Index  | Recent Threads  | Unanswered Threads  | Who's Active  | Guidelines  | Search
 

Quick Go »
No member browsing this thread
Thread Status: Active
Total posts in this thread: 39
Posts: 39   Pages: 4   [ Previous Page | 1 2 3 4 | Next Page ]
[ Jump to Last Post ]
Post new Thread
Author
Previous Thread This topic has been viewed 124234 times and has 38 replies Next Thread
Bearcat
Master Cruncher
USA
Joined: Jan 6, 2007
Post Count: 2803
Status: Offline
Project Badges:
Reply to this Post  Reply with Quote 
Re: Network support for 100 computers?

I would love having this many computers crunching but not the electric bill. Thats going to sting a bit.
----------------------------------------
Crunching for humanity since 2007!

[Mar 2, 2010 3:50:26 AM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
Hypernova
Master Cruncher
Audaces Fortuna Juvat ! Vaud - Switzerland
Joined: Dec 16, 2008
Post Count: 1908
Status: Offline
Project Badges:
Reply to this Post  Reply with Quote 
Re: Network support for 100 computers?

This is a 200 physical threads system but with 11 kW power consumption (according to Apple). This is a lot of heat in a room. Air conditioning to kill that heat will also take another 2kW at least.
Total 13 kW. Check you have this additional capacity on your home power supply system.
Hope that you have the energy for free, or a sponsor otherwise my God the yearly bill.
I am very excited to see this very interesting project succeed. Good luck and keep us posted peace
----------------------------------------

[Mar 2, 2010 4:17:44 PM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
Coleslaw
Veteran Cruncher
USA
Joined: Mar 29, 2007
Post Count: 1343
Status: Offline
Project Badges:
Reply to this Post  Reply with Quote 
Re: Network support for 100 computers?

If you don't mind me asking...what system specs will these have. I saw there were a few choices. Also, do you think you will run any other projects too considering these have the GeForce 9400M graphics?
----------------------------------------

[Mar 3, 2010 4:17:37 AM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
ericinboston
Senior Cruncher
Joined: Jan 12, 2010
Post Count: 265
Status: Offline
Project Badges:
Reply to this Post  Reply with Quote 
Re: Network support for 100 computers?

This is a 200 physical threads system but with 11 kW power consumption (according to Apple). This is a lot of heat in a room. Air conditioning to kill that heat will also take another 2kW at least.


This is what I am unclear about. I have a Mini and it's heat is very minimal while running BOINC 24x7.

Also, the room that these 100 Minis would live in would be in my 600+ sq. foot unfinished basement. Yes, I expect the Minis (like any computer) to generate heat...and 100 of them certainly will...but I don't know if I really believe they will heat the basement (normally 57 or less while 32 outside without any windows open) to a point of danger.

1)I can open 2 windows during the winter (Nov-April) which will easily bring in 32 and cooler temps...not to mention provide an outlet for hot air.
2)I can change the central air ducts that run on the ceiling to push a/c down during the summer.
3)I can also change the central air ducts in the winter so that they actually pull air from the basement to heat the 1st floor instead of using the oil burner.

So I'm not trying to be naive...and I wish I had 50 Minis to test this for a few days and see what happens...but I don't. My worries are aimed at summer months when it's 75-85 on the average day which would probably set my basement at 64-66 degrees before powering on anything...and thus I would need to run the central air a lot.

I believe I mentioned earlier that I think computers can run fine in temps as high as the low 90s. Maybe I am wrong. I do know that I have left 2 machines running in a room at about 94 degrees for a few days and still no damage years after my mistake. :) Now, I would not want my basement to be 94+ at any time of the year...but 75-85 seems reasonable for an unfinished basement.

-Eric

p.s. likely before I start this project I will wait and see if Apple puts a quad-core in the Mini when the new line rolls out in Aug/Sep. It won't even be another 1-2 months before I can very seriously attack this project...so no sense in me buying last years' Mini when I can get one much faster for the same price a few months down the road. Yes, this project of mine will be funded by fundraising efforts....I don't have $150k to start this and then $20k each year for electric bills to donate. :) When I hit the Powerball that will be a different story.
----------------------------------------

[Mar 3, 2010 8:17:57 PM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
Former Member
Cruncher
Joined: May 22, 2018
Post Count: 0
Status: Offline
Reply to this Post  Reply with Quote 
Re: Network support for 100 computers?

Something to consider...
Using this kind of power would raise a red flag at the power company. This is how most "grow houses" are found. The power company reports strange and excessive power usage to the authorities.
[Mar 3, 2010 11:40:57 PM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
GIBA
Ace Cruncher
Joined: Apr 25, 2005
Post Count: 5374
Status: Offline
Reply to this Post  Reply with Quote 
Re: Network support for 100 computers?

Something to consider...
Using this kind of power would raise a red flag at the power company. This is how most "grow houses" are found. The power company reports strange and excessive power usage to the authorities.


Hummm, good point from brinktastee...

it probably will make you contact the power utility company before do anything. So, this is a great opportunity to take the initiative and in advance not just comunicate formaly your intention, and the related consume forecast improvement expected for the respective period of time planned for your project/experience in your home.

It is the chance to approach and get negotiate special tariff prices and benefits for it, maybe changing your consumer profile to something like commercial or large user (like builders with its building constructions, which normaly get better prices due the high volume of power consumed in the works, for a specific period of time).

Additionally, will be a good idea ask to the power provider verify and evaluate if the powerlines/circuits which supply your home (maybe including your home power installation too), are strong enough to provide it in safe mode, without problems and mainly without risks of security and power shortages.

Good luck on that ! good luck idea wink cool peace coffee
----------------------------------------
Cheers ! GIB@ peace coffee
Join BRASIL - BRAZIL@GRID team and be very happy !
http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/team/viewTeamInfo.do?teamId=DF99KT5DN1

----------------------------------------
[Edit 1 times, last edit by GIBA at Mar 4, 2010 6:55:53 PM]
[Mar 4, 2010 12:53:39 AM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
Bearcat
Master Cruncher
USA
Joined: Jan 6, 2007
Post Count: 2803
Status: Offline
Project Badges:
Reply to this Post  Reply with Quote 
Re: Network support for 100 computers?

You might want to start with 50 computers first to get things rolling. Once your comfortable with it, add another 50 until they are all online. Gives you a chance to sort out any potential problems. Might want to have your local police chief take a look at what your doing so when they do get the call, they will already know why. Ever thought of getting servers with 8 cores +? Won't have as many units to control. I currently run two 8 core computers. Easier to manage. Good luck on your project.
----------------------------------------
Crunching for humanity since 2007!

----------------------------------------
[Edit 1 times, last edit by Bearcat at Mar 4, 2010 1:40:38 AM]
[Mar 4, 2010 1:37:18 AM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
Hypernova
Master Cruncher
Audaces Fortuna Juvat ! Vaud - Switzerland
Joined: Dec 16, 2008
Post Count: 1908
Status: Offline
Project Badges:
Reply to this Post  Reply with Quote 
Re: Network support for 100 computers?

p.s. likely before I start this project I will wait and see if Apple puts a quad-core in the Mini when the new line rolls out in Aug/Sep.


Definitively wait if it is only a few months wait. You speak of 100 units not one or two so yes, here the wait is absolutely necessary. Simply because your watts/thread and dollars/thread ratio will improve enormously by nearly 50% for the first one. For the dollar/thread maybe a 30% improvement as I expect that mini version may be a little more expensive. At stock speeds your wattage per unit will barely change and you will get 2 more cores at about the same power consumption. And if HT becoms available you will get even a little more out of each machine.
When dealing with large numbers every small unitary improvement scales to large absolute numbers on the whole system.
As a small example +/- 10 watts on one unit will be considered marginal in all senses. But for you it will translate on +/- 1kW on your system and that is not negligible as baseload.
So when choosing you final imac mini version or model you have to be very careful and allways do not forget to multiply by 100. biggrin
----------------------------------------

[Mar 4, 2010 8:24:27 AM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
GIBA
Ace Cruncher
Joined: Apr 25, 2005
Post Count: 5374
Status: Offline
Reply to this Post  Reply with Quote 
Re: Network support for 100 computers?

I don't know were you living, and what kind of project you will start (maybe a research or a live lab to test applications), but along side all considerations posted here about it, I think that except if you really need test/use it over Mac minis plataform for any distinct reason, I think that you could at least try get some high performance systems / workstations / servers available. It could be less expensive at end.

Some systems available right now, could provide a lot of cores at reasonable prices, and extreme manageability of facilities and features, which probably will be an advantage in comparison with all planned set of 100 Mac minis, including if you consider the power consumption, total power of computing, scalability, and other variables involved.

Other interesting consideration to think about is that, considering all set of 100 Mac minis power consumption, and the power cost during all the time planned for this project (and you mentioned $20k / year...), when put under opportunity costs/return on investments perspectives, could allow you have a great opportunity to invest in some kind of alternative power systems for your house to do it.

And if you have area enough in your roof / backyard, could be a mixed systems using solar, wind, and more sources, which could cover all power consumption requested at least for your project in some day periods, and you ever could install grid tied systems, to avoid shortages or dependencies, with clear benefits on the long term for your property/wallet.

There are a lot of solar / wind system providers, which could help you on that evaluation/project, including some that works with kinds of photovoltaic tiles, concentrate photovoltaics, small/medium size wind generators, power/heat generators (to burn oil / wood / pellets / brickets / gas / biogas, to generate heat and power for your house at sametime), and so on related with efficiency/generation.

The best way is evaluate it under a complete project perspective looking for became your house more efficient in power usage aspects. And it will probably bring valorization for your property, and additionally could use incentives/benefits from power supplier company / city / state.

Just to think about. idea coffee
----------------------------------------
Cheers ! GIB@ peace coffee
Join BRASIL - BRAZIL@GRID team and be very happy !
http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/team/viewTeamInfo.do?teamId=DF99KT5DN1

[Mar 4, 2010 7:41:32 PM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
Former Member
Cruncher
Joined: May 22, 2018
Post Count: 0
Status: Offline
Reply to this Post  Reply with Quote 
Re: Network support for 100 computers?

Hello !

I have a same option as ericinboston. I've got some i7 computers in use, but only one of them as Internet access.

Is it possible with BOINCTasks to have the server download for the slaves ?
I roamed around eFMer site, but was not able to find the answer.

Thanks in advance.
zP
[Mar 4, 2010 8:31:12 PM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
Posts: 39   Pages: 4   [ Previous Page | 1 2 3 4 | Next Page ]
[ Jump to Last Post ]
Post new Thread