Sample of the client configuration window. This window is the same, regardless of what platform you're running the client on. If you're running the client on MacOSX, you may drag 'dnetc' to a new terminal window to launch it. To perform various operations with the client, space twice then type --config, --benchmark, --fetch, --flush, --update where applicable. Below is what you have to do in order to get up and running
1. Download the appropriate client for your cpu/os. These can be found at http://www.distributed.net/clients.html.

2. Open the client. You'll notice that the client has a CLI < command-line interface>. One of the advantages to having this kind of setup compared to a GUI is that client setup regardless of OS is relatively the same.

3. Type 1 for General Client Options and press return. Type 1 followed by return to enter an e-mail address. You can choose to run your client under macguy@optonline.net (my e-mail address) or your own. If you choose to do it yourself, you'll have to wait until your e-mail shows up on the stats (After you've flushed 1 work unit and the stats have updated [usually by early morning Eastern Standard Time) and then join the team (we'll get to that later).

4. Type 2 and press return for Buffer and Buffer Update Options. Type 4 followed by the return key. Create a checkpoint file called checkpoint.txt or something like that. Checkpoint files save you from losing work in the event of a crash.

5. While still in buffer options, you'll probably want to do two things. One is changing the size of the packets your computer works on (2^29=2 2^28 work units, 2^30=4 28 work units, 2^32=16,2^33=32). The larger the packet size, the longer your computer takes to test the keys to see if they can crack the encryption. For example, a 2^33 unit will take 32 times longer to test than a 2^28 packet (the default), but the number of work units will also be 32 times larger. The point is to decrease the amount of load placed on distributed.net's infrastructure, while still be credited for the same amount of work.

The second is changing the number of work units your computer gets. If you find that your computer just flies through work units, even after you've adjusted the previous setting (please note that client works on a FIFO setup (First-In-First-Out), so changes to the packet sizes setting may not be noticable until after you've changed the client's settings. Go to client config. Type 2, press return. Type 13, press return. If you've got a fast cpu, say a g4, make rc5=4000 or so (assuming you decide to do ogr-25, keep the default amount). This should

6. Next, we'll be creating a log file. A log file lets you keep track of how many work units your computer has checked, at what rate, etc.

7. Once your e-mail address has shown up via a search on the stats, click request a password.
8. Go to Team RealMac's stats page, click on I want to join this team and enter in your user id [e-mail address] and password.