I'm currently having an issue with some 5.98 and Mini 1.32 tasks. The tasks are usually slated to complete in under 3 hours. They run merrily along and then when they hit about 9 minutes and 50 seconds left until completion, they virtually stop running.

Some of the recent models have been very large and do indeed take a long time. The behaviour you have noticed is normal. At least one model must be completed even if it exceeds your time limit. Once a model is completed the Boinc manager looks to see if it can complete another model within your three hours. If it can, it continues but if not, it uploads and starts another work unit.

Myself I have recently had models in the 5-7 hour range. Look carefully at the graphics and you will see the occasional movement.

This machine (PowerBook G4) seems to have trouble getting work. My other machine G4 iMac doesn't seem to have any trouble. This is message is typical:

[quote]
Mon Aug 25 09:50:39 2008|rosetta@home|Message from server: No work sent
Mon Aug 25 09:50:39 2008|rosetta@home|Message from server: (there was work for other platforms)

My old G3/900Mhz is also being snubbed in this manner, though my new iMac is having no employment problem. I've let it (the G3) sit, idle, for lengthy periods awaiting work. I did manage on occasion to force the issue by "resetting" the project and then doing an "update." Have I done any harm? This machine is always on, and I'm sure it would like be productive and have a purpose. Any advice would be appreciated.

My ppc Mac also gets this message occasionally. I believe the message appears when there are only minirosetta tasks available. Since no mini app was written for ppc macs we have to wait until more version 5.98 tasks are created. And since all the other computers that can run minirosetta can also run 5.98 (and are probably faster and asking for more work on each, possibly more frequent, connection) we are sometimes simply going to miss out.

I've got three practical suggestions, no resetting required:

If you still have work on board lengthen your preferred runtime. Make the change on the website, hit update in BOINC manager and the change will be applied to all the tasks on hand. If you do have a lot of tasks on hand make sure you keep the deadlines in mind when deciding how much to increase the runtime.

On the version of BOINC that I am running (5.10.45) the "work for other platforms" message results in a 24 hour backoff but there is no need to wait that long. Simply hitting update will result in another request for work. If there is still no work you will see another 24 hour backoff. I'm not suggesting you sit there hitting the update button all day, just that if you find yourself 6 or 12 hours into a backoff period, hitting update might prove fruitful.

Attach to second project. If Rosetta is your true love you can set your resource shares accordingly and the secondary project will kick in when requests to Rosetta can't be met. If you are interested in health related production projects check out the dengue drugs project on World Community Grid.

Hope this helps.

Snags