Idle Time CPU Usage

[AbbieRose]

How common is it to disallow the use of processes that use up CPU idle time? Such projects as SETI and some of the 'find a cure for cancer/HIV' seem to do this, using distributed computing.

I'm curious as to why this is-does it slow down the performance of the server, in responding to operations?

 

[ldcdc]

I don't think in shared hosting it would ever be allowed, unless it would be a project in the direct control of the host, and they would then feel safe enough to use it.

Further, while it may seem that it comes for free, all that computing does come at an energy cost, which may add up to significant sums?

EDIT: Then you have the customer's wishes and perception, which may or may not be happy to see the CPU usage at high values all day long.

 

[AbbieRose]

Its not that I intend to try and run such a thing on my hosting I should add, but I have run them in the past at home. I agree that yes there is an energy cost, but beyond that my machine seemed ok, and would be on anyway so it seemed minimal to me.

Running it on shared servers without permission would be rather a presumption, a cheek, but I still wondered why they outlaw it. Thanks.