Projects and applications

A project is an organization that uses BOINC. Projects are independent; each one manages its own applications, databases and servers, and is not affected by the status of other projects. The components of a project are shown below.

The server side of a project consists of two parts:

• A project back end that supplies applications and work units, and that handles the computational results. Input and output files are distributed by data servers, which are HTTP servers able to handle uploads. These servers need not be owned or operated by the project. A project might, for example, recruit other organizations to donate network bandwidth by hosting data servers; data could be moved on tape between the project back end and the data servers.
• A BOINC server complex that manages data distribution and collection.

• One or more scheduling servers that communicates with participant hosts.
• A relational database storing information about work, results, and participants.
• Utility programs and libraries that allow the project back end to interact with the server complex.
• Web interfaces for participants and developers.