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distributed.net Contest Setback

Posted by Roblimo on from the it-ain't-over-yet dept.

meisenst writes "distributed.net is reporting that there was a problem earlier on in the CSC project (a few weeks ago) and that about 25% of the blocks will have to be re-done. Their announcement is here." We've gotten more than a few submissions about distributed.net showing more than 100% of all packets processed, but held off posting it until we had the official word. And here it is.

3 of 92 comments (clear)

  1. annoying, but minor by cetan · · Score: 5

    distributed.net is made up of humans, people make mistakes. It's not the end of the world, but it is a little annoying.

    On the plus side, with the current key rates the remaining 25% will be cracked within a week or two.

    The other plus is that the key may not be at the very end of the remaining 25% of the keyspace and therefore we will finish even quicker!

    --
    In Soviet Russia...michael would be rotting in Siberia!
  2. More than one problem by D.+Taylor · · Score: 4

    There is actually more than one problem with CSC, which is causing it to go over 100%

    First: dbaker (Daniel Baker), released an official anno uncement explaining that the same blocks were being issued to multiple clients, to attempt to detect cheaters.
    Then dbaker released another anno uncement in his .plan, stating that 9-12% of the keyspace was being duplicated.

    Second: nugget (David McNett), released an announcement stating that there had been a problem with the keymaster generating invalid blocks, resulting in 25% of the keyspace being duplicated.

    So, one remaining question is, are they still sending out ~10% 'verification blocks'? Or have they abandoned that to allow us to complete the project faster?

    We have reached 112% due to verification blocks and could reach 140% due to 25% of the keyspace being corrupt. However, if 12% of the 25% new blocks are duplicated, then we could reach about 155%...
    --
    David Taylor
    davidt-sd@xfiles.nildram.spam.co.uk
    [To e-mail me: s/\.spam//]

  3. Re:Eco damage by dattaway · · Score: 3

    Ah, power consumption! My utility company provides the 125 volt standard; right now its at 123.2 RMS volts at the outlet. Currently my two computers (desktop and laptop) on the UPS main at full CPU load and my 17" monitor at half brightness are using 1754mA, which makes for 216.1 watts. At 8 cents per kilowatt hour, that will net me $12.44 a month.

    My monitor consumes 1055mA, or 130 watts, or $7.49 a month. Turning it off could be a big savings.

    The main computer required to host web pages, etc., consumes 600mA, or 73.9 watts, or $4.26 a month. That's under full load, cracking CSC, serving MP3's, and providing limited remote control functions for the house.

    My laptop with the screen off, consumes the remainder of the power.

    Let's see how much power is saved by turning off the monitor, CSC cracking, MP3's, and the monitor... 1658mA, or 204 watts total. 8 watts saved? Well, there's too much going on this setup, so the savings are insignificant.