From the LHC@Home news feed:
Thursday, 20 August 2009 8:45 PM
Hi,
It's been pretty quiet here at LHC@home we've been working behind the scenes to streamline the server and keep the code as up to date as possible. There has also been some work on the update of the SixTrack application which we hope to roll out soon.
The news with the LHC itself since the set back last year is quite good with it running at 3.5TeV this year.
The experiments have also been busy with ATLAS and CMS and LHCb and ALICE working on refinements during the downtime.
Thanks,
Neasan
It seems that LHC 1 is coming back as sixtrack http://lhcathomeclassic.cern.ch/sixtrack/ (http://lhcathomeclassic.cern.ch/sixtrack/)
Will BOINC credits for SixTrack count towards LHC@home Classic or is it regarded sepereate to both LHC@home classic and 2.0?
lhc@home was seperate from sixtrack. Sixtrack is LHC@home 2. It looks like they are all now combined at this URL. (http://lhcathome.web.cern.ch/LHCathome/Sixtrack/) The old url to LHC@home gets redirected to sixtrack now.
http://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/ (http://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/)
Thanks for that Dingo, and plus 1, I've added new LHC to Boinc and it's adding credit to my old LHC account. :yahoo: I've been waiting for ages to get that project moving and all I needed to do was join the new one. :hbang:
Greetings
There is currently a small amount of work on this project, for those that are interested.
Regards
Tazzduke
I don't know why, but I thought Dingo's earlier post was about more LHC work. :hbang: So I didn't bother posting about it. :rofl:
Gee I wish they'd fix the sixtrack WU's!! :compbash:
Trying to boost my position with LHC is frustrating. You either don't receive the WU's or they have now a validation issue.
I have over 400 WU's now either inconclusive or pending! Bashhead
AussiePete, you must feel my pain too?
I've moved on to another project till it's fixed. Grrrrr :boom:
WOW Crackenback....you are on a mission to SMASH out the LHC work!!!
Thanks quite some CPU availability you have there :thumbsup:
SixTrack
"Dear Volunteers,
In spite of the break and lack of simulation work things are moving behind the scenes! Most of the trackers have been busy with the preparation of and attendance to the HiLumi annual collaboration meeting. For instance:
* new scanning parameters for DA studies, to shed some light on open points concerning the different behavior of the two beams in the LHC:
https://indico.cern.ch/event/743633/contributions/3071974/attachments/1695257/2728719/VanderVeken_phase_dp.pdf
* an update of DA results to the latest developments on HL-LHC optics:
https://indico.cern.ch/event/742082/contributions/3085158/attachments/1736226/2808309/nkarast_HLCollab_18102018.pdf
The collaboration meeting is the most important event of the large collaboration, led by CERN, that is designing and building the High-Luminosity upgrade of the LHC. This is not only a forum to present and discuss recent results, but also an event that inspires new ideas and studies. Therefore, we would like to announce that in few weeks we will be back to you, counting on your usual fantastic and essential support, to launch new simulation campaigns!
Stay tuned!
Alessio and Massimo, for the SixTrack team"
(http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/character/character0176.gif)
PS: IMO the two PDF's on HiLumi are well done and worth reading. :wavey2:
It would be great to get more LHC work.
Thanks DM.
Yes more work would be nice for 6track.
:rocks
LHCb work stopped.
https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=4884#37378
(http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/character/character0176.gif)
wow...the team just got a lot smaller with LHC's stat export permission thingo.
Unbelievable!! After first seeing that LHC now needed consent to export stats I went and selected the appropriate box and I thought that was that. Heck I even started a thread to show new GDPR projects as they come up.
But I just found out that my name is missing on boinc-stats for LHC. So I checked once more and low & behold the setting is now not selected. What went wrong? I'm buggered if I know? I wonder what else i've missed?
It makes you wonder how rank & file members are coping with this crap, most of whom would never have even heard of GDPR?
Thanks for reminding me chooka.
You didn't forget doing it mate, I also ticked the box last week or the week before. It reset for some reason by the looks.
I only noticed because I check boincstats daily and saw no credits and a strange abbreviation next to LHC.
Quote from: JugNut on January 18, 2019, 03:20:39 PM
Unbelievable!! After first seeing that LHC now needed consent to export stats I went and selected the appropriate box and I thought that was that. Heck I even started a thread to show new GDPR projects as they come up.
But I just found out that my name is missing on boinc-stats for LHC. So I checked once more and low & behold the setting is now not selected. What went wrong? I'm buggered if I know? I wonder what else i've missed?
It makes you wonder how rank & file members are coping with this crap, most of whom would never have even heard of GDPR?
Thanks for reminding me chooka.
Yes, the whole thing is a mess. I saw LHC lost 12 billion yesterday in the BOINCStats morning update and regained a bunch again in the next one. One day I gain thousands of positions and then I lose thousands. One day I was in the top 100 at LHC. Heck, I have run less than 200k there.
Do not forget NumberFields which will implement it in the next few days. This surprised me. Not sure why the University of Arizona cares. None of the CA universities have done anything.
Also there is no standard place where they put the option; some global and some in the generic profile. Does this mean one has to set it in each profile being used? We have been doing this for decades and we get confused. God help "Debbie Doe" who is trying to save the planet on her little pink laptop. :rofl:
BOINC is the overall loser. :thumbdown:
New six-track's available. Get them while they are hot as they will not last long.
Can't sorry Dataman, there's a WCG challenge on :rocks
Sixtrack work available for anyone interested!
:gt
Now that I have a VM installed and Ubuntu, I'm curious to see how other projects go with Windows 10 vs VM/Ubuntu.
Win10 = Anywhere from 15800 - 19000 sec
Post back later
There's HEAPS of sixtrack work if anyone is interested in LHC@HOME. Usually it drops off by now but the tank just keeps getting filled with work. It's great.
I'm currently paused while the WCG challenge is on.
I found this a little heavy but get the picture lol.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/03/30/will-the-large-hadron-collider-break-the-standard-model/?sh=137af3db9cc7
Sixtrack wu's are available.
A video of the CERN 2021 activity highlights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R11VyvT8gzY
WARNING: The techno crapola background music is VERY annoying! :rofl:
Does anyone have any tips on running the ATLAS, CMS or Theory tasks?
I opened the flood gates to this work on my VM yesterday and it looked like the wu's were smashing my HDD. BOINC even said I'd run out of space & needed to allocate more HDD space.
Some wu's looked like they were going to take days & days to finish.
I tried cutting my CPU usage down to 50% running on cores only which seemed to improve things a little. I'm assuming people only run a handful of tasks at a time? Quite the HDD & memory hog?
For the time being I aborted most of the work and I'm currently crunching 1 ATLAS w/u which is using 8 cores and has been running for 8hrs. I might experiment with one at a time - ie - ATLAS only, then a CMS maybe.
I'm keen to hear any one's experience running these tasks.
HI Chooka03
With the ATLAS VM tasks, yes they are intensive, big download files and use lots of memory.
How much memory does the machine that is running the 1 ATLAS job have on it.
The following thread from LCH@Home is a good start
https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=4161#29359 (https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=4161#29359)
I run the Native Linux Apps for ATLAS and Theory (use way less memory, and I can run more of them), but they are a learning curve to get up and running, also you need a pure linux machine.
So here is my final take on it (VM wise)
Theory - Easy to get up and get going
CMS - Medium to get up and get going
ATLAS - Hard to get up and get going, but if you get the previous too up and running fine, then you are half way there.
Remember ATLAS uses a lot of MEMORY, the more cores you assign to the one workunit (multicore), the more memory it uses, so it takes a bit of fine tuning to find your sweetspot.
Also, computers running the workunits, need to be constantly on, as they need a continuous network connection.
Hope this helps, as always, your mileage may vary, but once you are up and running, then you are set.
Lastly, try not to do all three subprojects at once on the same machine, especially CMS, as BOINC will grab more than needed, (Bug thats been around forever)
Cheers
Thanks Tazzduke :thumbsup:
So my 3950X has 32gig of memory. Right now it's running 2 x ATLAS tasks which says in BOINC it's using (8 CPU's) each however my task manager only shows about 37% usage. As for memory, they are using about half my 32gig of RAM so not that bad really if it's running right.
Do ATLAS tasks usually take a long time? My first one has been running for 8hrs+ with another 1-2hrs to go.
When I opened the flood gates (lol) I did complete some Theory tasks. The credit isn't very good is it.
I did no CMS work. I just aborted them all for whatever reason (just to clear the decks & dial it back a bit) and I did 30 x ATLAS simulations. It is M/T work but the credits look better.
Do all these wu's have badges?
Thx :dance:
Hi Chooka03
Yes the ATLAS workunits can vary between 12 hours and longer, depending on hardware used and how many cores the use.
Mine average around 15 hrs, but I have them set up differently.
Also yes the Theory pay lousy.
CMS run about 18hrs, but are good to run.
Cheers
Thanks very much Tazzduke! :thumbsup:
The ATLAS wu has REALLY slowed up. 11hr 41min so far.
Hi Chooka03,
Congrats on getting the ATLAS tasks to complete successfully.
Cheers
Thx mate.
Hey do those wu's ever get stuck??
I've got an ATLAS wu that's been at 100% for ages. Current run time is 1 day 7hrs.
I have a feeling it's stuffed.
Edit - I aborted it. The CPU usgae was stuck at 0.21% and not moving. That was a waste of 2 days :(
Hi Chooka03
Sorry I don't know, as I don't run the VM version of ATLAS workunits.
You may get the occasional hangup, this is either due to the Host OS, the VM or a bad workunit, so many variables are at play when there is a VM involved lol.
There is heaps of reading of the forums over at LHC though lol.
Hope you are having a good day.
Regards
Well that sucks!
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/cern-drafts-plans-to-idle-accelerators-due-to-europe-s-energy-crunch/47875950
High energy prices also hitting CERN as well as us crunchers :(
Quote[LHC@home] Seasons greetings
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View article (https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=6220) · Tue, 1 Oct 2024 08:02:24 +0000
Quote[LHC@home] Downtime 1 October
LHC@home BOINC servers will be down for a while later today due to a database intervention.
View article (https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=6220)· Tue, 1 Oct 2024 08:02:24 +0000
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Here are some highlights from 2024 at CERN. (https://home.web.cern.ch/news/news/cern/cern-highlights-2024-celebrating-70-years)
Greetings and best wishes for 2025! (https://videos.cern.ch/record/2301141)
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View article (https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=6309)· Tue, 11 Mar 2025 06:16:13 +0000
Hey Dark Angel, are there any tips for running CMS work?
They look like very long work units?
I just downloaded 5 to try them out and reduced my core count to 50% so that I'm only using the cores not threads otherwise it bogs down Einstein@Home.
TIA
:thumbsup:
Quote from: chooka03 on May 20, 2025, 08:13:47 PMHey Dark Angel, are there any tips for running CMS work?
They look like very long work units?
I just downloaded 5 to try them out and reduced my core count to 50% so that I'm only using the cores not threads otherwise it bogs down Einstein@Home.
TIA
:thumbsup:
Yep, turn SMT off and make sure your VirtualBox installation is working and that the Boinc user is a member of the VBox user group (if you're using Linux). They're long units and they use a LOT of data, so if you're going to run them on more than one machine consider using a squid proxy to cache data.
Thank you.
Maybe I should stick with ATLAS lol :jester:
VBox or native? Atlas benefits from a local proxy as well in either form but native has additional things to do when getting setup and only runs on Linux. If you're running in on Windows they're all VBox units.
Urm... I think it's just using a Vbox.
I did install Linux on my VM but it's been ages since I've tried using it. I'm pretty sure I just use Windows and the Vbox.
If you only run it on one machine and one unit at a time there's no benefit to running a network proxy just for LHC. If you run multiple units and multiple machines, even if they're all VBox units, then the saving in network traffic, and the amount of time saved from not having to download common files over and over again, is significant.
Quote from: Dark Angel on June 02, 2025, 03:09:57 PMIf you only run it on one machine and one unit at a time there's no benefit to running a network proxy just for LHC. If you run multiple units and multiple machines, even if they're all VBox units, then the saving in network traffic, and the amount of time saved from not having to download common files over and over again, is significant.
Guys, I have to admit to something. Currently I am running 8 machines and a number of mini machines. I am an old bugger not just by age but from computer experience. I am just a push it and see person, have no idea what the best setup for anything is. It is time to learn. For example. please explain what a network proxy is as far as crunching is concerned. I might have been running my machines incorrectly, not set up at all for all I have been doing is install the beast, flick the on switch and hope it will do its thing.
Dingo. you might move this thread into a more suitable one than LHC@Home.
Quote from: Cruncher Pete on June 02, 2025, 03:41:11 PMQuote from: Dark Angel on June 02, 2025, 03:09:57 PMIf you only run it on one machine and one unit at a time there's no benefit to running a network proxy just for LHC. If you run multiple units and multiple machines, even if they're all VBox units, then the saving in network traffic, and the amount of time saved from not having to download common files over and over again, is significant.
Guys, I have to admit to something. Currently I am running 8 machines and a number of mini machines. I am an old bugger not just by age but from computer experience. I am just a push it and see person, have no idea what the best setup for anything is. It is time to learn. For example. please explain what a network proxy is as far as crunching is concerned. I might have been running my machines incorrectly, not set up at all for all I have been doing is install the beast, flick the on switch and hope it will do its thing.
Dingo. you might move this thread into a more suitable one than LHC@Home.
I'd say leave it here in LHC as it's very LHC specific.
The proxy, specifically a caching proxy ('squid' is just the name of the proxy software), stores files you download locally (only works for non-encrypted traffic) so when your machines call for that same file again the proxy provides it instead of having to download it from the original site all over again. LHC work downloads a lot of data from their servers for each work unit, not just the work unit itself. Since your local network is typically much faster than your internet connection this means not only a reduction in the amount of data you're downloading each time a LHC work units starts but it downloads from the proxy to the Boinc client a lot faster so the unit doesn't waste as much time sitting around waiting. The more machines and the more work units you have running at once the bigger the difference this makes to your network usage and overall efficiency.
Some other projects like WCG do NOT like being run through a caching proxy, so the system is typically set up such that it passes WCG traffic straight through instead of caching it. HTTPS traffic isn't cached as it's encrypted.
There's information about setting it up here: https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=4611#34323
Does anyone know why since I've upgraded to Windows 11, all my LHC Atlas w/u fail (computational error)?
None of my other pc's that I upgraded have had this issue except my 9950X3D
I've updated Windows and updated my chipset drivers + gpu driver.
I do see a message on BOINC saying I need a Docker? I've never used a docker before?
Oh I upgraded to the latest BOINC version too.
When you look at the task stderr what is the error. I will see if I can see yours. YES Is it this machile ?? If so it looks like VB did not start after being stopped or rebooted. It has a reference to file on your machine C:\ProgramData\BOINC\slots\5\boinc_16a6ea31f1b4620d\Logs\VBoxHardening.log
Thanks Dingo.
I reinstalled the Virtual machine and that fixed the issue. I'll just have to reinstall Ubuntu onto it though for Gaia. :(
My first attempt at that has failed.I'll have to try again.
Quote[LHC@home] New application Xtrack
As mentioned in this thread, (https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=6378&postid=52142#52142) we finally have the new Xtrack BOINC application available for beta testing.
Please refer to the Sixtrack/Xtrack forum for further details and feedback discussion. Tasks should hopefully be available by tomorrow.
The LHC@home team
View article · (https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=6387) Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:11:37 +0000
Have put 2 cores onto trying this one out.
Quote from: Dingo on September 17, 2025, 11:48:38 AMQuote[LHC@home] New application Xtrack
As mentioned in this thread, (https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=6378&postid=52142#52142) we finally have the new Xtrack BOINC application available for beta testing.
Please refer to the Sixtrack/Xtrack forum for further details and feedback discussion. Tasks should hopefully be available by tomorrow.
The LHC@home team
View article · (https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=6387) Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:11:37 +0000
Yeah this is really interesting and great to a see a Sixtrack replacement! Great to have something new as well.
I've ticked the XTrack box but I'll probably pause soon for PG.
Hey Dark Angel, did you know you aren't in the team for LHC?
https://www.boincstats.com/stats/3/user/list/0/0/275/#1
Get onto that mate! :thumbsup:
I don't think he is on Primegrid, MilkyWay or CPDN either I think he is on BOINC@Uruguay maybe ??
Nothing wrong with that as long as he does crunch some projects for BOINC@AUSTRALIA but I couldn't see any on BOINC Stats. https://www.boincstats.com/stats/search/?search=Dark+Angel Let me know Dark Angel or will have to delete you off the forum.
Well that is weird, he was number 1 in our team for LHC@Home, but now he is not there.
Likewise found him in under Boinc@Uruguay.
According to BOINCSTATS, he left the team on the 31-08-25.
Cheers
Ahhh I think he might have left the team because his departure was right after the blow up with Dingo over stats on this thread -
BOINCStats - August is the beginning of the astronomical season
That would be a shame and I hope this isn't the case. :thumbsup:
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23-Jan-26 3:25:47 PM · more.. (https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=6437).
Thankyou for the notice
Quote[LHC@home] Downtime Tue 5th of May
Please note that our servers will be unavailable for a while on Tuesday 5th of May due to a change of storage backend.
Hence uploads may fail and other BOINC client requests time out. Many thanks for your understanding and happy crunching!
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View article · (https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=6502) Thu, 4 Jun 2026 08:03:32 +0000
LHC back up and running, but there is a problem with the docker tasks for THEORY, more info on their forums.
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