Locking or Hiding BOINC on public access machines.

ditchhook
ditchhook
Joined: 18 Jan 05
Posts: 4
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Topic 187439

Hi,

I getting ready to deploy about 11 new PCs for student use in my department. I'm concerned that mischievous users will detach projects, attach to their own projects, disable network access, or just exit the software if they have the access the standard install provides.

Is there a way to lock down BOINC, or at least hide the BOINC icon on the taskbar?

Ingleside
Ingleside
Joined: 23 Jan 05
Posts: 33
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Locking or Hiding BOINC on public access machines.

> Hi,
>
> I getting ready to deploy about 11 new PCs for student use in my department.
> I'm concerned that mischievous users will detach projects, attach to their own
> projects, disable network access, or just exit the software if they have the
> access the standard install provides.
>
> Is there a way to lock down BOINC, or at least hide the BOINC icon on the
> taskbar?
>

If you looks in the boinc-folder, you'll see boinc_cli.exe, this is the command-line-client, and this can be installed as service if running NT. :)
To install as service, open up a cmd-prompt, navigate to the boinc-folder, and type (after stopping the gui:
boinc_cli -install

If XP or later, you must likely also needs to change the service to run as "localsystem".
Start the service.
Oh, and make sure to remove any shortcuts to the gui from any startup-folders. ;)

"I make so many mistakes. But then just think of all the mistakes I don't make, although I might."

John McLeod VII
John McLeod VII
Moderator
Joined: 10 Nov 04
Posts: 547
Credit: 632255
RAC: 0

> Hi, > > I getting ready to

> Hi,
>
> I getting ready to deploy about 11 new PCs for student use in my department.
> I'm concerned that mischievous users will detach projects, attach to their own
> projects, disable network access, or just exit the software if they have the
> access the standard install provides.
>
> Is there a way to lock down BOINC, or at least hide the BOINC icon on the
> taskbar?
>
This is a bit easier with 4.64 than it is with earlier. WIth 4.64, install as a service (you will have to enter a username and password which you will change to system through the control panel later). Uncheck the selection to run at startup. Remove all rights for all users (except administrator) to the boinc directory. Set the service to log in as the system (see the earlier post) and allow interaction with the desktop.

It is now up to you whether to have the screen saver show BOINC or not. One warning is that the 3D screen savers use a great deal of processor time, and run at a higher priority than the BOINC projects, so you do not want to choose one of those.

Now you will have a BOINC installation that is locked down, and has the icon on the taskbar gone.

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