Cannot attach to Climateprediction.net

I thought I would post this here to see if any one might have any ideas or suggestions ?

Jonathan Miller
CPDN-SysAdmin
Climateprediction.net

posted the following over at Climateprediction.net:

I have looked at this, and all I can see is that the new server sent the page with an explicit character set (utf-8) whereas the original page did not.
I have removed this character set from the HTTP header on the new server.
Could you please try again, attaching to the project?
It would be very very helpful to know if you can attach or not, on Linux, Mac OS or Windows (inc Versions), because it seems,
from reading this thread, seems to be a problem with older Windows OS machines.
I look forward to hearing the results of the test.

Jonathan Miller
CPDN-SysAdmin

could you please have a Look:

http://climateapps2.oerc.ox.ac.uk/cpdnboinc/forum_thread.php?id=7558

any ideas or suggestions ?

Byron

It's a problem with the new front page of CPDN, not so much with the client.
An already added CPDN can easily be contacted by the client:

6/3/2013 3:55:08 PM | climateprediction.net | update requested by user
6/3/2013 3:55:10 PM | climateprediction.net | [sched_op] Starting scheduler request
6/3/2013 3:55:10 PM | climateprediction.net | Sending scheduler request: Requested by user.
6/3/2013 3:55:10 PM | climateprediction.net | Not requesting tasks: "no new tasks" requested via Manager
6/3/2013 3:55:10 PM | climateprediction.net | [sched_op] CPU work request: 0.00 seconds; 0.00 devices
6/3/2013 3:55:10 PM | climateprediction.net | [sched_op] ATI work request: 0.00 seconds; 0.00 devices
6/3/2013 3:55:12 PM | climateprediction.net | Scheduler request completed
6/3/2013 3:55:12 PM | climateprediction.net | [sched_op] Server version 611
6/3/2013 3:55:12 PM | climateprediction.net | Project requested delay of 3636 seconds
6/3/2013 3:55:12 PM | climateprediction.net | [sched_op] Deferring communication for 01:00:36
6/3/2013 3:55:12 PM | climateprediction.net | [sched_op] Reason: requested by project

So the scheduler works.
Meaning that the 'add to project URL' (http://climateprediction.net/ in the case of BOINC Manager Add Project Tool) may not be correct, or that the add-project logic on that web site is not correct. Seeing how http://climateprediction.net/ gets me to the new CPDN front page, I can only assume that the add-project logic is flawed.

---

I'm trying to create a project on a Linux box running Xubuntu.
The create fails and the last entry in the log is

Fetching configuration file from http://climateprediction.net/get_project_config.php

I tried downloading the file manually and that failed like so:

rod % wget http://climateprediction.net/get_project_config.php

--2013-06-05 10:17:25-- http://climateprediction.net/get_project_config.php
Resolving climateprediction.net (climateprediction.net)... 129.67.195.50
Connecting to climateprediction.net (climateprediction.net)|129.67.195.50|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 403 Forbidden
2013-06-05 10:17:26 ERROR 403: Forbidden.

As an experiment I tried manually downloading the configuration file from another
project chosen at random. That worked:

rod % wget http://asteroidsathome.net/boinc/get_project_config.php

--2013-06-05 10:16:08-- http://asteroidsathome.net/boinc/get_project_config.php
Resolving asteroidsathome.net (asteroidsathome.net)... 62.129.48.181
Connecting to asteroidsathome.net (asteroidsathome.net)|62.129.48.181|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 1882 (1.8K) [text/xml]
Saving to: `get_project_config.php'

2013-06-05 10:16:09 (4.24 MB/s) - `get_project_config.php' saved [1882/1882]

This problem has been going on for weeks. I am running a number of machines on climateprediction just fine, but have been unable to add any new machines for at least the past month. I have verified this from multiple machines and multiple networks, checking daily or more often. Those same machines and networks are able to add other BOINC projects.

(All attempts using the native Boinc Manager client menu item "Tools" > "Add project ...".)

In all cases the last message in the event log is always:
Fetching configuration file from http://climateprediction.net/get_project_config.php

---

Are you a musician? Join the Musicians team.

Try:

http://climateapps2.oerc.ox.ac.uk/cpdnboinc/forum_thread.php?id=5447&nowrap=true#46518

As part of the ongoing problems with attaching here, it's becoming obvious that there's a very important file on everyone's computer.

This is: account_climateprediction.net.xml
It has the information that the project needs to identify you.

Please make a copy (or several), and keep it in a safe place for when hardware problems occur.

Keeping the equivalent for ALL of your projects is a good idea for the same reason.

Claggy

@Claggy: yes, but how would one machine's backup copy of that file help some brand-new machine that one is trying to bring online?

Les Bayliss's post recommends making a backup copy, but does not imply what that file might be useful for, or when (other than, of course, restoring an individual machine that was previously attached to CPDN).

Les mentions "the ongoing problems with attaching here" - is there some discussion elsewhere with more information about those problems?

---

Are you a musician? Join the Musicians team.

If you were to look in CPDN's forums you'll find threads about 'can't attach to CPDN' in the Number Crunching, and the Q & A > Getting started Subforums:

Message boards : Number crunching

Questions and Answers : Getting started

Claggy

Les Bayliss's post recommends making a backup copy, but does not imply what that file might be useful for, or when (other than, of course, restoring an individual machine that was previously attached to CPDN).

The account_*.xml file is the most important file when it comes to adding a project. If you were to remove this file for any of the projects attached, that project would simply no longer be attached to your BOINC.

So, making a backup of the account_*.xml files is a good tip. If you were to ever add another computer, and you ant it to run the same projects as the old system does, all you have to do is install BOINC, exit it, then add the account_*.xml files to the BOINC Data directory and restart BOINC. That way that BOINC would instantly look for applications and work for those projects.

Mind, any project set to No New Tasks wouldn't hold this state, as that's recorded in the client_state.xml file. These files are unique to the system they run on, so it's not one you'd want to move to another system.

---

it Works!!

I just now attached my computer to Climate Prediction.net Created 9 Jul 2013 13:44:08 UTC

http://climateapps2.oerc.ox.ac.uk/cpdnboinc/show_host_detail.php?hostid=1286168

I am running: Microsoft Windows XP Professional x86 Edition, Service Pack 3, (05.01.2600.00)

I am running: BOINC Version 7.0.64 (x86) - running as a single instillation - (not as a service)

Please could someone else try to attach your computer Climate Prediction.net ... to to see if it works for you ?

also check out this thread ...

http://climateapps2.oerc.ox.ac.uk/cpdnboinc/forum_thread.php?id=7558

Those links are no longer functional, and the climateprediction.net home page is not even accessible. I would like to get completed results to them somehow, if they are still relevant. Any suggestions appreciated.

Those links are no longer functional, and the climateprediction.net home page is not even accessible. I would like to get completed results to them somehow, if they are still relevant. Any suggestions appreciated.

Hi Dan,
Wellcome to the Message boards.

CPDN Scheduled downtime: 2- 5 Aug 2013
Jonathan Miller wrote:

Planned downtime: 2 - 5 August 2013

The server room in which CPDN resides is due to be shut down for electrical testing on 2 August 2013. The testing will take place over the weekend, and CPDN servers will be brought back online on 5 August 2013 (assuming everything goes to plan).

There will be NO CPDN service during this time from any Oxford machines:

ClimatePrediction.net
Climateapps2.oerc.ox.ac.uk [this forum]
cpdn-upload2.oerc.ox.ac.uk
charybdis.oerc.ox.ac.uk
cpdntrickle.oerc.ox.ac.uk
uploader.oerc.ox.ac.uk
uploader1.atm.ox.ac.uk
cpdnbeta.oerc.ox.ac.uk
seacourt.oerc.ox.ac.uk

trillionthtonne.org

...and any others that I may have forgotten.

Unfortunately I will be on annual leave on 5 August, so I will have to leave the turning on to Mr Bowery and our diligent IT staff.

Jonathan

I hope this helps you,
Best Wishes
Byron

What is the status of the Climate Prediction server, it has been down since 7/30.

Thanks, Tom

At 17:45 UTC, 8 Aug 2013, Andy Bowery wrote:

So you will see that we have the majority of services restored now! climateapps2 has now been replaced completely. However I am aware of a number of issues which still need to be solved these are:

- cpdn_restarts is producing error messages
- server_status is not running
- project stats page is reporting an error
- uploader.oerc not available

I am aiming to get these solved by some time tomorrow. In the meantime please let me know of any other issues.

From previous experience, the new server will be hit by a very heavy workload of users uploading and reporting work done during the outage - it's like to respond very slowly for a few days to come.

Edit - there are more comments (and more copies of that email) in the 'Projects' section of this message board.