chrisk
Folding Captain
There is a newer, better utility called HFM.NET. Click Here to see how to set that one up! (its the next post in this thread)
Here is a quick guide to show you how to set up FahMon in Windows.
Most of the guide will be done in Windows Vista 64-Bit, but the instructions will be the same for Vista 32-bit. I will provide screenshots for XP users that will show how to select the proper directory for that OS.
Step 1: Enable viewing of hidden files and folders
Folding@home saves files in a directory that Windows likes to hide from users. You need to be able to see these directories in order to set up FahMon properly. I will offer more information on these directories later, but for now, lets make it possible to actually see the directories first.
This works slightly different for Vista and XP. First, I will cover Vista.
Windows Vista:
Go to Start->Control Panel
Then, select "Classic View":
Then select "Folder Options":
Select the "View" tab:
Select the "Show hidden files and folders" option:
Press OK and exit the Control Panel.
Windows XP:
Double-click on "My Computer", select "Tools" and "Folder Options":
Select the "View" tab, and then select "Show hidden files and folders" and press OK
Step 2: Download the Fahmon application here:
Download | FahMon
Note: If you are using a virtual machine to fold (ie. Notfred's vmware diskless linux setup), then you need to make sure you use FaHMon 2.3.99.1 or higher).
Step 3: Install the program, using all defaults.
Step 4: Start FahMon by going to your Start Menu->FahMon->FahMon
Step 5: Add Folding@home directory to FahMon
FaHMon does not search your computer to see if you have installed Folding@home or not. You need to add the folder of the client you have installed manually. When FahMon first starts, it will look like this below, with no clients added:
Right-click in the FahMon "Main Window" as shown below, and click "Add a new client":
You will see the following window:
First, type in the Name you want to give your client (yellow highlight in the picture above). This name is for your own personal reference only, so you can type what you want. However, if at some point you want to fold with multiple clients (ie. using your GPU/Video card, and CPU folding as well later on), you might want to name the client you are about to select something meaningful.
In this case, I will name my client "GTX260", as that is the video card this particular client runs on in my computer:
Next, we need to select a location of our client. This is the directory that Folding@home downloads and saves all data. This directory changes depending on whether or not you use Vista, XP, the CPU client (also called the X86 client), or the GPU client.
These directories are listed below (and remember, you should have "Show Hidden Files and Folders" enabled in "Folder Options" as outlined in Step 1 before doing this, or you won't see the folder):
Windows Vista/Windows 7 GPU client:
C:\Users\(your user name)\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu
Windows Vista/Windows 7 CPU client:
C:\Users\(your user name)\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-x86
Windows XP GPU client:
C:\Documents and Settings\(your user name)\Application Data\Folding@home-gpu
Windows XP CPU client:
C:\Documents and Settings\(your user name)\Application Data\Folding@home-x86
The above directories are for the "System Tray" client. If you installed the Console client (when you run it you see a small black "Dos" like window), you need to point FahMon to the folder in which you downloaded and ran the Folding@home console client. This could be anywhere on your computer. For example, if you are like me, you may have put this download on your "Desktop". In that case, you would have to point FahMon to C:\Users\(yourusername)\Desktop\Folding@home-Win32-x86-623
If you use the SMP beta client, and used Xilikon's excellent guides on the FaH site or [H]ordeguides, you should point FahMon to C:\FAH . This is a suggested folder, especially in Vista, to avoid permissions issues.
--------------
In the following example, I will add the GPU client I am using on Vista.
Click the directory list box, select your client folder, and press OK:
Then, press OK again. You should see your Folding@home work progress as in below:
Above, I highlighted the "PPD" section. This means "Points Per Day," and the higher it is, the better your totals will be. In this case, my GPU is getting 5588.66 points per day. This changes depending on the type of work your computer has received from the Folding@home servers.
Notfred Virtual Machines (not GPU or SMP folding)
Some people use vmware machines (virtual machines that run Linux inside of Windows. See this sticky for more info). If you do, make sure you have the latest version of FahMon. Then, as the virtual machine boots, pay attention to the IP address your router or gateway assigns your virtual machine as below:
You can see in the above example, my virtual machine was assigned the address 192.168.1.115 automatically. You do not login to your virtual machine. Simply look for the IP address (arrow above). In the "Location" field of the FahMon window below, you would type in exactly as shown:
\\192.168.1.115\c\etc\folding\1\
Also, please ensure that you have "Client is on a Virtual Machine" only if you are running the virtual machine client.
Linuxrouter's Bigadv Virtual Machine
If you are running the Linuxrouter '-bigadv' virtual machine, the default location to type in would be \\FAH\fah .
Step 6 (Optional): Show the Fahlog
There is still one more thing that is helpful to do. Folding@home creates a log file for each client you have running. This log file contains useful information, including your progress, and any errors you may be getting. These error messages are useful if you need help, as you can copy and paste the error into any forum threads you are asking for help on.
FahMon can display this log file for you. In FahMon's menu, just go to "View" and select "Show/Hide Fahlog" as below:
You should now see the log file as in below:
I highlighted the progress being shown in the log file above. Prior to this, in the log file you can see where I suspended the folding task, started it again, etc. If I scrolled up, I can see where I downloaded the task, and other instructions Folding@home carried out.
I hope this will help you get started folding with the HWC team!
Go team 54196 ! :canadianwave:
Here is a quick guide to show you how to set up FahMon in Windows.
Most of the guide will be done in Windows Vista 64-Bit, but the instructions will be the same for Vista 32-bit. I will provide screenshots for XP users that will show how to select the proper directory for that OS.
Step 1: Enable viewing of hidden files and folders
Folding@home saves files in a directory that Windows likes to hide from users. You need to be able to see these directories in order to set up FahMon properly. I will offer more information on these directories later, but for now, lets make it possible to actually see the directories first.
This works slightly different for Vista and XP. First, I will cover Vista.
Windows Vista:
Go to Start->Control Panel
Then, select "Classic View":
Then select "Folder Options":
Select the "View" tab:
Select the "Show hidden files and folders" option:
Press OK and exit the Control Panel.
Windows XP:
Double-click on "My Computer", select "Tools" and "Folder Options":
Select the "View" tab, and then select "Show hidden files and folders" and press OK
Step 2: Download the Fahmon application here:
Download | FahMon
Note: If you are using a virtual machine to fold (ie. Notfred's vmware diskless linux setup), then you need to make sure you use FaHMon 2.3.99.1 or higher).
Step 3: Install the program, using all defaults.
Step 4: Start FahMon by going to your Start Menu->FahMon->FahMon
Step 5: Add Folding@home directory to FahMon
FaHMon does not search your computer to see if you have installed Folding@home or not. You need to add the folder of the client you have installed manually. When FahMon first starts, it will look like this below, with no clients added:
Right-click in the FahMon "Main Window" as shown below, and click "Add a new client":
You will see the following window:
First, type in the Name you want to give your client (yellow highlight in the picture above). This name is for your own personal reference only, so you can type what you want. However, if at some point you want to fold with multiple clients (ie. using your GPU/Video card, and CPU folding as well later on), you might want to name the client you are about to select something meaningful.
In this case, I will name my client "GTX260", as that is the video card this particular client runs on in my computer:
Next, we need to select a location of our client. This is the directory that Folding@home downloads and saves all data. This directory changes depending on whether or not you use Vista, XP, the CPU client (also called the X86 client), or the GPU client.
These directories are listed below (and remember, you should have "Show Hidden Files and Folders" enabled in "Folder Options" as outlined in Step 1 before doing this, or you won't see the folder):
Windows Vista/Windows 7 GPU client:
C:\Users\(your user name)\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu
Windows Vista/Windows 7 CPU client:
C:\Users\(your user name)\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-x86
Windows XP GPU client:
C:\Documents and Settings\(your user name)\Application Data\Folding@home-gpu
Windows XP CPU client:
C:\Documents and Settings\(your user name)\Application Data\Folding@home-x86
The above directories are for the "System Tray" client. If you installed the Console client (when you run it you see a small black "Dos" like window), you need to point FahMon to the folder in which you downloaded and ran the Folding@home console client. This could be anywhere on your computer. For example, if you are like me, you may have put this download on your "Desktop". In that case, you would have to point FahMon to C:\Users\(yourusername)\Desktop\Folding@home-Win32-x86-623
If you use the SMP beta client, and used Xilikon's excellent guides on the FaH site or [H]ordeguides, you should point FahMon to C:\FAH . This is a suggested folder, especially in Vista, to avoid permissions issues.
--------------
In the following example, I will add the GPU client I am using on Vista.
Click the directory list box, select your client folder, and press OK:
Then, press OK again. You should see your Folding@home work progress as in below:
Above, I highlighted the "PPD" section. This means "Points Per Day," and the higher it is, the better your totals will be. In this case, my GPU is getting 5588.66 points per day. This changes depending on the type of work your computer has received from the Folding@home servers.
Notfred Virtual Machines (not GPU or SMP folding)
Some people use vmware machines (virtual machines that run Linux inside of Windows. See this sticky for more info). If you do, make sure you have the latest version of FahMon. Then, as the virtual machine boots, pay attention to the IP address your router or gateway assigns your virtual machine as below:
You can see in the above example, my virtual machine was assigned the address 192.168.1.115 automatically. You do not login to your virtual machine. Simply look for the IP address (arrow above). In the "Location" field of the FahMon window below, you would type in exactly as shown:
\\192.168.1.115\c\etc\folding\1\
Also, please ensure that you have "Client is on a Virtual Machine" only if you are running the virtual machine client.
Linuxrouter's Bigadv Virtual Machine
If you are running the Linuxrouter '-bigadv' virtual machine, the default location to type in would be \\FAH\fah .
Step 6 (Optional): Show the Fahlog
There is still one more thing that is helpful to do. Folding@home creates a log file for each client you have running. This log file contains useful information, including your progress, and any errors you may be getting. These error messages are useful if you need help, as you can copy and paste the error into any forum threads you are asking for help on.
FahMon can display this log file for you. In FahMon's menu, just go to "View" and select "Show/Hide Fahlog" as below:
You should now see the log file as in below:
I highlighted the progress being shown in the log file above. Prior to this, in the log file you can see where I suspended the folding task, started it again, etc. If I scrolled up, I can see where I downloaded the task, and other instructions Folding@home carried out.
I hope this will help you get started folding with the HWC team!
Go team 54196 ! :canadianwave:
Last edited: