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They did it ! They are so smart they are really listening to us.
You know that the google toolbar is called the "NavClient".
Now, the Google toolbar look for a registry key called "DcClient".
I suspect that "DC" is for "Distributed Computing".
Have a look at the resouce in the Google Toolbar DLL
GoogleToolbar_en_1.1.53-deleon.dll you will find a "double helix" icon.
While searching for new button name I could add to my registry key buttonId I found this:
"DcTaskFoldingAtHome"
"DcTaskSimpleProtein"
"DcTaskPerfectNums"
"DcClientOnOrOff"
"DcClientMenu"
I think that I will not sleep tonight, I'm so excited :).
Added: [foldingathome.stanford.edu...]
[toolbar.google.com...]
Key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\NavClient\1.1\Options\
Add Binary Value "EnableDC" value "1".
I would like to enable the vertical PageRank display to save space, how can I do that ?
RJO
Inktomi is 98 so event with non-SE related things google is the best :).
Would like to know if google cares if we use this undocumented feature.
I have about 16 computers laying around...
Too bad most are 486s
In fact the process that crunch number is a separate process, the toolbar seems to be able to launch multiple distributed computing project. The toolbar act as a lightweight interface to some command line software. The number cruncher is started at PC startup time is independant.
Maybe in the future they will make their own DC project - like computing PageRank :)
Basically - one server (or group of servers) acting as one - assigns mini tasks of a bigger tasks to smaller more numerous computers.
This has been used to break codes. Imagine a code that has 100 billion possibilities. The main server assigns min tasks of lets say a thousand to each computer that joins up, you, me, roland, and thousands of other people. It will say "Hey chris - go try codes 1 - 1000". It than temporarily blocks off 1 - 1000 and then assigns 1001 - 2000 to roland. When I finish - my computer reports back - "hey I tried 1 - 1000 and it wasn't one of them".
Then the server blocks off that range forever - and assigns me 2001 - 3000. Assigns you 3001 - 4000 and so on. I am sure you can see how this can work.
The beauty of it is it can be set to work in the background - so YOU can still use your computer, but it uses power not in use. While I am typing this message for example - my computer is only using probably 1% of its power - the other 99% is used to power the DC application.
There have been several people that have discovered the World's largest prime number (and are in [or were in] the guiness book of world records) for using simple home computers (one was a 486/75 I believe).
Anyway - it is a cool idea - and their are many uses for it.
If that wasn't what was confusing - then sorry for wasting your time :)
Sheeeeesh! Resistance may be futile, but at least offer a token or two of independent thought.
Or, better yet, if you want to be assimilated, why do it half-assed? Put your machine in a box and ship it to Mountain View, with a note begging Google to add it to the Mighty Ten Thousand Servers.
That way I won't have to read all this "Google is God" stuff, because you won't have a machine to post it.
You are right, I was a little bit too excited about what I found last night I should not post after midnight :).
The problem with distributed computing is that we may even do bio-weapon research for the us army without knowing it ;).
Of course there is a risk when the power is only in the hands of a few and having a mega-powerfull google may become a problem because if they are the only search engine left in a few year we will have no choice and their integrity may be a vague souvenir ...
I know that their Distributed Computing system is not altruistic, it's all about branding off course.
Anyway I was very happy this week-end, I succeded in getting the google hash function out of the toolbar dll, this was a great puzzle, I learned a little bit of assembly language and aquired skills that may be valuable in the future.
Now I will continue to make my own toolbar, I will give Teoma and Wisenut a try.
It's good that you're looking beyond Google, because if you start using your own code to extract PageRank from Google, they may take revenge on you. Be sure you're using an ISP with very dynamic IP numbers, and be sure not to use it more than a few times a day. Big Brother is watching you.
jest because you are paranoid doesn't mean everyone isn't out to get you.
Just because I love Google, doesn't mean I can't be objective.
I picked on their dishonest graph located:
[google.com...]
I think this is cool - that's all.
Roland, I think your enthusiasm is great. I'm not so keen about poking around inside the toolbar, but I love that you're so interested in these issues. If we ever create a power beta test group, we'll have to put you in it--as long as you keep that disassembler away. :)
Personally, I think would be tres cool if Google offered an easy way for regular people to help with big problems like cancer, protein folding or, you know, aliens.
Personally, I think would be tres cool if Google offered an easy way for regular people to help with big problems like cancer, protein folding or, you know, aliens
I'd be very happy (as would many of my friends) if Google just persisited in offering an an easy way for "regular people" (including Google searchers) to find quality Web sites that do not have the resources to compete in deep pocket games with huge corporations.
You know I don't want to make harm. I'm only want to understand things better, not to abuse them.
For the moment I trust google but imagine that somebody buy google and use the great technology in a bad way I think that we should have people able to keep google in the right way.
Using a disassembler, playing with registry, packet sniffer, debugger is really a good thing, it make you learn how things work. In fact these are the tools and technique used to detect "scumware".
Knowing how things work make you trust them more.
F.
About this thread in general: please be patient for a little while longer. :)
Also with the current trend that almost all free website require subscription, I think that Google may one day require the use of the toolbar to pay by giving back a little percentage of your computing power. Imagine getting a "500 : Forbiden" error message if you are browsing without a Google Toolbar that would compute PageRank or the new "Topic PageRank" ?
Note: I'm sorry that my message are about the goods vs the bads, when I read what I say a second time I think I sound like a five year old kid but please remember that english is not my main language. Next time I post here I may try the google translation tool so if there is some problem it's not my fault ;).
(edited by: ROLAND_F at 7:23 am (utc) on Feb. 27, 2002)
I still think that the 'people who clicked the smiley face for this page also clicked these...' feature would be nice.
Sounds like a large data depository would be needed for that, but according to some reports (in other places), Google seems to be tracking all of our searches and the pages we visit for some kind of international blackmail plot anyway. ;)
Calum
Has anyone had success with the "Report Stats" portion of the protein folding button?
I saw the toolbar running an extra process on my machine earlier, so it seems to be doing some work, but I can't identify that it's being sent in and processed properly.
Now I trust Google not to screw my machine. However, Google isn't writing the protein software--a bunch of college kids from Stanford are writing the software. What if one of them adds a routine that, besides computing protein folding, does a little malicious side work?
Info goes out over port 80, so no standard firewall setting will stop it.
If I ran a Fortune 500 company's computer network, I would be sending out a memo right now saying that if anyone installs this feature, they will be fired.
> In a world filled to the brim with injustice, you're worried
> about potential injustice from the one company that has
> dedicated itself to impartial search results, protecting user
> privacy, and general good livin'. When we peel back the nicks,
> will we find out that Everyman works for the RIAA? (Just joking
> with you Everyman--I'm glad that you're here to keep us all
> on our toes, and I'm glad for your perspective.)
GoogleGuy, you're no doubt a fine fellow, and we'd get along splendidly after some beers outside of earshot of Mountain View.
But based on the average age of the Googlers in Mountain View, my wild guess is that you were running around in diapers when the feds were prosecuting me for refusing to get drafted and fight in Vietnam.
The bottom line is this:
a) Google is collecting, absorbing, and indexing an incredible amount of information, at a level and efficiency that civilization has never seen before;
b) much of this is not publicly available (surfing history from cookie data, etc.);
c) even the stuff that is publicly searchable is made available at the pleasure of Google, Inc., and finally;
d) you don't control Google's future.
At least one software engineer at Google used to work for the National Security Agency and held a top-secret clearance, according to his resume (found using a Google search).
My job is to look beyond the cute colored letters on your home page and keep you all honest.
(edited by: NFFC at 8:46 pm (utc) on Feb. 27, 2002)
