Architecture

This section provides a quick review of the F@H software architecture.

Folding@home software architecture overview

These are the main software components:

  • The client which users install on their home computers communicates with the AS and WS.

  • The Assignment Server or AS which assigns clients IDs and assigns clients to WS.

  • The Work Servers or WS which assign clients a Work Unit or WU.

  • The Collection Servers or CS which act as alternative upload sites for clients in case the WS is no longer reachable. The CS uses the same software as the WS and will forward WU results to the WS when it comes back online.

  • The simulation cores which clients download based on the requirements specified in a WU.

  • The stats system which communicates with WS and CS to keep track of points earned by users and teams as well as other interesting statistics of the F@H system.

  • Web Services provide some additional functionality such as the project description editor, GPUs.txt editor, team and user management and public stats.