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  Thread: Using Scheduled boinccmd to get HSTB Work

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NixChix
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Using Scheduled boinccmd to get HSTB Work
I am starting this as a separate thread rather than continue this discussion in the Limited workunits for Help Stop TB thread. I think the discussion started back on December 11 of using crontab in Linux to launch boinccmd at a specific time to get work for HSTB. I tried this same idea in Windows using Task Scheduler and a batch file. After the first successful test, I replicated on 3 additional computers, but I realized that a batch file was not needed and instead launched boinccmd directly from Task Scheduler at 3 minutes and 33 minutes after each hour.

I have been able to advance from 30 days to 55 days CPU time since starting earlier this month. Although I have this set up on 4 computers using identical settings, I have been able to reliably get jobs on only one computer.

Cheers coffee
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[Dec 27, 2016 6:38:07 AM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
gb009761
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Re: Using Scheduled boinccmd to get HSTB Work
NixChix, there is one advantage of, on your Windows boxes, running the command via a batch job - as that way, you can modify the running of the command a lot easier.

For me, I've got it so that it spurts out the date/time to a text file (which, I can edit later, recording as to if/when I got some and the type), and also, if in the future I wish to stop "fishing", I can simply "REM " the command out, thus stopping the boinccmd from being called. Also, as I only seem to have been successful at 10:33 & 11:03 UTC, I've been tempted to add in some programming checks to skip over calling the boinccmd if outwith these times.
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eLPeCKo
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Re: Using Scheduled boinccmd to get HSTB Work
Thanks guys for a great tip.
I configured my boxes to call an update every 30 minutes, so lets see if I will finally catch some WUs this year smile
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[Jan 17, 2017 7:53:00 AM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
mmonnin
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Re: Using Scheduled boinccmd to get HSTB Work
I did the same thing for MilkyWay before that project updated their tasks to bundles. It sure helped but it does add load to the servers.
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[Jan 17, 2017 12:53:12 PM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
DadX
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Re: Using Scheduled boinccmd to get HSTB Work
It seems to me that a script can be written to request new tasks only if you need more work. It shouldn't be a big effort to parse the output of boinccmd with either --get_tasks or --get_simple_gui_info to get a list of tasks, parse the list for the project and do the update if you have less that 'n' tasks. I'm not at a computer where I can check but depending on what's is returned it might be possible to make a better decision based on state, remaining time and elapse time of the tasks.
It wouldn't be perfect but it would cut down on the number of updates the servers have to processes.
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[Jan 17, 2017 5:45:25 PM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
NixChix
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Re: Using Scheduled boinccmd to get HSTB Work
I hadn't gotten a HSTB job in over a week. Since the returns were down to less than 100 I decided to stop the nightly routine. I started disabling the script to run boinccmd every 30 min. However the one computer that I hadn't disabled got three jobs at new times, 7 hours later than usual at 0903, 0933, and 1003 PST.

Not only was it the only computer that was still running the script every 30 min, it was the only one that ran it for 12 hours instead of 2 hours. I hope the fix that Uplinger posted about returns the flow of work to a level that can satisfy the badge hunters without having to babysit the computer. love struck

Cheers coffee
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[Feb 16, 2017 6:08:07 AM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
NixChix
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Re: Using Scheduled boinccmd to get HSTB Work
I exported the settings from my Windows Task Scheduler that I use on my computer. It initiates boinccmd every 30 minutes for 12 hours. After you import it, you can tweak it all you want. The important part is at the end.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
<Task version="1.3" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/windows/2004/02/mit/task">
  <RegistrationInfo>
    <Date>2016-12-14T00:09:54.4534673</Date>
    <Author>NixChix</Author>
    <Description>Run boinccmd to cause an update to WCG</Description>
  </RegistrationInfo>
  <Triggers>
    <CalendarTrigger>
      <Repetition>
        <Interval>PT30M</Interval>
        <Duration>PT12H</Duration>
        <StopAtDurationEnd>false</StopAtDurationEnd>
      </Repetition>
      <StartBoundary>2016-12-18T10:03:00Z</StartBoundary>
      <ExecutionTimeLimit>PT30M</ExecutionTimeLimit>
      <Enabled>true</Enabled>
      <ScheduleByDay>
        <DaysInterval>1</DaysInterval>
      </ScheduleByDay>
    </CalendarTrigger>
  </Triggers>
  <Principals>
    <Principal id="Author">
      <UserId>yourloginid</UserId>
      <LogonType>S4U</LogonType>
      <RunLevel>LeastPrivilege</RunLevel>
    </Principal>
  </Principals>
  <Settings>
    <MultipleInstancesPolicy>IgnoreNew</MultipleInstancesPolicy>
    <DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>true</DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>
    <StopIfGoingOnBatteries>true</StopIfGoingOnBatteries>
    <AllowHardTerminate>true</AllowHardTerminate>
    <StartWhenAvailable>false</StartWhenAvailable>
    <RunOnlyIfNetworkAvailable>false</RunOnlyIfNetworkAvailable>
    <IdleSettings>
      <StopOnIdleEnd>true</StopOnIdleEnd>
      <RestartOnIdle>false</RestartOnIdle>
    </IdleSettings>
    <AllowStartOnDemand>true</AllowStartOnDemand>
    <Enabled>true</Enabled>
    <Hidden>false</Hidden>
    <RunOnlyIfIdle>false</RunOnlyIfIdle>
    <DisallowStartOnRemoteAppSession>false</DisallowStartOnRemoteAppSession>
    <UseUnifiedSchedulingEngine>false</UseUnifiedSchedulingEngine>
    <WakeToRun>false</WakeToRun>
    <ExecutionTimeLimit>PT1H</ExecutionTimeLimit>
    <Priority>7</Priority>
  </Settings>
  <Actions Context="Author">
    <Exec>
      <Command>"C:\Program Files (x86)\BOINC\boinccmd.exe"</Command>
      <Arguments>--project http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org update</Arguments>
    </Exec>
  </Actions>
</Task>
Save the text above into a file Update BOIC.XML, then open Windows Task Scheduler and import the XML file using the Action menu. You will need to change yourloginid above to your user id either in the file or after importing. It will start at 10:03 UTC, but you can adjust to launch at whatever time you wish. It will run indefinitely until you disable it. Promise me that you won't let this run forever and that you will disable it once this dry spell is over.

Also be sure that your computer clock is accurate. You can check it using time.is.

Cheers coffee
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[Mar 9, 2017 5:18:21 AM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
KLiK
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Re: Using Scheduled boinccmd to get HSTB Work
thx NixChix! ;)
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oldies:UDgrid.org & PS3 Life@home


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Speedy51
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Re: Using Scheduled boinccmd to get HSTB Work
thx NixChix! for the above script. When I try to add to task scheduler I get the following message "One or more of the specified arguments are not valid" I have changed my user ID I have also changed the location of the command file (at bottom of script) as I have 64 bit system. I am running windows 10 I have selected this accordingly I am also based in New Zealand if I need to change the date and time section could somebody please explain how. Thank you for any assistance
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[Mar 11, 2017 1:19:55 AM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
KLiK
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Re: Using Scheduled boinccmd to get HSTB Work
thx NixChix! for the above script. When I try to add to task scheduler I get the following message "One or more of the specified arguments are not valid" I have changed my user ID I have also changed the location of the command file (at bottom of script) as I have 64 bit system. I am running windows 10 I have selected this accordingly I am also based in New Zealand if I need to change the date and time section could somebody please explain how. Thank you for any assistance

It worked for me on x64 bit Win10, with CET setting...so why shouldn't work for you?

All I've changed is a username, which was still invalid...so I changed that within settings in Task Scheduler...Just in list General, go to "Change User or Group"m then "Advanced" & then "Find New"...& sellect from the list your user & it will work!
wink
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[Mar 11, 2017 5:42:56 PM]   Link   Report threatening or abusive post: please login first  Go to top 
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