World Community Grid - View Thread - BOINC: Migration Questions moving from the Old WCG (UD) Agent

There are a number of reasons, spoken and unspoken as to why the old United Devices agent for Windows is was put to bed. To begin with, here is the initial public information:

The BOINC Migration announcement , August 17, 2007

Read carefully.

From this a number of questions have arisen which are captured here and updated through Aug.21, 2008:

Q: Which BOINC installer is needed for the automatic removal of the UD agent?
A: WCG has released it's repackaged installer including customized skin, BOINC version ~~5.10.22~~ 5.10.45 ~~early Oct.'07~~ Mar.19,2008, which offers the choice to uninstall the UD agent. It can be found on the WCG download page and is preselected when arriving there. Step-By-Step Instructions for installing BOINC on Windows are offered after the download.
Q: Will the Points earned (credits in BOINC parley), Results and CPU Run Time continue to add?
A: Yes, the BOINC accumulated credits continue to add to the old UD agent points using the multiplication factor of 7 to make them approximately equal to UD points. The Old UD agent and New BOINC client points total up Only on the My Grid page which updates every 12 hours.
Q: Will the BOINC credit consolidate when running multiple clients?
A: Yes, same as that the UD agent showed all points earned with all UD agents, including those retired, does the BOINC client consolidate all credits earned, even when BOINC is run on multiple operating systems.
Q: When starting to return Results with BOINC not seeing any Device Statistics?
A: First obviously, the My Grid statistics only update every 12 hours (UTC clock) and Secondly, only when 1st Result(s) have been validated against other work, which might get returned later, will the points and Results start showing. See other Start Here forum topics for full explanation of the Result Status page.
Q: Will the UD agent points get transferred to BOINC?
A: It is not known at this time if they ever will. The My Grid page will combine the Credits/Points, Run Time and Results processed. The BOINC Manager Project tab only shows the credits earned with BOINC *before conversion to WCG points*.
Q: Can the UD agent be run side by side with BOINC?
A: It is strongly recommended not to do that. Neither agent is aware of the other which can result in overloading the system. Moreover, the Human Proteome Folding Phase 2 & Help Cure Muscular Dystrophy projects will be starved of processing time, resulting in extreme slow progress for those sciences.

If both are still running and you wish to permanently remove the old UD Agent, visit point 20 below.
Q: Will BOINC use multiple core CPU's?
A: Opposed to the old United Devices agent, BOINC can use as many CPU cores as it is allowed to use. It is not recommended for so-called Hyperthreading CPU's. In case of these, attach the device to a separate profile (if running multiple devices there is choice to use the school, work, or home profiles for this). Set the device profile to 1 processor or change the local "Preferences" on the "Advanced" menu without need to visit the My Grid > Device Manager > Device Profile settings.

NOTE: Owners of Pentium 4 Hyperthreaded CPU's aka P4HT are strongly recommended to change their Default Device profile to only use 1 processor. Visit the Custom profile section there to make the change.
Q: Will BOINC have any issues with a Proxy?
A: When you have a working UD agent behind a proxy, carefully read the BOINC Agent Support forum for current problems. As of this update on Mar.20,'08, official WCG version 5.10.45 works now and implemented an extra cc_config.xml configuration option flag <force_auth> for the correct proxy type application.

Stay tuned for updates in the BOINC support forum.
Q: Will BOINC show graphics of the science?
A: Yes, up to inclusive version 5.10 of BOINC, graphics are same or very similar to the old agent when installing as Single- or Shared-User. From version 6 they are also available when installing BOINC as a service/protected (unprivileged user).
Q: What about a Screensaver modus for BOINC?
A: Same as UD agent BOINC can be run with a graphical Screen-Saver (SS). It's slightly more finicky as the client has to start processing prior to the start of the SS. If elected to run BOINC only when the system is not used, set the idle-resume time client 1 minute shorter as the desired time for the SS to start showing on the display. Per previous point pertaining to service installs, the 5.10 version of BOINC will only show a bouncing WCG logo and name of the project running, run time and percentage progress. Version 6 has resolved this fully.
Q: Why should the BOINC client be installed as a service?
A: The advantage is that it will always run if the computer is on, even if no-one has logged onto the system. The requirement though is that the system is set up to use password protection.
Q: Will the BOINC client update automatically?
A: The science, same as the old agent, updates automatically. The client itself does not at this time. Whenever WCG endorses a new version, including WCG skin for the Simple View interface, it will be available from the regular WCG download page. The BOINC installer will automatically stop any running client and offer to start the updated BOINC manager GUI afterwards for both Service and Single/Shared User installations.
Q: Will BOINC run on all Windows versions?
A: Except for W95 and WNT, BOINC will run on all windows platforms including Vista. Not only that, it also runs on Linux, in Linux emulation, MAC OS X (Intel and PPC), some are even running it in 'Wine', a windows emulation.

One note is that on Win98/Win98SE/WinMe, manual closing of the agent is recommended prior to shutting down these Operating Systems. If not, reported things like hanging could occur.
Q: Are there any special issues with BOINC on Vista?
A: Yes, but an extensive FAQ has been developed identifying all known issues relating to Vista. A number of these equally apply to the old UD Agent. The Official WCG/BOINC version package 6.2.28 has overcome virtually all of these problems and future version 6.4 should permanently do away with any of the manual Vista security configuration requirements. Find the FAQ here.
Q: How can i prevent loosing hours worked on uncompleted UD Agent Tasks
A: There is no clean way for this to achieve. Before installing BOINC, point 1, Hit the Ctrl-Shift-Esc keys simultaneous. This will open up the Windows Task Manager. In there go to the Process tab and find the running WCGxxxxxxxx.exe program. Terminate that. The UD agent will upload the result, obtain credit for the hours and start downloading a new job. At that time, minimize the Agent to the System Tray (start bar, right hand bottom). Right click the Icon and choose exit. Than, proceed to install BOINC.
Q: How many active members have already adopted the BOINC agent?
A: A graphical display is provided in the WCG Supplemental Performance and Project Charts FAQ exhibiting the progress made to date.
Q: When will support end for the UD Agent?
A: The distribution of the software to be able to register new UD agent clients has ceased. The target migration completion and ending of all work distribution to UD agent clients will be May 31, 2008. Last completed Results will be accepted from the UD agent until June, 30, 2008
Q: Will I get a notification before UD agent is closed?
A: Yes you will and since the start of Feb.'08 you are also reminded when visiting the My Grid page as sampled below. Further actions are developed to ensure no one get's lost in the transition. Frequent mailing reminders are send out to those who continue sending in results from this agent (read June 30, 2008).
Q: What to do when the Account Key is said to be missing?
A: The installer failed to automatically find the unique member account key. A few steps described in this FAQ will remedy this.
Q: What to do when the old UD Agent continues to Run after BOINC installation?
A: The WCG Installer for BOINC should have asked a question to uninstall UD. If it somehow did not or you chose to not do that at the time, you can manually remove the agent:
- Right-click the UD agent icon in the Start bar System Tray (light blue WCG logo ) and Exit to stop/unload the old program agent.
- Go into the windows start-bar menu > programs > startup and Right-click the WCG agent icon (the light blue one) and delete shortcut.
- Go to control panel, software applications and uninstall WCG UD agent (not WCG BOINC agent)
- Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\WorldCommunityGrid\ or United Devices and delete any file remnants.
  
  Done
Don't be deterred as most all have an easy to overcome solution. Just ask on the BOINC Agent Support forum if something remains unanswered.

Community Advisors will continue to add and update this Q&A, with items not covered in the WCG

(button right hand top of all WCG website & forum pages) and of general interest when coming up in the BOINC Agent Support forum.