April 2024 update

Marks Rpi Cluster has been running 24/7 for the last couple of weeks. Its mainly doing Einstein BRP4 work with the occasional Asteroids work unit thrown in when it can't get anything from Einstein.

BitScope haven't replied to my last couple of emails and attempts to call them let to a message saying their voicemail box was full, which has now progressed to "the phone number you are calling is not connected" message. It doesn't appear I will be able to get the EC12's updated to Pi5's.

There is a BOINC version 8 released but Debian don't seem to have picked it up yet, the latest Debian version is 7.24 and that in the testing release. I'm not sure what the changes are between 7 and 8.

2nd of March

The cluster is currently off, but as the weather cools down a bit it will start running sporadically.

I managed to get a single Pi5 (4GB model) which I was going to use for Chia storage, but am now thinking I might use it as a support node for the cluster. The supplier would only let me buy one and I have to wait 28 days before I can order another which is rather frustrating.

I had an order to get updated Edge Cluster 12's with Pi5's but have heard nothing since last year. Time to chase up BitScope to see if they have an ETA. Given the other suppliers limiting orders I would expect they are waiting on stock like every one else.

Progress as of 30th of December 2023

This is where Marks Rpi Cluster is as of the 30th of December for Einstein@home. Total credit is 27,714,004 and recent average is a measly 4,632 credits.

As you can see I have restarted the cluster a number of times only to have to power it down again when it gets too hot.

 

Cluster make up
As of the 30th of December the cluster is made up of:

3 x Pi4 (2GB) as support nodes
24 x Pi4 (8GB) as compute nodes

I have ordered Pi5's but am still waiting on my supplier. They thought they would be available in December 2023 but clearly that was wrong.

10th of December

Marks Rpi Cluster is running overnight due to summer heat. It had a 3 week break while I went on a cruise, but now I am back we are running when the temperatures drop.

ext4 file corruption
Debian discovered the kernel they are pushing out in their 12.3 point release (kernel 6.1.64) has an ext4 file system corruption bug. It was fixed in the 6.1.66 kernel but Debian haven't updated to it yet. How does this effect the Raspberry Pi I hear you ask, well they are on the 6.1.63 kernel as I write this, which presumably has the bug but the Raspberry Pi foundation apply additional patches to their kernel so it may not be an issue. The bug effects older kernels (5.10 and 5.15) as well.

Pi5
No news yet on when I can expect to receive Pi5's for the cluster. I was told December 2023 however most Australian websites where you can order them are suggesting no new stock until February 2024.

Some users on the einstein@home forums have Pi5's and have been running benchmarks for the various BOINC projects. Asteroids@home and Universe@home both had good improvements but the einstein@home BRP4 app hardly improved suggesting their app is inefficient.