I use only Macs for personal use. My question was specifically for computers for crunching.
I switched to Windows after 30 years with Apple. You are fine with windows out of the box.
If you crunch only, and don't even install an e-mail client and other software going online the risk is extremely small.
Yes there always is the theoretical chance of being hit by a zero day exploit but that's something most never experience in their lifetime. And nothing protects you against that anyway. What's the worst case? You re-install windows and boinc, that's not too much work. If you are paranoid don't mount any storage of your Apple on the windows machine but access the windows machine from your mac in case you do want to transfer files over the network.
And don't use the same system passowords for your Windows and Apple computers.
That's it.
Good advice.
The first thing I do on any cruncher is strip every unneeded piece of software out of it. They don't have email, not even Notepad, lol.
Every single machine and app has a unique password.
Thanks for the input.
Phil
How do you edit the various config files then? It would be a pain in the neck to do it on another pc and copy it over every time. I use the same password for 99% of my pc's as they are JUST crunchers, I use unique passwords on most of the pc's that I use to go on the internet but there are only a couple of those, most don't except for Boinc stuff anyway.
If you are talking about Boinc config files, I've never done that, although this go around I do plan on learning how. I've always just used the preferences page. So you're right. I should leave notepad in there.
I misspoke about passwords. I do use the same password for crunchers.
Phil
Config files are easy to get wrong and hard to learn but once you get one right it's pretty easy to setup the next pc or even change the file. What I do is keep all of the ones that work in a folder so I don't have to remember what works and what doesn't.
I'm using my two newest computers, one self built and one factory built, to get my brain back up to speed. I'm spoiled from too many years of Macs. Like the saying goes, they just work, lol. But far from the best for crunching, for Mac Minis anyway.
Once I get up to speed on such things as OC, remote access, and such, my next build will be a "test" bed of sorts. I'll go back and try Ubuntu again.
I'm already in the position of the web based preferences not cutting it. I have 5 computers with wildly differing capabilities. So doing custom config files is going to be a must. I'm seeing computers with basically the same specs as mine with over a million RAC. Granted mine are just getting started, but I just don't see them pulling that off. We'll see as the days go on.
I'm using my two newest computers, one self built and one factory built, to get my brain back up to speed. I'm spoiled from too many years of Macs. Like the saying goes, they just work, lol. But far from the best for crunching, for Mac Minis anyway.
Once I get up to speed on such things as OC, remote access, and such, my next build will be a "test" bed of sorts. I'll go back and try Ubuntu again.
I'm already in the position of the web based preferences not cutting it. I have 5 computers with wildly differing capabilities. So doing custom config files is going to be a must. I'm seeing computers with basically the same specs as mine with over a million RAC. Granted mine are just getting started, but I just don't see them pulling that off. We'll see as the days go on.
Phil
If you use the "Computing Preferences" from the Options menu of the BoincMgr you can customize each machine. You are still limited to 4 project profiles. Between that and the "app_config.xml" file in the specific project directory I believe you have significant customization available.
This is true for both Windows and Linux/Ubuntu.
HTH.
A Proud member of the O.F.A. (Old Farts Association).
Phil wrote: mikey
)
Config files are easy to get wrong and hard to learn but once you get one right it's pretty easy to setup the next pc or even change the file. What I do is keep all of the ones that work in a folder so I don't have to remember what works and what doesn't.
Mikey, I'm using my two
)
Mikey,
I'm using my two newest computers, one self built and one factory built, to get my brain back up to speed. I'm spoiled from too many years of Macs. Like the saying goes, they just work, lol. But far from the best for crunching, for Mac Minis anyway.
Once I get up to speed on such things as OC, remote access, and such, my next build will be a "test" bed of sorts. I'll go back and try Ubuntu again.
I'm already in the position of the web based preferences not cutting it. I have 5 computers with wildly differing capabilities. So doing custom config files is going to be a must. I'm seeing computers with basically the same specs as mine with over a million RAC. Granted mine are just getting started, but I just don't see them pulling that off. We'll see as the days go on.
Phil
Phil
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
Phil wrote: Hi all, I
)
I am running a Windows 11 machine (daily driver, minor cruncher, 8c/16 with iGpu [Ryzen 5700G]).
It seems to be running well. If you don't care which version and you already have Win 10 you can run that till support goes away.
HTH.
A Proud member of the O.F.A. (Old Farts Association).
Phil wrote:Mikey,I'm
)
If you use the "Computing Preferences" from the Options menu of the BoincMgr you can customize each machine. You are still limited to 4 project profiles. Between that and the "app_config.xml" file in the specific project directory I believe you have significant customization available.
This is true for both Windows and Linux/Ubuntu.
HTH.
A Proud member of the O.F.A. (Old Farts Association).
Tom, I'm running Win11 Pro
)
Tom,
I'm running Win11 Pro on both the new machines. Seems to be ok so far.
I found the config files and will start playing with them.
Thanks!
Phil
Phil
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.