BOINC command line switches

When you start BOINC from the command line, you can give it the following switches as extra commands. Multiple commands in a row are possible.

--abort_jobs_on_exit

When the client exits, abort and report jobs.

--allow_remote_gui_rpc

Allow remote GUI RPC connections.

--allow_multiple_clients

Allow more than one instance of the client to run per host.

--attach_project <URL> <key>

Attach to a project using the project URL and the strong account key. This requires you have an account on the project already.

E.g. Boinc --attach_project http://setiathome.berkeley.edu 1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef

--check_all_logins

For idle detection, check remote logins too.

--daemon

Run as daemon (Unix). When installed as a service on Windows, starting Boinc will automatically start the service. It won't on Unix.

--detach

Detach from console (Windows). This closes the command line window that otherwise stays open when you start Boinc.

--detach_project <URL>

Detach from a project.

--dir <path>

Use given directory path as BOINC home directory.

--exit_after_app_start N

Exit N seconds after an application starts.

--exit_after_finish

Exit right after finishing a job.

--exit_before_start

Exit right before starting a job.

--exit_before_upload

Exit right before starting an upload.

--exit_when_idle

Exit when there are no tasks.

--fetch_minimal_work

Get only one task per CPU core or GPU.

--file_xfer_giveup_period N

Give up on file xfers after N sec.

--get_daily_xfer_history

Show network traffic history.

--gui_rpc_port <port>

Port for GUI RPCs. Default port is 31416.

--help

Show command line switch options.

--launched_by_manager

Client was launched by Manager.

--master_fetch_interval N

Limiting or increasing period of master retry.

--master_fetch_period N

Reload master URL after N RPC failures.

--master_fetch_retry_cap N

Exponential back-off limit.

--no_gui_rpc

Don't allow GUI RPC, don't make socket.

--no_gpus

Don't check for GPUs.

--no_info_fetch

Suppresses the fetch of project list and of current client version #. Use when running on grid nodes.

--no_priority_change

Run apps at same priority as client.

--pers_giveup N

Giveup time for persistent file xfer.

--pers_retry_delay_max N

Max for file xfer exponential backoff.

--pers_retry_delay_min N

Min for file xfer exponential backoff

--redirectio

Redirect stdout and stderr to log files. Else they'll output to the command window.

--reset_project <URL>

Reset (clear) a project.

--retry_cap N

Exponential backoff limit.

--run_cpu_benchmarks

Run the CPU benchmarks.

--run_by_updater

Set by updater.

--saver

Client was launched by screensaver.

--sched_retry_delay_max N

Max for RPC exponential backoff.

--sched_retry_delay_min N

Min for RPC exponential backoff.

--show_projects

Show attached projects.

--skip_cpu_benchmarks

Don't run CPU benchmarks.

--start_delay X

Delay starting apps for X secs.

--unsigned_apps_ok

Allow unsigned apps (for testing).

--update_prefs <URL>

Contact a project to update preferences.

--version

show version info.

Original writer	Original FAQ	Date
Jorden	502	20-11-2009