What is SETIpile...

SETIpile is a cache utility for SETI@home WorkUnits. It stores and manages up to a 1000 WorkUnits, and serves them to the local computer, and to other computers on the same network.

Sounds familiar, aren't there other programs that do the same...

Yes, SETIpile is not the only program to cache SETI WorkUnits, but it is different from those other programs in several ways.

What is so special about SETIpile...

SETIpile is designed with three major things in mind:

1. It must be a drop-in replacement for the most used cache utility currently in use, namely SetiStash.
2. It must use all available CPU power in a computer, thus using all CPU's, both logical (hyperthreading) as physical.
3. All computers on a local network must be able to work together on the same WorkUnits. Progress may not be lost when a client dies or removed from the network.
   
   

What is realized so far..

1. It can be installed in and take over a SETIstash environment
2. It can use 2 CPU's (logical or physical).
3. When using a server, all computers on a network can work with the same cache.
4. It displays the progress of all computers working on the same cache.
5. It computes an average total of WorkUnits that is processed per hour.
6. It has a client and a server mode.
7. It can flush through a proxy.
   
   

How does it work...

On a single computer, copy the SETIpile files to a empty directory or to a SetiStash directory. After installing, disable SetiStash, and enable SETIpile. It's that simple.

In a network environment, the best way to use SETIpile is to use a server with a internet connection. Install SETIpile in a network-shared directory. This can be a SetiStash directory.
The other computers on the network have to make a connection to the shared directory, and run SETIpile from there. That's about it.

Parameters...

• menu : shows the configuration menu
• flush: enables flushing of completed or empry units
• nocrunch: disables crunching (for servers)

Installation...

1. Download SETIpile
2. Copy the file to a empty directory or to a SetiStash directory
3. If you copy the file to a empty directory, you need to download the CLI version of the SETI client. Put the client in the same directory, and rename it to seti.exe.
4. Run "setipile.exe !!". The program will recognize it if this is the first time it is started, and asks you to login. After that, 10 WorkUnits will be cached. Check "Flush completed units".
5. Share the directory, and make sure that connecting computers have write-rights.

The following steps are for computers that will connect to the SETIpile cache installed above:

1. Connect to the shared directory and assign a drive-letter
2. Run "setipile.exe"
3. No need for the extra menu here..
   

Screenshots...

Wish list...

• Auto start with Windows. (Now you have to add a shortcut to SETIpile in your startup directory.)
• Support for more than 2 CPU's.
• Other Operating Systems than Windows.
• Quicker and less CPU demanding WU-info update.
  

Remarks...

SETIpile is only tested on Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Windows 98, 98SE, and ME should pose no problem. Windows 95, NT3.5 and NT4 are uncertain.

Please send your remarks and bugreports to me!

Practice Example...

One the of the bigger computer resellers in the Netherlands runs SETIpile on all freshly installed computers. On a server they are running a 200 WU cache SETIpile. The server only flushes, but doesn't crunch.
All installed computers are preinstalled with a network connection to the server, and start SETIpile from there.
There are few computers able to finish a complete WU, but this is no problem as SETIpile simply gives this WU to another computer.
This way, they test all systems with a 100% CPU load, even when the system is waiting for a technician.

Version history...

• added proxy option
• added support for user defined number of WU's

• fixed bug "WU not flushing" due to next bug
• fixed bug with SETI command parameters
• fixed bug Unit 0 always indicating "Transferring"

• fixed bug when decreasing number of units
• added extra parameters
• added support for 4 CPU's (tested with dual XEON hyperthreaded system)
• extra units information on screen (total units, active units and completed units)

• improved flush-routine
• added time and estimated time information to each unit