So I download BOINC Manager for Mac OS X and install it, then attach to the Einstein project. Under my Einstein account prefs, I have it set to not start until the computer is idle for 3 minutes, and not to run on battery, however... it's just not doing it. However, if I manually make a global_prefs_override.xml file and set the options, it works. What gives?

-timb

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Did you update BOINC after you set your preferences on the EAH website? Did you save the changes at the EAH website, even?

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Yes. Those are the default preferences on the EAH website as well, so it should be following them regardless.

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Is the system clock OK on the PC? (if it resets when turned off, it may be causing problems). I think Boinc uses the system time to work out when the settings were most recently changed.

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Yes, the system is syncing to a NIST NTP server and is within 1/10th of a second of accuracy.

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Are you running more than one project?

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Are you running more than one project?

I just went in and changed a bunch of options and saved the preference on the EAH page, and it's working now... That was very odd.

On an unrelated note.... Is there any reason the Mac version installs an icon in my menubar? If you have to leave the application that resides in the dock open for it to be there, what purpose does it serve? In addition it would be nice if I could just run the BOINC client daemon in the background without the manager app at all.

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Are you running more than one project?

I just went in and changed a bunch of options and saved the preference on the EAH page, and it's working now... That was very odd.

You need to save the options you set on the website at every time. The update BOINC. If you don't do both, BOINC will never know.

As for the question about the icon, I asked Charlie Fenton about that. I hope he'll get in to answer that.

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On an unrelated note.... Is there any reason the Mac version installs an icon in my menubar? If you have to leave the application that resides in the dock open for it to be there, what purpose does it serve?

It is there for convenience. since most people keep the Dock hidden.

In addition it would be nice if I could just run the BOINC client daemon in the background without the manager app at all.

You can find instructions for doing this at http://boinc.berkeley.edu/bare_core.php, which says:

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If you wish to run the embedded core client without launching the Manager, a typical command is:

/Applications/BOINCManager.app/Contents/resources/boinc -redirectio -dir /Library/Application\\ Support/BOINC\\ Data/

Normally, quitting the BOINC Manager also quits the embedded core client. But if you launch the core client (as in the above example) before launching the BOINC Manager, then it will continue to run even after the user quits the Manager.

On Mac OS X, the BOINC screen saver will also launch the Manager's embedded core client, and will kill it when the screen saver is dismissed, but only if the core client was not already running.
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For instructions on disabling auto-launch of the BOINC Manager, or to autolaunch the BOINC client as a system daemon see: http://boinc.berkeley.edu/mac_admin_tools.php


Cheers,
--Charlie

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Charlie Fenton
BOINC / SETI@home Macintosh & Windows Programmer

I am running BOINC on a PC, and it has a mind of it's own. I'm running BOINC 5.4.11, and when I select the Activity Suspend, and Network Activity suspend. Close the GUI. The ICON still in the system tray. If I open the GUI again it's no longer suspended. It changes to Run Always, and Network Always Available. I will be removing this BOINC. I don't want it to change my settings on it's own. If I'm doing something, and my system resources disappear. I now just have to look at the GUI, and KER-POW! It's running again. The GUI must be able to run as per the user. Remember we are volunteering. You know the unpaid thing! So It should be designed to respect the user. If I suspend it, and open the GUI a thousand times. It should be Suspended. This also happens if I completely close the GUI VIA the System tray ICON "EXIT" Someone said the program was spying on them. Wow!!! I didn't think that was expected. PLEASE FIX-IT "BOINC" selection. Thank You in Advance for PLEASE FIXING THE BOINC. IMPORTANT NOTE!! My computer is a bit slower than many. So If the resources are needed to perform another tasks that need the resources, or if I'm troubleshooting another program, or the operating system. I need to completely close BOINC. Sometimes I must REBOOT the Computer, and BOINC is set to run "ALL BY ITSELF". "The program changes it's settings."

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I’m having similar issues. Bionic seems to not adhere to preferences. Right now I have my preferences set to do work only after computer is idle for 10 minutes, but it runs continuously. If I cannot remedy this, I will have to uninstall.

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I’m having similar issues. Bionic seems to not adhere to preferences. Right now I have my preferences set to do work only after computer is idle for 10 minutes, but it runs continuously. If I cannot remedy this, I will have to uninstall.

If this is for Seti, then do know that the Seti scheduler is having problems. A fix for it is in the making, but not installed yet on the Seti servers.

Meanwhilst, you can edit your global_prefs.xml file:

Exit BOINC (File->Exit in Boinc Manager);
Navigate to your \\BOINC\\ folder (default at C:\\Program Files\\BOINC)
Find and edit global_prefs.xml, use Notepad for instance;
Delete the line <run_if_user_active/>
Save the file (not Save As... just save it)
Restart BOINC.

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Thanks for the response. I navigated to Bionic folder and can find no file: global_prefs.xml. I'm running 5.6.5 if that is of any help.

Regards.

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I'm running the same version. You do know it's an abandoned Alpha version, I hope? So any bugs in it are for your own account...

If you don't have a global_prefs.xml file, you can make one.
As ever, Exit BOINC.
Open Notepad.
Add to it:

<global_preferences>
     <source_project>http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/</source_project>
     <source_scheduler>http://setiboinc.ssl.berkeley.edu/sah_cgi/cgi</source_scheduler>
    <mod_time>1140215730</mod_time>
    <idle_time_to_run>3</idle_time_to_run>
    <cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
    <hangup_if_dialed/>
    <work_buf_min_days>0.1</work_buf_min_days>
    <max_cpus>2</max_cpus>
    <cpu_usage_limit>100</cpu_usage_limit>
    <disk_interval>60</disk_interval>
    <disk_max_used_gb>100</disk_max_used_gb>
    <disk_max_used_pct>50</disk_max_used_pct>
    <disk_min_free_gb>0.1</disk_min_free_gb>
    <vm_max_used_pct>75</vm_max_used_pct>
    <max_bytes_sec_down>0</max_bytes_sec_down>
    <max_bytes_sec_up>0</max_bytes_sec_up>
</global_preferences>

Save the file as global_prefs.xml, making sure that in the Save as type option, you choose All Files.

Do know, that if you changed your CPU, disk and memory preferences, that you need to change it in this file as well.

Save all changes.

Restart BOINC.

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Again, thanks for your response.

I did not know that it was an "abandoned" version. Consequently, I uninstalled it, deleted the folder and installed 5.4.11. I’m still having the same problem and will create the xml file as you suggested.

I’m wondering, I have the program set to NOT start up when Windows starts, opting instead to start it manually. Does this come in to play as far as this particular preference setting goes?

Again, thanks for the reply.

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No, that's an option in the Installer: Start BOINC on Windows logon, or something alike. If you left it checked, there's now a shortcut to Boinc Manager in your Windows Startup folder (Start->Programs->Startup). You can delete that shortcut if you want to.

The preferences file is read upon BOINC startup. Not sure though if the global_prefs file works with 5.4.11

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I have problem with Boinc not donwnloading new work units from Seti@Home after upgrading to new version 5.4.11...

I have 10 days worth of work setup in Seti account but Boinc refuses to download more works....it'll run out of work in 3 days at most....

Does anyone know how to fix this?

I have problem with Boinc not donwnloading new work units from Seti@Home after upgrading to new version 5.4.11...

I have 10 days worth of work setup in Seti account but Boinc refuses to download more works....it'll run out of work in 3 days at most....

Does anyone know how to fix this?

Yes, don't use 10 days, Boinc scheduler doesn't like it. Best to keep it under 5 days if possible. With multiple projects 5/number of projects is best if you feel a need for a large cache.

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Boinc V 7.4.36
Win7 i5 3.33G 4GB NVidia 470

There IS a problem with both 5.4.11 & 5.6.5 respective preferences and will typically use General Preferences due to a bug of not correctly updating client_state.xml with your chosen host_venue.

If you want to FORCE boinc to use a chosen venue do the following ..

net stop boinc
manually edit client_state.xml and add/edit <host_venue>home</host_venue> (if you want to use home preferences) for the second last line of the file.
net start boinc

If you think that by chosing different preferences for different projects works, you are mistaken .. that doens't actually work.

If you need bandwidth throttling to work you will have to use alpha client 5.6.5.

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There IS a problem with both 5.4.11 & 5.6.5 respective preferences and will typically use General Preferences due to a bug of not correctly updating client_state.xml with your chosen host_venue.

If you want to FORCE BOINC to use a chosen venue do the following ..

net stop BOINC
manually edit client_state.xml and add/edit <host_venue>home</host_venue> (if you want to use home preferences) for the second last line of the file.
net start BOINC

If you think that by choosing different preferences for different projects works, you are mistaken .. that doesn't actually work.

If you need bandwidth throttling to work you will have to use alpha client 5.6.5.

MY REPLY HERE: Thanks. I don't know the programming lingo. I had an understanding when Commodore made it's Vic-20, it's C-64, and it's C128. I just found out that MSoft has put some free software for creating programs. Which makes it finally possible for me to begin learning the different programming languages that are in the set. I don't want BOINC to do what it wants. The programmers of BOINC should have had more insight when they created the latest blunder BOINC 5.4.11. It's not designed to run the way the user wants it to, or the programmers just couldn't solve the many problems in the software. I'll still give them credit for trying. Not for insight, and finally fixing the BOINC problems. They will get it someday. I hope it to be sooner. I want to run the program on my 600Megahertz Pentium 3 with ATI9550 AGP graphics card with 256 Megabytes DDR RAM on the card. Thank You for Your Time, and Assistance.

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