I'm a newbie to Denis, drawn here as a member of the fine Distributed Computing Team that is Overclockers UK (not that at the moment anything I have is worthy of overclocking, but never mind about that).

A challenge has been issued, over on BoincStats for Denis. This could draw a lot of extra computing power to Denis, even if only for a short period.

Over the last 24 hours I've seen the server status WUs ready to send reduce from well over 200k to less than 35k. I'm sure some fluctuation is normal, but without prior experience of Denis, I don't know if that is within tolerance and there is a whole new batch of WUs waiting in the wings?

The main question I believe is which application they will use. There is an optimized version from the community that is so much faster than the original one. I think that there won't be enough work if they use this optimized version but maybe the team can provide longer running WUs (like they're doing right now) and more of them.

I'm sure most will find out about the optimised client stuff and apply it. Their fellow team mates will let them know about it. Mine did.

It makes such a difference using the optimized client. For the purposes of the team challenge it's all about who gets the most points. That is good for the science too.

But whether Denis can keep up, I think we will find out soon.

Yeah, DENIS is gonna crash.

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Yeah, DENIS is gonna crash.

Hi!
As of now it's sad, but true...

Does anybody have the info about server statistics? If it's is virtual I bet someone has to add CPU/memory into the system. ;)

I love a good challenge, good luck folks

The main question I believe is which application they will use. There is an optimized version from the community that is so much faster than the original one. I think that there won't be enough work if they use this optimized version but maybe the team can provide longer running WUs (like they're doing right now) and more of them.

I don't think they will ignore an optimized client solely on not having enough work to go around. You probably didn't mean it that way but some actually do think in such a manner. Optimizing the client to the fullest means that the CPU resources can get more science done. If they run out of work, the resources generally in most cases go to other projects as a good amount of DC'ers support multiple projects.

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You're right I didn't mean it that way. Of course optimizing the apps is always good so that more work can be done but I think this project will run out of work very quickly during the challenge :D

Before the challenge started, GigaFLOPS was at around 50k according to this site's server status. Now it's over 60k. That's a big jump :)

GigaFlops now over 63k, but WUs to be issued at the lowest I've yet seen of just over 4k. The next couple of hours will tell if we break Denis ....

Number of WUs now over 100k, doesn't look like it is going to break, seems to be managing quite well :-)

GigaFLOPS now over 73.5k. That's a big increase since the challenge started from around 50k.

But the Denis site is definitely slower with all the extra traffic. Importantly work hasn't dried up. But some of the stats do seem to be struggling. My credit reported on here seems to be the same as yesterday, however when I look at Boincstats (who can be blamed for this challenge) scores are still rising. A bit weird.

Interesting that the Denis admins haven't said anything of whether this challenge is welcome or not, whether they expected to cope or otherwise. Or maybe they haven't got time to look in here whilst they nurse their systems.

Hi!

As you said, we are looking a lot at the system and that give us less time to answer in the forum. We are looking how could be the best way to manage that increases of load and the high number of results.

We are also working on a new system of generating tasks and manage entire projects that we will show to you soon.

Best regards, Joel.

Hello,

I think that the most chruncher are very disappointed ...
Here is nothing new in the last month's ....
No progress meter like they said
The server stats are still not right
And nothing new in about 6 months ... Really ??
Nothing to hear from the admins and nothings going forward

Hello,

I think that the most chruncher are very disappointed ...
<snip>

One not disappointed cruncher here. Happily crunching, and thankful for the folks who create optimized apps as well as others around here who are rather helpful.

I'm sure there's a lot to do, and am looking forward to running this project long-term.

Nothing to hear from the admins and nothings going forward

?? Message 637, two minutes before your pointless message.

Hi!

As you said, we are looking a lot at the system and that give us less time to answer in the forum. We are looking how could be the best way to manage that increases of load and the high number of results.

We are also working on a new system of generating tasks and manage entire projects that we will show to you soon.

Best regards, Joel.

Thanks, I thought we might be keeping you all a bit busy :)

Hello,

I think that the most chruncher are very disappointed ...

If most crunchers are very disappointed they would move on to other projects.

A project like Denis doesn't need whizzy graphics like a progress meter (whatever that is supposed to achieve). Accurate stats may be nice, but they aren't essential, albeit that they are the historic method by which crunchers get recognition, but even that process (established by Boinc, not denis) is flawed as you return a year later with higher powered hardware and find you take far less time to get the same stats reward.

At the moment there is an interteam challenge that has provided the incentive for many to come to the project for the first time, and put in a lot of resources. It will be interesting to see how many remain once the challenge ends.

The really important bit, irrelevant of statistics and stuff, is to know that the results that are being returned are increasing the projects understanding in the field, and whether this is ultimately leading towards their medical aim. As Denis is young, I suspect it may still be some time before the results analysis is in to be able to then report progress back to contributors.

In the meantime, with a small project, the admins must concentrate on the fundamentals, and not be encouraged to divert into peripheral bells and whistles if that would get in the way of the science.

Sorry,
I don't mean it that bad I wrote it !
I self bought a little pc only just for computing for Denis !
I only wanted to say that I would be glad if we were able to see for what we are crunching here !

I only wanted to say that I would be glad if we were able to see for what we are crunching here !

Here and here