BOINC Version: 8.04 (no clue why the arch package is so old)

I have WUs from World Community Grid, Einstein@home, PrimeGrid and i think Milkyway@home had the same problem that fail with the following message
<core_client_version>8.0.4</core_client_version>
<![CDATA[
<message>
couldn't start app: Can't write init file: fopen() failed</message>
]]>
Example: https://einsteinathome.org/task/1822521380

I can't see why that happens. Permissions seem to be correct and it doesn't happen to all WUs. But when it happens it seems like there is always a whole batch failing at once.
Could the old Version be the problem? Installing BOINC manually looks a bit prone to errors too. Since there is no 'Arch' package, which one to choose? If even Debian and Ubuntu get different packages, it feels like having an arch based distro could be a problem.

Are there other things i should check besides permissions and storage space (60 GB free, about 7-10 free and usable for BOINC)?
I noticed that the BOINC service sometimes has trouble shuting down. I guessed that the big climateprediction WUs just take some time and increased the timeout from systemd from 10 to 30 seconds but i still had it killed at least once. A WD SN850X shouldn't be too slow with writing so i guess there is something else wrong.

Aug 18 03:44:14 FractalCruncher-CachyOS systemd[1]: Stopping Berkeley Open Infrastructure Network Computing Client...
Aug 18 03:44:14 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 18-Aug-2025 03:44:14 [---] Received signal 15
Aug 18 03:44:14 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 18-Aug-2025 03:44:14 [---] Exiting
Aug 18 03:44:44 FractalCruncher-CachyOS systemd[1]: boinc-client.service: State 'stop-sigterm' timed out. Killing.
Aug 18 03:44:44 FractalCruncher-CachyOS systemd[1]: boinc-client.service: Killing process 817 (boinc) with signal SIGKILL.
Aug 18 03:44:44 FractalCruncher-CachyOS systemd[1]: boinc-client.service: Killing process 22238 (hsgamma_FGRP5_1) with signal SIGKILL.
Aug 18 03:44:44 FractalCruncher-CachyOS systemd[1]: boinc-client.service: Killing process 22240 (hsgamma_FGRP5_1) with signal SIGKILL.
Aug 18 03:44:44 FractalCruncher-CachyOS systemd[1]: boinc-client.service: Main process exited, code=killed, status=9/KILL
Aug 18 03:44:44 FractalCruncher-CachyOS systemd[1]: boinc-client.service: Failed with result 'timeout'.
Aug 18 03:44:44 FractalCruncher-CachyOS systemd[1]: Stopped Berkeley Open Infrastructure Network Computing Client.
Aug 18 03:44:44 FractalCruncher-CachyOS systemd[1]: boinc-client.service: Consumed 2d 17h 24min 1.730s CPU time, 42.8G memory peak.

Doesn't give much hints why it takes so long.

BOINC startup log:

Aug 17 20:10:35 FractalCruncher-CachyOS systemd[1]: Started Berkeley Open Infrastructure Network Computing Client.
Aug 17 20:10:42 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:42 [---] Starting BOINC client version 8.0.4 for x86_64-pc-linux-gnu
Aug 17 20:10:42 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:42 [---] log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task
Aug 17 20:10:42 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:42 [---] Libraries: libcurl/8.15.0 OpenSSL/3.5.2 zlib/1.3.1.zlib-ng brotli/1.1.0 zstd/1.5.7 libidn2/2.3.7 libpsl/0.21.5 libssh2/1.11.1 nghttp2/1.66.0 nghttp3/1.11.0
Aug 17 20:10:42 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:42 [---] Data directory: /var/lib/boinc
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] OpenCL: AMD/ATI GPU 0: AMD Radeon RX 9070 (driver version 3649.0 (HSA1.1,LC), device version OpenCL 2.0, 16304MB, 16304MB available, 15841 GFLOPS peak)
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] OpenCL: AMD/ATI GPU 1 (ignored by config): AMD Radeon Graphics (driver version 3649.0 (HSA1.1,LC), device version OpenCL 2.0, 47056MB, 47056MB available, 563 GFLOPS peak)
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] OpenCL: AMD/ATI GPU 2 (ignored by config): AMD Radeon RX 9070 (radeonsi, gfx1201, LLVM 20.1.8, DRM 3.64, 6. (driver version 25.3.0-devel (git-c11f47481a), device version OpenCL 3.0, 16384MB, 16384MB available, 9901 GFLOPS peak)
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] OpenCL: AMD/ATI GPU 3 (ignored by config): AMD Radeon Graphics (radeonsi, raphael_mendocino, LLVM 20.1.8, D (driver version 25.3.0-devel (git-c11f47481a), device version OpenCL 3.0, 2048MB, 2048MB available, 352 GFLOPS peak)
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Version change (8.0.3 -> 8.0.4)
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] libc:  version 2.42
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Computer name: FractalCruncher-CachyOS
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Processor: 16 AuthenticAMD AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-Core Processor [Family 26 Model 68 Stepping 0]
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Processor features: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt pdpe1gb rdtscp lm constant_tsc rep_good amd_lbr_v2 nopl xtopology nonstop_tsc cpuid extd_apicid aperfmperf rapl pni pclmulqdq monitor ssse3 fma cx16 sse4_1 sse4_2 movbe popcnt aes xsave avx f16c rdrand lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm extapic cr8_legacy abm sse4a misalignsse 3dnowprefetch osvw ibs skinit wdt tce topoext perfctr_core perfctr_nb bpext perfctr_llc mwaitx cpb cat_l3 cdp_l3 hw_pstate ssbd mba perfmon_v2 ibrs ibpb stibp ibrs_enhanced vmmcall fsgsbase tsc_adjust bmi1 avx2 smep bmi2 erms invpcid cqm rdt_a avx512f avx512dq rdseed adx smap avx512ifma clflushopt clwb avx512cd sha_ni avx512bw avx512vl xsaveopt xsavec xgetbv1 xsaves cqm_llc cqm_occup_llc cqm_mbm_total cqm_mbm_local user_shstk avx_vnni avx512_bf16 clzero irperf xsaveerptr rdpru wbnoinvd cppc arat npt lbrv svm_lock nrip_save tsc_scale vmcb_clean flushbyasid decodeassists pausefilter pfthreshold avic v_vm
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] OS: Linux cachyos: CachyOS [6.16.1-2-cachyos|libc 2.42]
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Memory: 91.91 GB physical, 91.91 GB virtual
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Disk: 160.00 GB total, 67.79 GB free
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Local time is UTC +2 hours
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Config: GUI RPC allowed from any host
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Config: don't compute while factorio is running
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Config: don't use GPUs while DSPGAME.exe is running
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Config: don't use GPUs while PathOfExileSteam.exe is running
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Config: don't use GPUs while PathOfExile_x64Steam.exe is running
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Config: ignoring AMD/ATI GPU 1
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Config: ignoring AMD/ATI GPU 2
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Config: ignoring AMD/ATI GPU 3
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Config: use all coprocessors
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] A new version of BOINC is available (8.2.4). <a href=https://boinc.berkeley.edu/download.php>Download</a>
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [Einstein@Home] Computing prefs: from Einstein@Home (last modified 30-May-2025 15:43:46)
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [Einstein@Home] Computer location: work
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Computing prefs: using separate prefs for work
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Reading preferences override file
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Computing preferences:
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -  When computer is in use
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -     'In use' means mouse/keyboard input in last 3.00 minutes
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -     max CPUs used: 8
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -     Use at most 100% of the CPU time
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -     max memory usage: 45.95 GB
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -  When computer is not in use
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -     max CPUs used: 8
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -     Use at most 100% of the CPU time
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -     max memory usage: 45.95 GB
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -  Suspend if running on batteries
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -  Leave apps in memory if not running
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -  Store at least 0.25 days of work
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -  Store up to an additional 0.25 days of work
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -  max disk usage: 30.00 GB
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] -  (to change preferences, visit a project web site or select 'Options / Computing preferences...' in the Manager)
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Setting up project and slot directories
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Checking active tasks
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [climateprediction.net] URL https://climateprediction.net/; Computer ID 1557323; resource share 100
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [Einstein@Home] URL https://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/; Computer ID 13224084; resource share 100
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [Milkyway@home] URL http://milkyway.cs.rpi.edu/milkyway/; Computer ID 1049638; resource share 100
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [PrimeGrid] URL http://www.primegrid.com/; Computer ID 1374907; resource share 100
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [PrimeGrid] Not using CPU: project preferences
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [World Community Grid] URL http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/; Computer ID 8872276; resource share 200
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Setting up GUI RPC socket
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] Checking presence of 374 project files
Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 Initialization completed

(60 GB free, about 7-10 free and usable for BOINC)?

I suspect you are short on disk space. Right now, I have 8 CPDN tasks running and six waiting to run. Between them they are taking up 23GB of disk space. If you have opted in to running themulti-core OIFS tasks from CPDN. They use 26GB of RAM. Peak size on disk for one of them on my machine was over 10GB. Someone else can probably tell you how much disk space Einstein and Milky way use. WCG doesn't use all that much.

In reply to Dave's message of 20 Aug 2025:

(60 GB free, about 7-10 free and usable for BOINC)?

I suspect you are short on disk space. Right now, I have 8 CPDN tasks running and six waiting to run. Between them they are taking up 23GB of disk space. If you have opted in to running themulti-core OIFS tasks from CPDN. They use 26GB of RAM. Peak size on disk for one of them on my machine was over 10GB. Someone else can probably tell you how much disk space Einstein and Milky way use. WCG doesn't use all that much.

From the posted log.

Aug 17 20:10:43 FractalCruncher-CachyOS boinc[817]: 17-Aug-2025 20:10:43 [---] - max disk usage: 30.00 GB

If it is a lack of disk space, BOINC should be giving an error about insufficient disk space in order to start that application for that Project (of course that will only occur if the project accurately reports the disk requirements for that particular application) and not even start it.
It looks like it was running, then bailed out.

---

Grant
Darwin NT.

I think i solved it. There were files in some slots that were owned by the desktop user instead of 'boinc' i didn't check those initially. No idea how that happened.
Seems like it was a permission problem after all. So far no further errors after correcting this.