boinc/doc/anonymous_platform.php

<?php
require_once("docutil.php");
page_head("Compiling BOINC client software yourself");
?>

<p>
  BOINC applications, and the BOINC core client, are native-mode programs, so
  different versions are required for each platform (a 'platform' is the
  combination of an operating system and a processor type: e.g.,
  Linux/IntelX86).
</p>
<p>
  BOINC-based projects compile program versions for common platforms
  (Windows/Intel, Linux/Intel, Mac OS/X. etc.), and place them on its servers.
  A participant downloads the core client for his platform (assuming that
  platform is supported by the project).  When the core client requests work
  from the project's scheduling server, the client tells the server its
  platform, and the server instructs it to download the appropriate
  executables.
</p>
<p>
  This addresses the needs of most BOINC participants, but it's inadequate if:
</p>
<ul>
  <li>
    your computers have platforms not supported by the project;
  </li>
  <li>
    for security reasons, you want to only run executables you have compiled
    yourself;
  </li>
  <li>
    you want to optimize applications for particular architectures.
  </li>
</ul>

<p>
To handle these cases, BOINC lets you compile programs yourself rather than
downloading them from the project.  Here's how it works:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <a href="community.php">Download</a> the source code for the BOINC core
    client and the project's applications, and compile them on your computer
    (instructions for compiling the core client are <a
    href="build_client.php">here</a>).  Steffen M&omul;ller has made <a
    href="http://bioinformatics.pzr.uni-rostock.de/~moeller/debian/boinc/">Debian
    packages</a>.  Or download executables from a server of your choosing.
  </li>

  <li>
    Run the core client and attach to the project.  This will create a
    'project directory' (whose name is the project URL) in the BOINC
    directory.  Exit the client.
  </li>
  <li>
    Create a file <b>app_info.xml</b> in the project directory.  This file
    lists the applications you have compiled or downloaded.  It has the
    following form:
    <pre>
      <?php echo htmlspecialchars("
<app_info>
    <app>
        <name>setiathome</name>
    </app>
    <file_info>
        <name>setiathome_4.07_windows_intelx86.exe</name>
    </file_info>
    <app_version>
        <app_name>setiathome</app_name>
        <version_num>407</version_num>
        <file_ref>
            <file_name>setiathome_4.07_windows_intelx86.exe</file_name>
            <main_program/>
        </file_ref>
    </app_version>
</app_info>
")?></pre>
  </li>
  <li>
    Run the core client again.  When it requests work from the scheduling
    server, it will report its platform as 'anonymous', and provides a list of
    the applications it has.  The server then sends whatever work is available
    for those applications.
  </li>
</ul>

<p>
  This model is possible only with projects that make their application source
  code available.
</p>
<p>
  You may want to check out the following email lists (e.g. the port may
  already exist):
</p>
<ul>
  <li>
    <a href="http://www.ssl.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/boinc_opt">
      boinc_opt@ssl.berkeley.edu</a>:
    discussion of porting and optimization of BOINC applications.
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="http://www.ssl.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/boinc_dev">
      boinc_dev@ssl.berkeley.edu</a>: discussion of development and porting of
    BOINC software.
  </li>
</ul>

<?php
page_tail();
?>