Folding@home v6 Client FAQ

Table of Contents

Where can I download the new client?

You will see the clients on our main Download page.

As with the use of any beta software, please make sure to back up your hard drive before installing the software. And do not run this client if you or any of your machines cannot tolerate even the slightest instability or problems.

What has changed?

All the modifications from the previous version are listed in the change log. On the download page (coming soon), just click on the version number link that's immediately to the left of your download link. Changes of particular note:

• support in client and backend infrastructure for passkey
• accept message from server (for example PRFC) and print to unitinfo and queueinfo (only on units assigned from servers supporting this)
• integration of SMP support into the standard client. Run with the -smp flag on eligible hardware to receive SMP units.
• additional work unit size option in client setup (small, normal, big)
• detailed detection of CPU type and features
• no benchmark on startup
• We regret that a v6 Windows/SMP client is not yet available.

What is a passkey?

The passkey is a unique identifier that allows you to prevent others from cheating in your name. Obtain a passkey from our web site (see below), enter it when you configure the client, and the client and servers will do the rest. Previously we have not had such an identifier in Folding@home (usernames for example could be shared by many people). You should keep your passkey secret. Please see the Passkey FAQ for further discussion of passkeys.

Where can I get a passkey?

http://fah-web.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/getpasskey.py

Can I mix and match SMP and non-SMP work units?

The integrated client will run either SMP or non-SMP work units. The default (no switch) is to run non-SMP work units. When upgrading a SMP client from a previous version, please be sure to always add the -smp switch to the command line or shortcut that starts the client.

However, there is no change in the architectures for which we have no SMP work units (e.g. OSX/PPC) and for which we have no uni-processor work units (e.g. OSX/Intel). And on Windows, the SMP client install procedure must be followed in order to run SMP work units, as noted in the SMP FAQ.

If you are running a SMP work unit or vice versa, you must finish that work unit with the appropriate client settings before changing the -smp flag.

For More Information, Please See:

• FAH FAQ
• Folding Community Forum

Last Updated on October 22, 2007, at 04:33 PM