got you!

Eventually, they'll put both projects together and start folding ETs. 

[Drango]

Bump for a good time!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[houeto]

I am actually upgrading a 486 this weekend for a widow who just wants to send email.

Of course the only thing that I am actually using from her old box is the floppy.

You didn't REALLY just say this, did you? LMAO!!!

[texas booster]

I am only using the floppy because she really, really likes them.

I have enough antiques in the computer room to outfit a small school. Most of the good stuff is on a bench folding.

I suspect that many a geek has a room of parts that are just barely useable, but *may* be useful one day.

I've seen pictures!

[MrBlueSky2005]

Remember - the name is Texas_Booster on all new CPUs ...

Are they dual core or HT CPUs? I have one HT system that just sits and runs two instances of F@H. I may get a true dual core for Christmas.

Ha. It'll be my second dual core PC (well, really a family computer) and then I also have an older computer on board for folding.

[texas booster]

For my last family computer I picked up an HP pavilion for $299 - no rebates, legal Windows and software, with warranty.

Adding 1 Gb of RAM, a fast NVidia card and wireless enet, I still have decent deal, and now the computer is usuable for the family.

[dfwddr]

Has anyone tried using their GPU yet ?

[Professional Engineer]

Eventually, they'll put both projects together and start folding ETs.

Just don't spindle or mutilate him. ET is very loveable ya' know.