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FAFNER: How Can I Help?
There are three ways you can join the factoring effort. We describe
them here in ascending order of commitment and complexity. See what
appeals to you.
1. Be an E-mail Factoring Client.
This is the simplest option. You register with this server,
Then our server will send you a single factoring problem by email, in
the form of a 5-line shell script that runs GNFS in the background and
mails the results back to us. Run it. When we get your results back,
we'll send you a new problem (if you're still registered).
Required Materials
To be an email client, you need email access --- no direct Internet access
is required. If your system doesn't have outgoing mail, or doesn't queue
outgoing mail while you're disconnected, you can delete that line from
the scripts we mail you, and ship the goods back by any means possible.
To participate, you'll be asked to download and configure the GNFS software.
That's it; we'll email you the rest. People running mail filtering
programs should NOT try to automate their end of the process --- unless you
are VERY sure of your ability to automatically discern GNFS task scripts
from other, potentially malicious, incoming scripts.
2. Be a GNFSD Factoring Client.
The second option is running your own GNFS Daemon. This involves
downloading, configuring, (and trusting) one more piece of software.
But it means that you don't have to process email factoring requests!
The GNFS Daemon runs in the background on your machine; it will talk
directly with this server to get factoring tasks, execute them, and
return the results. You shouldn't even notice, except for the precipitous
drop in system performance caused by GNFSD drinking all your cycles. You
can contact GNFSD at any point to tell it to quit factoring, or kill the
daemon altogether. This won't work well behind a firewall without
addressing some policy issues. Consult your system administrator.
Required Materials
To be a GNFSD client, you need direct, continuous, packet-level internet
access. You should also have access to a DNS nameserver and all the other
little things that make life worth living. To participate, you'll be asked
to download and configure the GNFS software, plus the GNFSD package.
3. Be a FAFNER Subserver Client.
The final (and most complex) way to be a client is to set up your own
FAFNER server (like this one). FAFNER servers don't actually perform
any sieving; instead, they provide tasks to their own local and remote
clients (email, GNFSD, or FAFNER subservers), and process the results of
those tasks as they return.
This option gives you maximum control as an adminstrator, but is trickier
to download, configure, and maintain. You should already be comfortable
with running a GNFS Daemon or two on your local machines --- that way,
you're prepared to assist the new users who will come knocking on your
virtual door, expecting support.
Required Materials
You can run FAFNER on any host, but you'd normally want one with direct
network access to potential clients (either on the Internet, or in a
private subnetwork). To participate, you'll be asked to download and
configure the FAFNER distribution.
Questions, comments to factor-help@cooperate.com.
Script last modified 8 Jun 109.