running mprime on a computer I do not own

2004-05-06, 06:11

Is it OK to run mprime on a computer that I have a user account on, like one at my school, even though I do not have root access? I read somewhere that you need full adminstrative rights to use a computer for GIMPS, but I was just wondering if this qualifies. After all, you technically have full administrative rights over your home directory, right? And since the client does not adversely affect performance, shouldn't it be ok? It is nearing the end of the semester, so I won't be able to do anything for now, but next fall I will work towards convincing my school's IT department to use the computers in the school's computer labs for a DC project, hopefully GIMPS.

ET_ · 2004-05-06, 06:31

You should receive written permission of installing GIMPS on a computer you do not own.

Should you find a Mersenne Prime, you could run into troubles determining the owner of the discovery.

Mind also that one of the former GIMPSters had been nearly fired out for using a office computer for personal work...

Luigi

cheesehead · 2004-05-06, 06:35

You must get permission from the owner.

There could be minor side effects, even if not normally noticeable. Furthermore, if your system's administrators notice something running that looks odd and they don't know about, it could mean trouble ... for you. We had a case where a GIMPS participant who installed Prime95 without getting the owner's permission was arrested by the FBI and had his entire home system confiscated for a few years. (See http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=1366 ) Some folks are really touchy about stuff like that -- don't take a chance on getting into trouble.

Besides, if you sneak mprime in without permission now, it could kill any chance of getting your school IT department's approval next fall. Please don't ruin a possible big opportunity!

Uncwilly · 2004-05-06, 06:53

Instead, you could run a non installing program that *only* runs in the background *while* you are on the machine and does not cause problems in regards to "discoverer" of a prime.

For example:
You could use ET_'s factoring program and help look for potentional factors with the LMH folks.
or
You could run Dario Alpern's ECM applet to run curves on various or specific numbers.

I think that both of these would be OK with -*almost*- any IT folks.

Again, check first.

But they are considerably better than installing and letting mprime run on a machine when you are not there.

2004-05-06, 15:54

thank you for the replies, I will make sure I do not do anything to get myself into trouble.

2004-05-06, 06:11	#1
happyraul 1001001010000₂ Posts	running mprime on a computer I do not own Is it OK to run mprime on a computer that I have a user account on, like one at my school, even though I do not have root access? I read somewhere that you need full adminstrative rights to use a computer for GIMPS, but I was just wondering if this qualifies. After all, you technically have full administrative rights over your home directory, right? And since the client does not adversely affect performance, shouldn't it be ok? It is nearing the end of the semester, so I won't be able to do anything for now, but next fall I will work towards convincing my school's IT department to use the computers in the school's computer labs for a DC project, hopefully GIMPS.

2004-05-06, 06:35	#3
cheesehead "Richard B. Woods" Aug 2002 Wisconsin USA 2²·3·641 Posts	You must get permission from the owner. There could be minor side effects, even if not normally noticeable. Furthermore, if your system's administrators notice something running that looks odd and they don't know about, it could mean trouble ... for you. We had a case where a GIMPS participant who installed Prime95 without getting the owner's permission was arrested by the FBI and had his entire home system confiscated for a few years. (See http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=1366 ) Some folks are really touchy about stuff like that -- don't take a chance on getting into trouble. Besides, if you sneak mprime in without permission now, it could kill any chance of getting your school IT department's approval next fall. Please don't ruin a possible big opportunity! Last fiddled with by cheesehead on 2004-05-06 at 06:46

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2004-05-06, 06:31	#2
ET_ Banned "Luigi" Aug 2002 Team Italia 3×1,619 Posts	You should receive written permission of installing GIMPS on a computer you do not own. Should you find a Mersenne Prime, you could run into troubles determining the owner of the discovery. Mind also that one of the former GIMPSters had been nearly fired out for using a office computer for personal work... Luigi

2004-05-06, 06:53	#4
Uncwilly 6809 > 6502 """"""""""""""""""" Aug 2003 101×103 Posts 5·7·311 Posts	Instead, you could run a non installing program that only runs in the background while you are on the machine and does not cause problems in regards to "discoverer" of a prime. For example: You could use ET_'s factoring program and help look for potentional factors with the LMH folks. or You could run Dario Alpern's ECM applet to run curves on various or specific numbers. I think that both of these would be OK with -almost- any IT folks. Again, check first. But they are considerably better than installing and letting mprime run on a machine when you are not there.

2004-05-06, 15:54	#5
happyraul 3×67 Posts	thank you for the replies, I will make sure I do not do anything to get myself into trouble.