README.txt

** Preface for mfakto 0.16-beta.2 **

This is a developmental version of mfakto. It has been verified to produce
correct results. However, performance has not been optimized and there may be
bugs and incomplete features. Please help improve mfakto by doing tests,
providing feedback and reporting issues. Of course, code contributions are
always welcome too.

You can get support via the following means:

- the official thread at the GIMPS forum:
  https://mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=15646
- opening a ticket on GitHub: https://github.com/primesearch/mfakto/issues

#################
# mfakto README #
#################

Contents

0      What is mfakto?
1      Compilation
1.1    Linux
1.2.1  Windows: MSVC
1.2.2  Windows: MinGW
1.3    macOS
2      Running mfakto
2.1    Supported GPUs
2.2    Linux
2.3    Windows
2.4    macOS
3      Getting work and reporting results
4      Known issues
4.1    Non-issues
5      Tuning
6      FAQ
7      Plans


#####################
# 0 What is mfakto? #
#####################

mfakto is an OpenCL port of mfaktc that aims to have the same features and
functions. mfaktc is a program that trial factors Mersenne numbers. It stands
for "Mersenne faktorisation* with CUDA" and was written for Nvidia GPUs. Both
programs are used primarily in the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search.

Primality tests are computationally intensive, but we can save time by finding
small factors. GPUs are very efficient at this task due to their parallel
nature. Only one factor is needed to prove a number composite.

mfakto uses a modified Sieve of Eratosthenes to generate a list of possible
factors for a given Mersenne number. It then uses modular exponentiation to
test these factors. Although this step is only done on the GPU in practice,
mfakto can perform both steps on either the CPU or GPU. You can find more
details at the GIMPS website:
https://mersenne.org/various/math.php#trial_factoring

* portmanteau of the English word "factorisation" and the German word
"Faktorisierung"

#################
# 1 Compilation #
#################

General requirements:
- C and C++ development tools
- an OpenCL SDK

#############
# 1.1 Linux #
#############

Requires:
- ROCm

Steps:
- install ROCm
- navigate to the mfakto folder
- cd src
- verify that the AMD_APP_DIR variable in the makefile points to the ROCm
  directory
- make
- mfakto should compile without errors in its root folder

#######################
# 1.2.1 Windows: MSVC #
#######################

Requires:
- Microsoft Visual Studio
- an OpenCL SDK

Steps:
- download and install the OpenCL SDK from AMD:
  https://github.com/GPUOpen-LibrariesAndSDKs/OCL-SDK/releases
- open mfaktoVS12.sln in Visual Studio. You can use any recent version as
  Visual Studio will automatically update your project settings. If the option
  does not appear, right-click the solution and select "Retarget solution" from
  the menu.
- open the project properties and select the configuration and platform
- go to C/C++ > General > Additional Include Directories and ensure it contains
  the path to the OpenCL headers:

      $(OCL_ROOT)\include

- now go to Linker > General > Additional Library Directories and ensure it
  contains the correct paths:

      32 bits: $(OCL_ROOT)\lib\x86
      64 bits: $(OCL_ROOT)\lib\x86_64

- select Build > Build Solution to compile mfakto

Additional notes:
- As an alternative, you can use the OpenCL SDK from the Khronos Group instead:
  https://github.com/KhronosGroup/OpenCL-SDK/releases
- Please note the AMD installer automatically sets the OCL_ROOT environment
  variable. Developers using a different SDK will have to manually configure
  the library and include paths in the project properties.
- You may have to relaunch Visual Studio before it recognizes changes to
  environment variables.

########################
# 1.2.2 Windows: MinGW #
########################

Requires:
- MinGW (64-bit)
- an OpenCL SDK
- optional: MSYS2

Initial steps:
- download and install a 64-bit MinGW compiler. Our recommendation is to use
  MinGW-w64 as it is actively maintained: http://mingw-w64.org
- download and install the OpenCL SDK from AMD:
  https://github.com/GPUOpen-LibrariesAndSDKs/OCL-SDK/releases
- add the "bin" folder in the MinGW directory to your system Path variable
- verify that the AMD_APP_DIR variable in the makefile points to the SDK
  directory (see note)

MinGW can be optionally used with MSYS2 to compile mfakto:
- install MSYS2 using the instructions at the home page: https://www.msys2.org
- launch the MSYS2 shell and install the required packages:

      pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-gcc make

- start the 32-bit or 64-bit MinGW shell and navigate to the mfakto folder
- cd src
- make (cross your fingers)

Otherwise:
- navigate to the mfakto folder
- cd src
- mingw32-make

Additional notes:
- You may see some warnings, but they are safe to ignore.
- make does not support spaces in file names. If the path to the OpenCL SDK
  contains spaces, then you will need to either create a symbolic link or copy
  the files to another folder.
- mfakto may not compile with Win-builds. It is recommended to use the native
  Windows package instead: https://sourceforge.net/projects/mingw-w64/files
- To compile mfakto for both 32 and 64 bits, you will need to install MinGW-w64
  for both the i686 and x86_64 architectures.
- mfakto may give an "entry point not found" error on startup. Running make
  with the "static=yes" flag should prevent this.

#############
# 1.3 macOS #
#############

Requires:
- Command Line Tools

Steps:
- cd src
- make -f Makefile.macOS
- mfakto should compile out of the box as macOS contains a native OpenCL
  implementation

####################
# 2 Running mfakto #
####################

General requirements:
- the latest drivers for the target device
  - AMD drivers:
    https://amd.com/en/support/download/drivers.html
  - OpenCL runtime for Intel CPUs:
    https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/articles/technical/intel-cpu-runtime-for-opencl-applications-with-sycl-support.html

macOS users do not need any additional software as an OpenCL implementation is
included with the system.

Open a terminal window and run 'mfakto -h' for possible parameters. You may
also want to check mfakto.ini for additional settings. mfakto typically fetches
work from worktodo.txt as specified in the INI file. See section 3 on how to
obtain assignments and report results.

A typical worktodo.txt file looks like this:
  -- begin example --
  Factor=[assignment ID],66362159,64,68
  Factor=[assignment ID],3321932899,76,77
  -- end example --

You can launch mfakto after getting assignments. In this case, mfakto should
trial factor M66362159 from 64 to 68 bits, followed by M3321932899 from 76 to
77 bits.

mfakto has a built-in self-test that automatically optimizes parameters. Please
run 'mfakto -st' each time you:
- Recompile the code
- Download a new binary from somewhere
- Change the graphics driver
- Change your hardware

######################
# 2.1 Supported GPUs #
######################

AMD:
- all devices that support OpenCL 1.1 or later
- all APUs
- OpenCL 1.0 devices, such as the FireStream 9250 / 9270 and Radeon HD 4000
  series, can run mfakto but do not support atomic operations*
- not supported: FireStream 9170 and Radeon HD 2000 / 3000 series (as kernel
  compilation fails)

Other devices:
- Intel HD Graphics 4000 and later
- OpenCL-enabled CPUs via the '-d c' option
- Nvidia devices

* without atomics, mfakto may not correctly detect multiple factors found in
the same class. It may report only one factor or even an incorrect one (due to
mixed data from multiple factors). PrimeNet checks each factor and rejects
those that do not divide a Mersenne number. If this happens, run the exponent
and bit level again on a different device, or on the CPU using Prime95.
Lowering GridSize in mfakto.ini can reduce the chance of error.

#############
# 2.2 Linux #
#############

- build mfakto using the above instructions
- run mfakto

###############
# 2.3 Windows #
###############

OS-specific requirements:
- Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable:
  https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist

Steps:
- build mfakto using the above instructions or download a stable version. Only
  the 64-bit binary is currently distributed.
- go to the mfakto folder and launch the executable
- mfakto defaults to the first OpenCL-supported GPU it finds. Use the -d option
  to run mfakto on a specific device.

#############
# 2.4 macOS #
#############

- build mfakto using the above instructions
- mfakto should run without any additional software

########################################
# 3 Getting work and reporting results #
########################################

You must have a PrimeNet account to participate. Simply go to the GIMPS website
at https://mersenne.org and click "Register" to create one. Once you've signed
up, you can get assignments in several ways.

Using the AutoPrimeNet application:
    AutoPrimeNet allows clients that do not natively support PrimeNet to obtain
    work and submit results. It is recommended to use this tool when possible.
    See the AutoPrimeNet download page for instructions:
    https://download.mersenne.ca/AutoPrimeNet

From the GIMPS website:
    Step 1) log in to the GIMPS website with your username and password
    Step 2) on the menu bar, select Manual Testing > Assignments
    Step 3) open the link to the manual GPU assignment request form
    Step 4) enter the number of assignments or GHz-days you want
    Step 5) click "Get Assignments"

    Users with older GPUs may want to use the regular form.

Using the GPU to 72 website:
    GPU to 72 "subcontracts" assignments from the PrimeNet server, and was
    previously the only means to obtain work at high bit levels. GIMPS now has a
    manual GPU assignment form that serves this purpose, but GPU to 72 remains
    a popular option.

    Please note results should be submitted to PrimeNet and not the GPU to 72
    website.

    GPU to 72 can be accessed here: https://gpu72.com

Using the MISFIT application:
    MISFIT is a Windows tool that automatically requests assignments and
    submits results. You can get it here: https://mersenneforum.org/misfit

From mersenne.ca:
    James Heinrich's website mersenne.ca offers assignments for exponents up
    to 32 bits. You can get such work here: https://mersenne.ca/tf1G

    Be aware mfakto currently does not support exponents below 100,000.

A note on extending assignments:
    Because modern GPUs are much more efficient than CPUs, they are often used
    to search for factors beyond traditional Prime95 limits:
    https://mersenne.org/various/math.php

    Users have historically edited worktodo.txt to manually extend assignments,
    but this is no longer necessary as both the manual GPU assignment form and
    GPU to 72 allow higher bit levels to be requested. However, the PrimeNet
    server still accepts results whose bit levels are higher than assigned.

    Please do not manually extend assignments from GPU to 72 as users are
    requested not to "trial factor past the level you've pledged."

---

    Once you have your assignments, create an empty file called worktodo.txt
    and copy all the "Factor=..." lines into that file. Start mfakto, sit back
    and let it do its job. Running mfakto is also a great way to stress test
    your GPU. ;-)

---

Submitting results:
    It is important to submit the results once you're done. Do not report
    partial results as PrimeNet may reassign the exponent to someone else in
    the meantime; this can lead to duplicate work and wasted cycles.

    AutoPrimeNet automatically submits results in addition to obtaining
    assignments. For computers without Internet access, you can manually submit
    the results instead:

    Step 1) log in to the GIMPS website with your username and password
    Step 2) on the menu bar, select Manual Testing > Results
    Step 3) upload the results.json.txt file produced by mfakto. You may
            archive or delete the file after it has been processed.

    To prevent abuse, admin approval is required for manual submissions. You
    can request approval by contacting George Woltman at woltman@alum.mit.edu
    or posting on the GIMPS forum:
    https://mersenneforum.org/forumdisplay.php?f=38

    Important note: the results.txt file is deprecated and will no longer be
    accepted from 2025 onwards.

##################
# 4 Known issues #
##################

- On some devices, such as the Radeon HD 7700 - 7900 series, mfakto may be very
  slow at full GPU load due to fewer registers being available to the kernels.
  It will warn about this during startup.
  Set VectorSize=2 in mfakto.ini and restart mfakto to resolve this.

- The user interface has not been extensively tested against invalid inputs.
  Although there are some checks, they are not foolproof by any means.

- Your GUI may lag while running mfakto. On some Windows systems, the OS may
  restart the driver or even throw a BSoD in severe cases.
  Try lowering GridSize or NumStreams in your mfakto.ini file. Smaller grids
  should have better responsiveness at a slight performance loss. Another
  option for Windows users is to increase the GPU processing time:
  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2665946

- SievePrimesAdjust is not always optimal. Experiment to find the best
  SievePrimes value and set SievePrimesAdjust=0 in your mfakto.ini file.

- GPU is not found, fallback to CPU
  This happens on Linux when there is no X server. It can also happen on
  Windows when the GPU is not the primary display adapter. Try running mfakto
  on the main display rather than remotely. If that fails, then your graphics
  driver may be too old. It's also possible that the first device is not an
  AMD GPU. In this case, use the -d switch to specify a different device
  number. You can run 'clinfo' to get a list of devices.

- on devices that do not support atomic operations, mfakto may give incorrect
  results when multiple factors are found in the same class. See the above
  "Supported GPUs" section for details.

- self-tests can fail on Intel HD Graphics unless VectorSize is set to 1 in the
  INI file. On some macOS systems, the issue may persist regardless of the
  vector size. We have not determined the exact list of affected versions, but
  tests have shown that macOS Ventura does not have this issue.

- the '-d c' option fails for some CPUs; this is under investigation

- some have reported mfakto does not work on certain Nvidia hardware; this is
  also being investigated

##################
# 4.1 Non-issues #
##################

- mfakto runs slower on small ranges. Usually it doesn't make much sense to
  run mfakto with an upper limit below 64 bits. mfakto is designed to find
  factors between 64 and 92 bits, and is best suited for long-running jobs.

- mfakto can find factors outside the given range.
  This is because mfakto works on huge factor blocks, controlled by GridSize in
  the INI file. The default value GridSize=3 means mfakto runs up to 1048576
  factor candidates at once, per class. So the last block of each class is
  filled with factor candidates above the upper limit. This is a huge overhead
  for small ranges but can be safely ignored for larger ranges. For example,
  the average overhead is 0.5% for a class with 100 blocks but only 0.05% for
  one with 1000 blocks.

############
# 5 Tuning #
############

You can find additional settings in the mfakto.ini file. Read it carefully
before making changes. ;-)

#########
# 6 FAQ #
#########

Q: Does mfakto support multiple GPUs?
A: Currently no, but you can use the -d option to start an instance on a
   specific device. Please also see the next question.

Q: Can I run multiple instances of mfakto on the same computer?
A: Yes. In most cases, this is necessary to make full use of a GPU when sieving
   on the CPU. Otherwise, one instance should fully utilize a single GPU.

Q: What tasks should I assign to mfakto?
A: The 73-bit Barrett kernel is currently the fastest and works for factors
   between 60 to 73 bits. Selecting tasks for this kernel will give best
   results. However, the 79-bit Barrett kernel is quite fast too.

Q: I modified something in the kernel files, but my changes are not picked up
   by mfakto. How come?
A: mfakto tries to load the pre-compiled kernel files in version 0.14 and
   later. The INI file parameter UseBinfile defines the name of the file
   containing the pre-compiled kernels. You can force mfakto to recompile the
   kernels by deleting the file and restarting mfakto.

###########
# 7 Plans #
###########

- keep features/changes in sync with mfaktc
- performance improvements whenever I find them ;)
- documentation and comments in code
- full 95-bit implementation
- perftest modes for kernel speed.
- build a GCN-assembler-kernel