What is Superlink?

Superlink is a recently developed genetic linkage program. Tasks are automatically divided into small pieces and executed simultaneously using many computers. The running environment is provided by Condor - high throughput computing system which allows the usage of idle cycles of hundreds of desktop PCs. Results are combined and output as if they were run by Superlink on a single computer. Larger files may lose priority over time and be slowed down by the system in favor of other users. Users are notified by email upon task completion. Results of analysis are kept confidentially and temporarily on Superlink server. For more information see Superlink-online homepage.

What is BOINC?

The Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing (BOINC) is a middleware system for volunteer computing, originally developed to support SETI@home, but intended to be useful for other applications as well. The software is free/open source software, released under the GNU Lesser General Public License. Currently BOINC is being developed by a team based at the University of California, Berkeley led by David Anderson, who also leads SETI@home. For more information see BOINC homepage.

What computers is this site intended for?

The site is intended for computers outside the Technion. If your computer is inside the Technion and you are willing to contribute its power to the project, please, contact us (marks-at-cs-dot-technion-dot-ac-dot-il) to get a guidance.

How to contact us?

Via message board or email (marks-at-cs-dot-technion-dot-ac-dot-il).

Where to obtain BOINC?

Latest Windows client version can be obtained from BOINC download page. Latest Linux client version, as well as latest client versions for the rest of platforms, can be found at all BOINC downloads page. Local copy of BOINC client v5.8.16 can be found here (Windows) and here (Linux).

How to install BOINC on Windows?

Run the downloaded installer. While BOINC requires no adminstrative rights to run on the computer, there is one additional step to be done in order to install BOINC if you do not have such rights. Please follow these instructions and then navigate back to continue from here.

The introduction screen appears

Press "Next". The license agreement screen appears

Check the "I accept the terms in the license agreement" radio button and press "Next". Installation destination screen appears

Choose destination for BOINC installation by pressing "Change" button and selecting an appropriate directory in your file system. After choosing the directory press "Next". Setup type screen appears

Check the "Single user installation" radio button and press "Next". Single user configuration screen appears

Check the "Launch BOINC when logging on" checkbox and optionally check the "Make BOINC your default screensaver", then press "Next". It is important to notice, that BOINC will start running, based on your personal preferences (see below), making BOINC the default screen saver will turn on the feature of displaying the status of BOINC while you are idle. Confirmation screen appears

Press "Install" to start the installation. The installation process takes several minutes. At the end launch BOINC screen appears

Press "Finish" to end the installation and start BOINC manager. To attach to an existing project see below.

Some explanations about the installer can be found here.

How to install BOINC without administrative rights on Windows?

Download the installation archive and save it to some temporary location. Start command prompt ( Start->Run -> type "cmd" -> enter ) and change directory to the location where you saved the installation archive. Run the installation from the command line with /a flag. For example, run "boinc_5.8.15_windows_intelx86.exe /a". This will first prompt for the directory where you want to extract your installation files. You can select the same location as you chose previously to save the installation archive. Next you will be prompted to enter the installation directory. This can be any directory where you have access to. In the end of the installation you will be prompted to launch BOINC. If you do, you will then be able to connect to the project as described in detail here. Please note, that in order for BOINC to start every time you log in, you have to put a shortcut to BOINC manager "boincmgr.exe", found in your installation directory, into the "Startup" folder. Note, that BOINC must run on your computer in order to perform computations. To create this shortcut, go to the installation directory using Windows file browser, right-click on boincmgr.exe and select "Create shortcut". The shortcut will be created in the same directory and will appear in the bottom of the file list. Select the shortcut, right-click -> cut. Then open the "Startup" folder ( Start->Programs->Startup, right-click -> Explore ). This will open the file browser. Now right-click on any empty space in the right part of the browser window and select "Paste". You are done. If you have not started BOINC already, you can do it by invoking boincmgr.exe.

How to install BOINC on Linux?

Run the downloaded self-extracting archive. This will create a directory BOINC with client and manager executables in it. Running 'boincmgr' executable will launch the BOINC manager. To attach to an existing project see below.

More explanations about self-extracting archive on Linux can be found here.

How attach to an existing project?

After running BOINC manager, the introduction screen appears

Press "Next". Project URL screen appears

Enter the URL of the project, you want to join; to join our project enter http://cbl-boinc-server2.cs.technion.ac.il/superlinkattechnion/ and press "Next". After handshaking with the server, the user information screen appears

New users should input his/her email address and choose a password to authenticate against the server and then press "Next". This mail will not be disclosed or used for malicious intents - it is going to be used for administrative tasks, such as information about software updates etc. The confirmation screen appears

Press "Finish". Your browser will be redirected to the page, where you will be asked to provide additional information for your account

Press "Ok" to finish this final step. You are now attached to the project. After you are attached, you may want to edit preferences of how BOINC is going to use your computer resources. To do so, follow this link. By default BOINC will be suspended when the user is active.

What account key is good for?

The account key is another means for BOINC client to authenticate against the server (apart from interactively inputting email and password). It is highly useful when running batch BOINC clients. To obtain the account key from our server follow this link. After entering your valid mail address the account key will be shortly sent to it. To view all the command line options of the BOINC client follow this link

Run Superlink@Technion only on authorized computers

Run Superlink@Technion only on computers that you own, or for which you have obtained the owner's permission. Some companies and schools have policies that prohibit using their computers for projects such as Superlink@Technion.

How Superlink@Technion will use your computer

When you run Superlink@Technion on your computer, it will use part of the computer's CPU power, disk space, and network bandwidth. You can control how much of your resources are used by Superlink@Technion, and when it uses them.

The work done by your computer contributes to the goals of Superlink@Technion, as described on its web site. The application programs may change from time to time.

Privacy policy

Your account on Superlink@Technion is identified by a name that you choose. This name may be shown on the Superlink@Technion web site, along with a summary of the work your computer has done for Superlink@Technion. If you want to be anonymous, choose a name that doesn't reveal your identity.

If you participate in Superlink@Technion, information about your computer (such as its processor type, amount of memory, etc.) will be recorded by Superlink@Technion and used to decide what type of work to assign to your computer. This information will also be shown on Superlink@Technion's web site. Nothing that reveals your computer's location (e.g. its domain name or network address) will be shown.

To participate in Superlink@Technion, you must give an address where you receive email. This address will not be shown on the Superlink@Technion web site or shared with organizations. Superlink@Technion may send you periodic newsletters; however, you can opt out at any time.

Is it safe to run Superlink@Technion ?

Any time you download a program through the Internet you are taking a chance: the program might have dangerous errors, or the download server might have been hacked. Superlink@Technion has made efforts to minimize these risks. We have tested our applications carefully. Our servers are behind a firewall and are configured for high security. To ensure the integrity of program downloads, all executable files are digitally signed on a secure computer not connected to the Internet.

The applications run by Superlink@Technion may cause some computers to overheat. If this happens, stop running Superlink@Technion or use a utility program that limits CPU usage.

Superlink@Technion was developed by Computational Biology Laboratory, Technion, Israel. BOINC was developed at the University of California.

Liability

Superlink@Technion and Computational Biology Laboratory, Technion, Israel assume no liability for damage to your computer, loss of data, or any other event or condition that may occur as a result of participating in Superlink@Technion.

Other BOINC projects

Other projects use the same platform, BOINC, as Superlink@Technion. You may want to consider participating in one or more of these projects. By doing so, your computer will do useful work even when Superlink@Technion has no work available for it.

These other projects are not associated with Superlink@Technion, and we cannot vouch for their security practices or the nature of their research. Join them at your own risk.