Odd GPU behavior - terminal window + FAHClient

[SJC_Steve]

If the first time that FAHClient runs, it finds no GPUs with their respective drivers, FAH will add the gpu=false statement so that the next time you run it, it doesn't waste a few seconds reconfiguering GPUs:0.

I have not done a fresh install recently. If it does find a GPU and configure it, it may also decide that your GPUs are permanent parts of your kit and they're not going to change just because you restart FAHClient the next time you reboot.

Not editing the config is an excellent plan. Can you describe removing the entry using FAHControl? (and do you consider teaching FAHControl to be beyond the scope of what a newbie can absorb in their first sitting?)

Once the GPUs are recognized by getting rid of gpu = false, the Client will Fold on the GPU from then on, restarting the Client or rebooting don't change the config back to gpu=false, the Client maintains the correct settings to continue folding on the GPU.

No, I don't consider using FAHControl too complex for novices to use. I am just trying to get at the heart of needing to do a manual intervention by using Control.

To remove the entry, you simply go to Configure and Expert, click on the gpu=false, remove it, hit Save and when it's done saving, reboot the PC. When it comes back up, it will start Folding on the GPU. Since we haven't found a way to eliminate the manual step, that's what the Guide says to do and I will leave it like that unless we find an another way to eliminate that step.

Thanks,
Steve

[bruce]

The client does find upgraded GPUs or GPUs added in another slot if 'gpu' remains set tp 'true'

I was surprised to find the setting gpu=false in a system that had already detected GPU hardware the first time but like I said, I have not done a clean install recently.

[PantherX]

...To remove the entry, you simply go to Configure and Expert, click on the gpu=false, remove it, hit Save and when it's done saving, reboot the PC. When it comes back up, it will start Folding on the GPU. Since we haven't found a way to eliminate the manual step, that's what the Guide says to do and I will leave it like that unless we find an another way to eliminate that step...

I am aware that even with gpu=false, you can manually add a GPU Slot and it will be added as long as the pre-requisites are met by the client. IIRC, this step doesn't requite a reboot of the client/system but feel free to double-check and verify on a fresh system. It might make Step 7 easier.

gpu=false means that the client will not attempt to automatically detect your GPUs nor it will modify your GPUs configuration if present.

[SJC_Steve]

...To remove the entry, you simply go to Configure and Expert, click on the gpu=false, remove it, hit Save and when it's done saving, reboot the PC. When it comes back up, it will start Folding on the GPU. Since we haven't found a way to eliminate the manual step, that's what the Guide says to do and I will leave it like that unless we find an another way to eliminate that step...

I am aware that even with gpu=false, you can manually add a GPU Slot and it will be added as long as the pre-requisites are met by the client. IIRC, this step doesn't requite a reboot of the client/system but feel free to double-check and verify on a fresh system. It might make Step 7 easier.

gpu=false means that the client will not attempt to automatically detect your GPUs nor it will modify your GPUs configuration if present.

Thanks for the input. At this point in my limited experience, I don't "trust" the Client to do the right thing with the GPU attribute. Something goes wrong in the 1st start-up of the Client but it doesn't appear to leave a trail in the the logs as they show the GPU and drivers recognized but marks GPU=False. Unless we can find out more about this start-up issue, I'm more comfortable with doing the reboot as the Client then sets GPU=True and adds the GPU slot by itself.

Steve

[bruce]

Unless we can find out more about this start-up issue, I'm more comfortable with doing the reboot as the Client then sets GPU=True and adds the GPU slot by itself.

Agreed.

This is not the only situation where it doesn't leave a trail in the the logs. Problems like that are difficult to diagnose, but fortunately they are exceedly uncommon situations.

[SJC_Steve]

One last item; When I install the Client, it comes up with one error message. Perhaps it has meaning in the context of the start-up problem of gpu=false or maybe it a common message during installation of the Client. Here's a snippet of the install string;

"Preparing to unpack .../fahclient_7.6.21_amd64.deb ...
Adding system user fahclient...done
Unpacking fahclient (7.6.21) ...
Setting up fahclient (7.6.21) ...
Failed to enable unit: Unit /run/systemd/generator.late/FAHClient.service is transient or generated.

The Folding@home client is now installed"

Steve