Project News - LHC@Home

[Cruncher Pete]

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.

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.

[Dark Angel]

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.

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

[chooka03]

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.

[Dingo]

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

[chooka03]

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.

[Dingo]

[LHC@home] New application Xtrack
As mentioned in this thread, 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 · Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:11:37 +0000

[tazzduke]

Have put 2 cores onto trying this one out.

[chooka03]

[LHC@home] New application Xtrack
As mentioned in this thread, 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 · 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.

[chooka03]

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! 

[Dingo]

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.

[tazzduke]

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

[chooka03]

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. 

[Dingo]

LHC@home: Server Upgrade - Monday 26th January 2026
On Monday at 13:30 CET, the server will be upgraded the latest release. This will involve downtime since the data base will need to be upgraded.
23-Jan-26 3:25:47 PM · more...

[tazzduke]

Thankyou for the notice