Getting started

Overview

Required steps for all installs
Windows Text Install
Windows Service Install (Windows NT/2000/XP)
Using dfGUI to install the client as a service
Mac OS X Install

Required steps for all installs

NOTE: You should only install this client on your own machines or on machines where you have gotten permission to install it. Installing it on machines where you haven't gotten permission to install it on is *illegal* and you could lose your job or get sued doing that! So just don't do it - it's simply not worth it!

1. Download the client here: http://distributedfolding.org/proteinfolding/distributedfolding/distfold_download.html

2. While you download the client, go here and register (this is a required step!).

3. When you have registered, you'll get a handle and you'll need to login to your personal page with the handle you just got and the password you entered on the registration page. On your personal page you can see your personal stats and you can edit various "settings", which is what you should do now:

Username:	The handle is unique and it's what identifies you to the system. The username is the name you'll show up as in the stats if you choose enter a username here, this is. It is much easier to find yourself in the stats then.
Current Team:	This is the most important one - this is where you choose which team you would like to be affiliated with. It is here you should choose "Ars Technica Team Stir Fry" - there is a team called just "Ars Technica" that is NOT the team you want to join!
Organization:	Even though this is a required field when you register, it is not important and you can enter whatever you want and it will show up in the stats.

Note: Unless you have a good reason to do so, please do not change your username or your organization. Your handle is what identifies you, however that is not available to anyone but yourself. The persons that create stats for the project therefore have to use those other fields. If you change any of these, you are creating problems and confusion in the stats and you might be identified as a new participant.

Windows Text Client Install

This guide is with that client in mind, not the Windows screensaver version which is a bit different in regards to the installation process.

1. When the download is finished, install it (unpack it).

2. Run the client by running "foldit". It will then ask for a handle - enter the handle you got when you registered.

3. It will then ask "Run in quiet mode (no output to terminal)". Leave it as it is for now. It doesn't matter for service installs.

4. Next question is: "Connect to the internet". This depends on what kind of internet connection you have. If you have a connection that's always online, you'll likely want to answer yes.

5. Next question is: "Use up to 150MB RAM so that it can run twice as fast...". If you have plenty of memory, then enable this option.

6. Next question is: "Automatically accept autoupdates...". You'll want to enable this.

7. Next question is: "Do you wish to configure an HTTP proxy server". Most likely, you'll not need this.

8. That's it - the client is installed and when you start it again by running foldit :)

It is recommended to read the "readme1st.txt" in the client folder.

Windows Service Install (Windows NT/2000/XP)

This is the recommended way to run the client if you have that option. Using the dfGUI to perform this step is also highly recommended.

1. To install it as a service on Windows NT/2000/XP, just run "foldtrajlite /install". To remove it again, run "foldtrajlite /remove".

2. If you have a dual processor machine, you need to install the client for each processor (ie. you need to have 2 directories with the client since the client doesn't support SMP).

3. To install the second client as a service, you need to run "foldtrajlite /install2". To remove it again, run "foldtrajlite /remove2". Note the "2" in the switch.

Note: When running as a service, the client will try to upload for every generation. It will also automatically update to a new protein when that is required. The "autoupdate.cfg" file is unneccesary. It is possible to configure the service install by editing the service.cfg file in the client directory. The first line of this file must contain a number identifying whether it is copy 1 or copy 2 of the service. Next, you may include any of the following options in any order if you wish:

useram=1	Makes use of extra RAM for improved speed (see -rt option in the client readme); default is useram=0
priority=###	Where -20<=###<=20 sets the priority of the task just like the -p option (20=passive, -20=aggressive); default is 20
progress=###	Where 0<=###<=100 sets the update interval for the progress.txt file, like the -g option (0=disable) default is 50
uploadfreq=###	Where 999<=###<=10000 controls the upload frequency like the -s option; default=999=assigned from our server.

Using dfGUI to install the client as a service

dfGUI is an excellent add-on utility made by TSF member, Digital Parasite. It's a great application for monitoring and handling your client on Windows. The client is explained in detail on the dfGUI website, so this will just be a short introduction.

1. dfGUI is installed simply by unpacking it to the same folder as the DF (Distributed Folding) client.

2. Go to the first config tab enable the options you want. You certainly want "Client Installed as a Service" enabled.

3. Click "Save Config".

4. Click "Install Service".

5. Click "Start Client".

The client should now be installed as a service and be started each time you start your PC.

Mac OS X Install

NOTE: This section might be outdated! It would be nice if someone with a Mac could help verify this information! Post in our forum or drop by our irc channel (irc.arstechnica.com #distributed) if you would like to help out :)

1. Follow the directions at the top.

2. Unstuff it with StuffitExpander[1] and you'll have a folder called "distribfold" wherever you unstuffit it at. Drag this folder to your Applications folder.[2]

3. Go to: http://anteater.blueprint.org/cgi-bin/trajstore and register. Follow the instructions there and get you 'handle' emailed to you.

3. Now open a Terminal window and type:
cd /Applications/distribfold ; ./foldit

when it asks for your handle, type it in, case sensitive. After a little bit, it will start folding proteins. There you go!

If you want to quit the program, just bring the Terminal window to the front and type 'q'. (No, don't type the ' ' marks)

If you don't have an "always on" internet connection and dial up to your ISP, you may wish to make a small change. If you have limited hard drive space, do nothing. If you have plenty of space, type this:
cd /Applications/distribfold; pico foldit

and at the end of the last line in the file add '-df'. This will keep your client crunching even if it can't contact the server (because you're not dialed up). so every so often when you are dialed up, quit the program and then type './foldit' to start it again. This sends the results to the server.

If you have any further questions, go to the Ars Technica Distributed Computing Forum:
http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x?a=frm&s=50009562&f=122097561
sign in, and post in the "[TSF] Perpetual TSF thread" (or something similar) and click "Reply to Topic" and post your problem. We'll help you from there.

Footnotes:
[1] If you're a gunzip and tar master, do your thing. It's all the same.
[2] Or wherever else you like. Just replace everytime I say '/Applications' with whatever the path to your folder is.