Bitcoin Forum

Hi,

I have a large number of pcs at my disposal that I can use for mining on an evening, but can't touch the HDDs, so I've rolled a custom ubuntu 10.10 ISO with jkzaliks CPU miner and the python openCL GPU miner ready to run.

I PXE boot it but it burns to cd or dvd or usb fine too. If anyone is interested ill upload the ISO somewhere to share.

Andy

I'd be interested.

I'm about to head to bed but ill upload it first thing and post the link in this thread.

What about other software on it, like ATI Stream SDK and fglrx?

Sounds great, I just got two HD 5970's today in the mail, but I'm having problems getting the OpenCL Libraries to work properly.

Sounds fantastic. 

I'll try it.

Hey,

Right, here is a version of the live ISO ive been using for mining.

http://emphony.com/UbuntuLiveMiner.iso

The actual version i use has an entry in /etc/rc.local which automatically kicks off the python GPU miner and minerd in a screen session, but this has had to be removed as it had my Deepbit account credentials in the parameters. So you will have to kick off these processes manually. An SSH Daemon will start on boot so you can do this remotely if desired.

root password = bcroot1

Python GPU miner and some other bits are in /mining

cpu miner is at /usr/bin/minerd

As root (or sudo) you can

Tested fine with on a few systems Nvidia cards - and also on some PCs with no GPU (just cpu mining)

I dont have any ATI hardware, so im not sure if the stock drivers are any good for gpu mining. If not and someone can give me an idea of what extra needs installing i will happily integrate the ATI drivers and any other software for them to test.

Any issues/requests/etc just let me know.

Andy

If anyone finds it useful feel free to donate to: 13Lyi1Z5JkGdRg2S4Y5o2BVfZFFRmcx6Zm

No they're not. This will not work with GPU mining. Look around for all the other threads on how to install the drivers/sdk for ATI hardware.

Things you have to integrate to make it work with ATI:

ATI Stream SDK
There are few versions, for both 32 bit and 64 bit systems. The needed ones are v2.1 and v2.2. For me, the 2.1 didn't work, but for many it does (and does it even faster).
Link: http://developer.amd.com/gpu/AMDAPPSDK/downloads/pages/AMDAPPSDKDownloadArchive.aspx
Unpack to: /opt

ICD registration files
Just two files that are needed for OpenCL to work.
Link: http://developer.amd.com/Downloads/icd-registration.tgz
Unpack to: / (creates a directory in /etc)

ATI proprietary graphics driver
The fglrx driver is needed for OpenCL to work. For it to be activated, a Xorg.conf must be generated by aticonfig utility that ships with the driver.
How to install:

Exported variabled
For OpenCL programs to know where the SDK is, an environment variable must be set. Preferably it should be set in .profile or .bashrc files. Note that the path is dependant on which SDK is in use and which platform you are. There should be an easy way to pick the desired SDK.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Thanks for the info, ill get that integrated and post a new ISO for someone with an ATI GPU to test.

Andy

Post the .iso and I'll test it...

fibble if I can get it to work on my setup (2xati 5970) I'll def drop you some coin!

Thanks!

Still interested. ;)

Hey,

work on the ISO lost the battle with my 3.5yr old for my attention this weekend!

I will have time tonight and tomorrow to integrate the ATI stuff, and should have a 5870 arriving on tuesday to test it and improve things myself.

Andy

Andy,

What kind of man are you spending time with your family [/end sarcasm]

Hope you and the little one had fun!

Post it when you can and I am happy to test it.

Cheers!

Will there be anyway to install it directly to a hard drive?

I don't recommend using Ubuntu for many GPUs at all. I've been using Ubuntu, but had troubles with third card in my setup. Reinstall to Squeeze helped.

As there are many users reporting troubles with Ubuntu & GPUs, I think there is something broken inside.

Edit: I found the trouble: don't use 32bit Ubuntu (or whatever else 32bit distro)! ATI drivers allocate 256 MB of virtual memory for every core, so setup with 8 cores ate whole 32bit memory space. 64bit installation should work fine (I didn't tested it yet). Thanks ArtForz for investigation.

I am a longtime Gentoo man myself (home server mostly)...

I had same problem with 3-rd gpu (5970 + 5870 or 3x5870 don't work). I used integrated video on mobo as primary:)

or i misundertsand something about "ubuntu+gpu" problem?

I'm gentoo fan, but I have working machine with 2x5970 + 5870 running from modified ubuntu liveusb (without hdd), 32 bit, with 1GB RAM. So not sure about that theory. (btw, 8x256M=2GB, so by runnig out of 32bit mem you mean system is using more than 1.5GB?)

Simple math gives me that 5 < 8. So yes, 32bit system works for you. But 4x5970 does not work. Trust me :).

Mentioned ubuntu box wouldn't be connected to your pool most of the time if I wouldn't.

I used hd5970,  hd5870 and hd5850. Before installation of Catalyst 10.11 it work, but after  gnome doesn't start.
I switched onboard gpu as primary. But what should I do on mobo without gpu?
just use 64bit ubuntu? there is another prolem?

Seems we never got an ATI .iso?

Does this live CD point to deepbit by default?

deepbit was recently close to the 50% mark, and pointing at deepbit by default (a) disadvantages other pools, and (b) exacerbates the 50% problem.

Testing it out now.. if it works out for me i'll toss some cents your way.