Bitcoin Forum

https://github.com/luke-jr/bfgminer/tree/prime

WIP, but deff would like any patches or updates! cheers!

Is this the first thread on this? Just wondering if there's any status on where this is at - functional but still being optimized? Or not functional yet?

well its a start luke started on it last night and is pulling in some decent pps, join us on irc freenode #eligius if you want to help, add patches etc.. but yea first

XMP?

sorry i have dyslexia

XPM (should be PRC imo, less confusion with XRP)

Building on Linux now.

Can you give some example arguments to pass to ./bfgminer to be suitable for mining XPM?

Have you tried to make a windose client?

Trying with ./bfgminer -algo prime

I'm trying on windows, running in to missing gmp library at the moment.

OK, the windows install instructions are pretty good. I was able to get a compiled .exe (haven't tested it yet) with two small updates.

Need to do "mingw-get install mingw32-gmp" before you build bfgminer. (this is new for XPM)

Need to add "mingw-get install mingw32-libtool" if you are doing the "Optional - Install libusb" (this is from before XPM fork, and not something we really care about for XPM)

Edit your OpenSSL makefile & remove the no-gmp option

edit: nm you've got it from mingw now :)

Any special options this needs to be configured with and/or run with?

For ./configure, I'm assuming we'll need --enable-cpumining

Any switches for launching in prime mode instead of sha?

--algo prime or -a prime apparently

With my first compile, --algo wasn't a supported switch at runtime.

I recompiled with:
CFLAGS="-O2 -msse2" ./configure --enable-cpumining --enable-prime
make

I don't know if --enable-prime did anything or not, but it didn't hurt.

Now I can launch with --algo prime and it asks for pool address. I will see if I can point to my local primecoind RPC port.

I did not publish this for people to use, but rather for developers to play with.
It is not production-quality code, and without understanding the code you probably will not be able to get it working.

Since it is also only used by a probable-scamcoin at this point, I'd also like to express my preference that others not encourage/help non-developers use it for now, outside of improving the code/documentation in git.
(However, to be clear, I will also not hold any grudge or hard feelings against those who do.)

If any developers wish to work with or improve the code, perhaps even clean it up sufficient for merging into mainline BFGMiner, that is another matter entirely: I am more than willing to help/collaborate on this (but do expect me to ignore you if your questions suggest to me that you don't know the first thing about development!).

Sadly, I'm able to point to my primecoin rpc port, but then bfgminer crashes.

./bfgminer --algo=prime -o localhost:8000 -u rpcuser -p rpcpass

8000? default port is 9912, did you change it?

Whatever the daemons is running :)

Don't you also need to specify a --coinbase-addr or does primecoind look after passing it to your address?

What's the difference between primecoind mining and this miner in terms of perfomance?.

Why do you think Primecoin is a scamcoin?

This got me past the crash on launch anyways. Not sure if I was missing the "=" after --algo or what.

Now I can see "new blocks" arriving, although they don't line up with when I see new blocks in QT debug terminal. Difficulty is being reported as 0, could be an unimplemented piece of the code or could be an actual problem.

http://s17.postimg.org/aak5owxe7/bfgminer_prime.jpg

Doubtful that it's actually functional. :)

About 100x.

Did you manage to block with this version? or is the mostly primemeter stats?

Is each primemeter stats line per cpu?

Anyway cred for starting something :)

You need to pass it a --scan-time 1, that way it will register new blocks faster (necessary for those short intervals we have)
It seems to pass whatever it finds, though, no proof-of-work check implemented yet as it seems.
So far all my block candidates it found on testnet were rejected(by primecoind). No block candidates on production yet.

I've gotten the same results as you, I even went as far as too modify coindbase-addr too accept the addresses

This is what I am seeing, but no idea if this is working correctly:

https://i.imgur.com/d3zARXN.png

It states 680pps

I need to have a really good look at the code as its my first time playing around with this miner. Looks pretty awesome so far.

Thanks for the info. Failing on testnet doesn't seem like a good sign, but let us know if you see any successes.

Heh... mine seems to be trying to use the gpu for this, once I turn off generation in QT my CPU utilization drops to 0. Also my GPU mining performance for another altcoin is degraded.

are there some problems reporting correct difficulty? For me bfgminer reports:


So it's difficulty zero.

I guess you should do --disable-opencl and do a build only for cpu mining...
Testing my own optimizations right now, so there won't be further findings from me for a while :-)

I like the infinitely unknown network hash rate :-)

hmm. Everything gets rejected. I tried on testnet, with a slightly lower difficulty, and I already have like 10 rejects:

yeah, same here, only rejects on testnet, 2 on CPU0, 3 on CPU1 and 180 and rising on CPU2 (got just 3 enabled)

On this step I get errors any ideas?


./autogen.sh


which throws the error

 Makefile.am:67 variable 'EXTRA_bfgminer_dependencies' is defined but no program or library has 'EXTRA_bfgminer' as canonical name

On this step I get errors any ideas?




which throws the error

Same picture here. Primemeter says something, but does it actually mine? (Almost) everything else is zero.
primemeter   6464834 prime/h  43856034 test/h  1795pps

Do I understand it right, that primecoind has to run in the background with generate=1 or maybe generate=0?

Heh... seems configuring the make for disabled FPGAs and Avalon just doesn't work. Breaks the compiler from missing references. Oh well, disabling opencl works at least. Until runtime when it crashes. LOL.  Adding -S cpu:auto to enable CPU mining to my build with opencl still enabled gives a crash soon after start.

What makes you say that? As far as I see, primecoin and the same developer's ppcoin look like the only bitcoin-derivatives to bring something new and worthwhile to the table since namecoin.

No. you don't want primecoind mining. Remove gen= from your primecoin.conf and just run is as daemon

primecoind --daemon

From there don't do any setgenerate commands.

I am closed to giving up on this coin now, been running for another 24 hours without one block found (on the primecoind miner)! I don't do this for money, its a hobby, but this is not so much fun when there is little reward to see.

By ignoring the question, he gives off the impression that hes is trying to dissuade people from pursuing it while he capitalizes on a miner 100x more efficient.  I don't know if thats what he is doing, but it appears to be the case since he has not stated his apprehensions beyond his provocative remarks.

dumb Q, but how do you get the prime branch? I used
   git clone https://github.com/luke-jr/bfgminer.git

Not sure if this includes prime

git clone -b prime https://github.com/luke-jr/bfgminer/

primemeter advertising a 10x improvement above the previous optimized "official" build.
No block yet, will check in tomorrow.

I second this.

What's primemeter?

Btw, I was finally able to get this to build and run bfgminer. Bfgminer is pegged at 800% so I must be doing somethign right ;).  With that said primecoind getmininginfo is showing "0" for pps. is that expected?

--

I figured out primemeter is part of bfgminer.  Still not sure why getmininginfo is showing "0" though. Probably because bfgminer is being used instead. I do not have any accepted blocks yet. Also my pps is showing as 995pps but displayed multiple times from primemeter. Is this the pps per core?  If no, this is lower than primecoind which was giving 1500pps

No reported successful blocking with current code as i am aware of.

On testnet it only reports rejected shares, on main net it has not reportet anything related to shares on my end.

Client node has no API support yet. Feel free to propose an API format for e.g. getwork.

Considering the prime calculation speeds that are likely to be achieved, and the block spacing being so short, GetBlockTemplate seems like the best API format for Primecoind.

Fucking hell you're a tool.

Ha, thanks for saying what we're all thinking.

So....nobody finding blocks with the BFGminer?

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=254462.msg2710571#msg2710571

He is mining the hell out of it right now while speaking poorly of it.

When run autogen.sh I get this error.


Any tip?

Sounds like this crowd is showing their true colours....
Thanks for confirming my suspicions.

And no, getwork won't work. It's been deprecated for a long time before Primecoin was even announced, I don't know why Sunny included it or why people expect it to work.
GBT, on the other hand, works fine without primecoind modification.

I think it's hardly surprising to see unsupported criticism criticized.

You have yet to explain why you believe primecoin is a scam. I am not here to argue with anyone, but you have no sound reasoning at this time. Unless you are just very nonchalantly trolling  ::)

Well, I'm very confused now. I searched through all the primecoind command line and configuration options and see nothing about being able to select whether getwork or getblocktemplate is being used in the primecoind client.

When I start bfgminer with the --no-getwork option, it will not connect to primecoind. When I start bfgminer without the --no-getwork option, it connects to primecoind but cannot solve blocks.

When I search for GBT and how to use it, the Wiki page (https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Getblocktemplate) says to use a GBT compatible miner with a compatible pool.

Does anyone know how to use GBT versus getwork in the primecoind or bitcoind server?

Except all the times I already explained why in the main Primecoin thread.

This is the quote that he's referring to, I imagine:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=252664.msg2708777#msg2708777

Now, while some fair points are raised, you are a complete ass about it Luke, and your unrelenting bias and support of Tonal Bitcoin is, to most people, just bizarre.

Now, what you've listed is other cryptocurrencies that work on different methods than bitcoin (except tonal), now, I agree on namecoin, and ppcoin, both are interesting. I don't think ppcoin will take off, but I think the idea behind it is good, and solid. Your accusation that it's a scamcoin though, and by extension, sunny king is a scammer, is just too retarded for words. Sunny King has a reputation as an extremely helpful, and often selfless dev in the community. You have a reputation as a selfish, rude, abrasiveness, and odd person, who is a constant source of conflict.

Honestly, what you're saying is not so much a problem, most people would be happy to discuss things, but you're such an arsehole about it all, and I think the only reason the community tolerates you is that you're providing a necessary service with certain miners.

Primecoin does have an interesting new property, that of possible real world value. Now, I'm not saying that primecoin will take off, but developers like Sunny King are the ones paving the way, and forging ahead with new ideas. You're not. You are not contributing in any beneficial way. If sunny king continues and produces a new system that does provide a beneficial outcome as a byproduct of security of the network, that is only a good thing. Bitcoins SHA is a waste, and we are all aware of it.

You seem a bit confused here.
This forum is not the community.
It is a nest of trolls that the community only barely interacts with as necessary.

My reputation is quite well in the Bitcoin community.
Trolls and scammers may hate me, but I'm fine with that.

Heh Luke-Jr has a good point there. The forums do have their fair share of trolls ;) 

Anyways, onto a more positive topic. Has anyone successfully received some blocks with bfgminer yet? I just kicked off a couple more instances with it to see what will happen.

True, this forum is full of trolls, but your reputation is well known in the wider community. I think my point stands. I'm not saying that your work isn't good, I'm saying that your personality is abrasiveness, and you cause conflict.

Guys wtf, stay on topic I see so many good potential threads started to only get hijacked.  This was about looking into bfgminer branch to see if developers wanted to work on improving it for mining prime coins .. Stop the nonsense ...

I'm sorry, but we're having a relavent and civil discussion about the author of the subject of the topic at hand. We're discussing previous comments made by that author. And honestly, as webmaster of eligius, your conflict of interest and arrangement with luke-jr are really transparent (or at least they are to me, I doubt most of the community is aware of the long and messy history).

You're not a white knight trying to get the topic back on track. You're a biased party with potential losses should problems occur.

I'll try and stop here, and say that's all I have to say on the matter.

Thanks now let's get back to business!

Because it's not Bitcoin and he's Luke Jr.

I did not get anywhere at all, but it was a good bit of exposure for me on the bfgminer code. I was the other 'luke' on IRC.

So, to me it looks like the way forward is that primecoind clearly needs an API:

Sunny:
Luke-jr:
I checked on what Luke-jr has said and sure enough getwork has been depreciated and is now supersceded by GBT

So we need https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Getblocktemplate

BFGminer already has GBT support with libblkmaker etc as does cgminer. If we get primcoind supporting GBT we have to major mining apps on board.

So the part that I don't now understand (Question for Sunny perhaps), considering he forked about 3 months ago and GBT was introduced last year, then the API must already be there and just needs exposing?

This forum is part of the community whether you like it or not. Your attitude towards alt-cryptocurrencies is not welcome as it does not help anything. If you care about what Bitcoin is trying to do as a technology then you recognize alt-currencies can only help make it happen. Bitcoin is high profile with a bad reputation and if you're not about centralized power then you would want alt-currencies to compete in an eco-system with Bitcoin to keep Bitcoiners honest and to diminish the power acquired by the Bitcoin elite.

Each coin should give people a chance to make money and try new ideas. Primecoin does try a new idea and will make people money. A scamcoin does not try a new idea and does not make money.

Hey guys, I don't have this working either as I've only just started looking at it.  But when I run i don't get the top summary display and menu options and it doesn't respond to menu input either.  I 've not encountered this before, any ideas?

https://i.imgur.com/alL43ht.jpg

Hi All,

I will start a new thread so we can keep focused on miner support. That seems more fair then me asking everyone else to move out :)

Regards,
shin

Don't worry, didn't have ncurses library installed!  doh!

Started a new thread to try and focus what we need to do.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=254827.0

Is anyone still plugging away at the existing code?  I'm trying to find ways around the lack of GetBlockTemplate support in primecoind and failing.

Luke-jr, presumably you had a working solution in place (actually having blocks accepted)?  If so, I'm assuming you don't want to share that because the prime branch is incomplete?

Luke-Jr said this, which implies that primecoind supports GBT, and that's where I get lost:

"And no, getwork won't work. It's been deprecated for a long time before Primecoin was even announced, I don't know why Sunny included it or why people expect it to work.
GBT, on the other hand, works fine without primecoind modification."

I know BFGMiner supports GBT, so that's not an issue, but getwork seems to be used when solo mining.

Yep that's where I've just got to.  I checked the primcoind source and GBT does appear to be supported, so there's something else missing that is stopping BFGminer using GBT.  I'll keep looking

does anybody have any accepted blocks using this branch? or am i just being extremely unlucky
i've got it on a couple of x5520 xeons (i7 equiv) and nothing in 24 hours

This code isn't working "as-is". We are still trying to figure out how to get it working.

If you're implying that you have it working, please can you confirm this and share how you have managed it?

BFGMiner prime is definitely using getwork when talking to primecoind.

I'm still poking around the source code to see if there is anyway to force it to use GBT.

--no-getwork      or is that to obvious?

Tried that early on - causes a segmentation fault for me on startup

ah true

I tried that as well, and while bfgminer does not fail for me, it will not connect to primecoind with the --no-getwork option.

Is it using getwork successfully to talk to primecoind?

well it appears to getwork but fails submissions, so no.  I also think Luke-jr confirmed that getwork wasn't working

I think there is a problem with blkmk_address_to_script function in libblkmaker/base58.c
I added case 23 and 83 (primecoin PUBKEY_ADDRESS and SCRIPT_ADDRESS), but after 4 hours I have got no blocks ...

I guess one of the issues we have is that it takes so damn long to find a block that testing changes is painfully slow.  I have a 32-core ec2 instance running but even that is taking several hours to find a block

I tried testing code on primecoin testnet, but I couldn't connect to any testnet nodes.

Based on the above quote from Sunny King, it seems that the client simply has no API support for miners at all at the moment.

I think that needs to be done first before any miner program, BFGMiner or otherwise, can mine Primecoins...  Or am I missing something here?

Not quite sure.

I know getwork gives no valuable information:



Blocktemplate also appears to be missing some key information:



So it appears that either of the interfaces is missing the prime information.

well whoever figures this out gets a 2.5BTC bounty + I'm going to throw in some BTC as well if the improvement is indeed 10x

We maybe going at this from the wrong angle.

Luke Jr claims that BfgMiner has a 10-20x mining performance improvement over primecoind. If that is really true, it seems like most of the performance improvement should be in the prime implementation since both programs use CPU mining.

It should be feasible to take the prime implementation from BfgMiner and incorporate that into primecoind to get a similar performance improvement out of primecoind and avoid the getwork/gbt issue altogether...

Trouble with that is pools are going tobe needed sooner or later

any news on the bfgminer?

I ported Chemisist's optimizations, and fixed a nasty bug making it do the same work over and over.
Working very well on unmodified primecoind testnet-in-a-box now.

check here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=255358.0
also i found several blocks on testnet so it works ;)

very awesome - I have this running on my systems now - will let folks know asap if this works ;)