Folding@Home 5.02
August 20, 2004

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RECENT CHANGES (Client):

5.02:
- Error checking on queue, related to big packet option.

5.01:
- bsd elf conversion bug fix

5.00:
- Collection server support. If a client finishes a work unit from 
  a Work server with this feature enabled, then if 2 upload 
  attempts to that server fail, the client will return to the
  work unit to a Collection server. Pending credit will be given
  for the unit, becoming final when the Work server comes back up
  and verifies what the Collection server has received. All work
  servers will eventually be associated with a Collection server,
  and many already are.
- Configuration option to allow downloads and uploads greater
  than 5 MB in size, which some new projects will require due
  to the size of what they are simulating.
- G@H configuration option reworded to be "No deadline" option.
- Print executable name and launch directory to log.
- Fix for bug where queue slot could get stuck "Fetching"
- MyFolding links updated.
- -forceSSE flag removed, since even with older clients, the flag
  has become meaningless because recent Core_78's give SSE priority
  over 3DNow automatically. 
- Configuration option to pause work when the computer is using
  battery power (for laptops).
- Behavior in response to a shutdown or logoff of the system should be 
  improved (exiting nicely).
- Console: Built in service installation support through Configuration, to
  have the program automatically begin at machine startup. If one wishes, the 
  service can be further configured and interacted with through the Services 
  tool (GUI) that can be accessed through the Windows Settings (under 
  Administrative Tools in 2000/NT). The Sc command line tool may also be used. 
  There are known issues with the Net tool.
- GUI: Larger window size and more informative display.
- GUI: Screensaver configuration option.
- GUI: Print a message to FAHlog.txt when ask to network.


4.00:
- Configurable minimum checkpointing frequency (3-30 minutes). (In GUI, controlled 
  with a slider.)*
- If client run with verbosity of at least 5, FahCore_78 will print out a 
  message whenever a timered checkpoint occurs.*
- -configonly flag added to configure then exit.
- -oneunit flag added to exit after completing one unit.
- -forceSSE flag added. Returns -forceasm to its former meaning of forcing
  assembly generally, and takes on the function of forcing SSE specifically.*
- Warnings printed if -forceasm/-forceSSE flags given.
- Benchmarking not done except at start of normal operation (for example,
  not if only configuring, listing queue, deleting unit, etc.).
- Warning if attempt to run client with Machine ID of already running client (catches
  most common cases, including if running same client twice)
- Web site printed updated.
- Upon finishing a unit, if fails to return the result but succeeds in 
  getting new work, immediately tries sending all results again.
- Checks user name and team number for legality of use in statistics. (In
  GUI, gives popup error).
- Queue info properly outputted to FAHlog.txt.
- Proxy password written out in binary (upon reconfiguration)
- Assignment/work server request authentication
- Send all message altered ("sent x of y" if x not 0, or "no units...")
- CPU usage default of 100 printed out during Configuration.
- Tags in MyFolding page changed to better adhere to HTML standard
- Maximum machine IDs raised to 8.
- Upload and download bandwidths estimated to send to AS.
- If fails to post data, includes server and port in message. Also outputs
  HTTP status code (before this was only done if I.E. settings used).
- Bug fixed where performance fraction could exceed 1.
- Version information added to executables.


Of interest to Genomers:

- Batch networking option for G@h (Network when less than 2 units
  ready to work on or more than 5 results to return, and when network, both
  get up to 10 units and send any results. Also attempt to get new units at startup.).
- If set G@h preference, reflected in GUI title and acknowledgment message.


Windows GUI specific:

- Can select and display any GIF file as a logo, and set a URL for the logo to link to.
- Can add any text to displayed alongside the program title (perhaps something
  related to your company or team).
- Browser support for more non-Explorer default browsers.
- Bug fixed where current.xyz sometimes wrongly deleted.


* Items with an asterisk require FahCore_78.exe v. 1.53 to be functional -- certain 
work servers are already forcing downloads of this core.


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OLDER CHANGES:
3.24 (Dec. 23, 2002):
- Benchmarking improved in consistency and uniformity.
- Support for sending a measure to the assignment server of time taken on past
  work units (a weighted average), to use as a predictor of how large a work unit
  can be handled. Can view this measure using verbosity 4 after finished units, but
  AS not using yet.
- If bad arguments given, will exit only after a key press.
- If upon startup, FAHlog.txt exceeds 50Kb and a is to be started, the old
  one is retained under the name FAHlog-Prev.txt.
- Deadline information included with work (Printed to unitinfo.txt and
  available in queueinfo). Active units checked for expiration periodically
  all others checked for expiration at autosend time. Configuration option
  of ignoring deadline information (to use if system clock is bad -- not just
  telling incorrect absolute time, but having an incorrect conception of
  what one second is, for instance) if so desired. 
- MyFolding.html page written out by client with useful links (which Linux and
  Win. console users did not have easy access to before)
- In making request to server for work, inform on whether have units done
  waiting to be uploaded to server. If so, servers running new code will
  give a new unit instead of giving same (servers will shift over as projects
  come up).
- If a work unit is rejected for any reason, server now returns reason
  to client, which prints it out. (In this client, and servers will transition
  to the new code as projects come online.) If work unit is fatally flawed,
  then deleted from queue.
- "Could not transmit unit" statement now also includes date unit was 
  completed ("Could not transmit unit x (Completed xxxx)").
- Checks for bad URL, port on reception of work unit, deleting it before
  even starting work if bad.
- Time stamp on every line of FAHlog.
- Arguments to client printed to log.
- Some log messages modified (like the requested, and deserved, "Thank you" 
  added!). Some further spacing changes may be desired.
- File "unitinfo.txt" printed and updated, with information and progress
  for current work unit. (Had been requested for use by 3rd party people.)
- Client FAHlog output overhauled to use Windows API functions. (Interested
  in hearing if you see any change in performance, particularly from those 
  Win95/98 users who said log froze sometimes.) Log file is locked for 
  writing by other programs while client running.
- Networking overhaul to give a Configuration option of using whatever proxy 
  settings are used by Internet Explorer. 

GUI specific-
- If choose "Ask before networking" in Configuration, will take effect
  even on next get work, without restart needed.
- "Status" menu item to launch MyFolding.html.
- "Status" menu item to view queueinfo added.
- Bug fixed where if click off systray menu, menu did not disappear.
- Tool tip on systray icon now gives program status (including work 
  progress if currently working)
- When move mouse over hyperlink portions of display, mouse icon becomes a 
  hand.
- Bug fixed where if move display, then the links at the bottom of the 
  display (ticker tape ones) did not always work.
- Menu item ("Status") added to give easy access to Team Stats page, User
  Stats page, and Logfile.

Console specific-
- Answers to Configuration questions now validated. One letter answers (i.e.
  "y" or "Y" instead of "yes") allowed.


3.14:
- If running the client as a service (using the -service flag), then 
the scientific core will not exit on a logoff. Before, this was not 
true for all cores.
- If the program fails to connect to an assignment server, it will no 
longer just go back to a previous work server, since that server may no
longer have work appropriate for this client.
- Fixed bug in setting core priority.
- Advanced Configuration option of disabling optimized assembly code added.
- Send/autosend conflict resolved.
- If a situation where a core is outdated arises, and remains even after a 
new core is downloaded, the current work unit is deleted.
- Bug in GUI version where if certain Configuration options changed, core
perceived an improper shutdown fixed.
- If FAHlog cannot be opened for writing on startup, an attempt is made to 
delete it. If an open attempt fails again, then a file called FAHlog2 is 
started.
- "-forceasm" command line option supported to manually force assembly 
optimizations to be used (could be auto-disabled again by core later) if
current work unit is a Core_78 work unit.
- "-advmethods" command line option supported. Using it will give you 
assignments to the newest scientific cores and/or work units, before they
go into more widespread circulation. 

3.13b:
- For screensaver: clicking on logos no longer launches web browser, and web page launch buttons from Configuration window disabled.

3.11 Release:
- [From 3.11beta] Small GUI bug from beta fixed where status message at bottom l
eft was incorrect at times.

3.11b:
- If Client-core communications error occurs, current work unit and 
work files deleted.
- If 5 consecutive cores that have been downloaded during the current 
execution of FAH fail to complete a work unit (they exit out for some 
reason), the client will sleep for 1 day. When it wakes up, it give one 
more downloaded core a chance to run and complete a WU before sleeping again.
- FAHlog.txt is appended to (until it reaches 50 Kb) instead of overwritten.

3.1 Release:
- Preference of project added to Configuration's Advanced tab.

3.01:
- Fixed bug which prevented windows non-admin users from saving their user id

3.0 Release:
- Implemented service fix (Core now stops running if it detects client has died)... needs latest core for this.
- Removed expiry date

3.0b4:
- Revised expiry date for extended testing

3.0b3:
- Autosend set to 6hrs, screen logging reduced
- User ID problem fixed (machine ID now stored in registry, selectable by user)
- Port 80 fixes (now deals with unexpected 100 Continue messages, reinstated "\n" fix)
- Console mode service fix (must now use -service argument to run as a service)
- Win GUI: "Paused" now displayed in main window when paused, rather than "Working..."

3.0b2:
- Autosend enabled properly
- Fixed NT core verification crash bug
- Windows GUI client: Less unnecessary opengl drawing, click on systray icon brings display window to front.

3.0b1: 
- Fixed several network problems (including send work/ core download)
- Fixed a number of win32 graphics related memory issues
- Added support for proxy username/passwords
- Added adjustable core priorities
- Added user-selectable CPU usage level
- Added customizable graphics options (draw rate, visualization type, etc)

2.18:
- Networking fixes ("0x0A0D" proxy prepend problem)
- Misc bugfixes & optimizations

2.17:
- Improved networking code
- Added timestamps to log file (NOTE: these are GMT, i.e. London)
- Added "View log file" feature to About Window
- Added "Pause when current unit completed" feature to systray menu
- Fixed OpenGL "left behind objects" bug
- Config window reinstated for first startup
- Mouse cursor is now (usually!) hidden in fullscreen mode
- Fixed bug: windows client froze if couldn't contact server for ID
- Clicking on systray icon when main window already open now closes it
- Default proxy behavior set to not use any proxy (previously used IE)

2.16:
- Fixed bug: Didn't use proxy when it tried to get a machine ID

2.15:
- Default configuration used on first startup (doesn't prompt users)
- All: Work queue handled differently (kills some checkpointing bugs)

2.14: 
- Added 'Use Internet Explorer Settings' option to config window
- Added License agreement to installer

2.13 (internal):
- Improved security on Core autoupdate, now uses validation keys
- Automatically loads default user configuration on first run

2.12:
- Network code changes to fix connection problems