Join us to crack the 64 bit encryption key
in the Project Bovine challenge.

RC5-64:     Project Bovine

What is Distributed.Net?

As a "loosely knit" group of computer users from all over the world, they take up challenges which require a lot of computing power. They solve these by distributing the cpu power needed over the computers of the members. That's why they are called "distributed.net".

How can you participate?

It's very simple to participate in the challenges. You only need to download a small client program which contacts the servers and will process part of the current challenge. They only use the computer's idle time, so when you want to use your computer, the client will automatically use less processor time until you stop working on your computer again.

What's in it for you?

There are several reasons why we should join. First of all, the main goal is to explore the possibilities of distributed computing. Together we can learn more about this exciting new form of computing. Second, if we solve the RSA Challenges. There's $1000 or $2000 for you if your computer is the one that finds the right key! Third, we will have some nifty statistics. The more keys we process, the higher we will be ranked. And of course we want to stay above Window's Teams, right? ;)

Getting Start

To download your client, click the Moo. It will select the best client software for your computer.

Start the Client, configure it with your email address (read client manual).

Fetch your first blocks, if you have entered your email, you will get the number of blocks entered in the preferences.

After 24 hours, you will be listed in the distributed.net statistics and rankings.

Go to http://rc5stats.distributed.net/rc5-64/ and enter your email address (as it is typed in the client) in the participant Stats Form.

In order to transfer your keys You need a password. Distributed.net will send you your password via email if you click the link at the bottom of your single user Stats page.

Team Name: "ResExcellence!" Team Number: "13316"

After receiving your password, go to Teamstats for ResExcellence! and "Join a team" and transfer all recent and all forthcoming keys to ResExcellence!

The Teamstats are available by entering the Team Name "ResExcellence!" into the Teamstats Form.

All the Team Members will be listed with their Stats and the overall ranking of the Team.

There have been several questions asked about ResExcellence and the RC5-64 Challenge. The program you use to check the keys to crack the code uses about 500k of RAM. You do not need to always bne connected to the internet. What I do is change the default number of blocks buffered from 10 to 50. While I update everyday, the extra blocks give me some breathing room if I forget a day. At work, I have a Linux box that runs 24/7 its buffer is set to 99. This gets it through the weekend and I can upload the finished blocks on Monday.

While I do quit the client when playing Quake3 (which rocks), generally, it's always running hidden in the background. While the key rate drops, i don't feel the load on my computer.

Why have a team ResExcecellence!, why not though in with the Evangelist? Because then it wouldn't be team ResExcellence! ;)

In the stats box on the side of this page, I post daily updates on the team's position in the rankings. While we just broke the 4000, we're climbing more than 100 rankings per day. As we get closer to the top, it will get much harder, but given an infinite amount of time, we will win! (and a monkey will write a great novel.)

So if you haven't already, download and configure the client software, and join the team! You may win a $1000 for yourself, and help donate $1000 to a charity to find a cure for Epilepsy.