Quietly we read <ooquh11d0pp5loh9ppo926svh6q0lp4u8c@4ax.com>, unable to contain our credulity we realized that f/fgeorge <ffgeorge@yourplace.com> said this:

On Wed, 07 Sep 2005 06:03:09 GMT, Bill Jillians <"\"Bill
Jillians\""@virgin.SPAM_NO_THANKS.net.SPAM_OFF> wrote:

Also ... what are these reporting deadlines?  Does that mean the WU has
to be completed by a particular time?  That will make running seti a tad
more interesting i.e. inconvenient.

Yes in Boinc a unit MUST be reported within 2 weeks from the day you
get it or you run the SERIOUS risk of not getting any credit for it.
This makes things easier for Boinc, sending out all  units and then
not knowing if they are being crunched or the user dumped them or
whatever made for a huge database.
EVERY computer must connect independently to Berkeley right now. No
more SetiCache type programs that let you download units to one
computer and then distribute units to the others that do not connect
to the net. This feature, the caching, of units has been in the works
for a while but is not implemented yet. Each computer CAN and DOES
cache units on its own hard drive but you MAY NOT share units with
other computers. Right now also the max setting for that cache is 10
days worth of work, that should mean that unless you have some serious
problems you won't have any trouble returning those units before the 2
week time period.

OK ... thanks for that.  I shall probably try to hook the stand alone computers up to an external modem ... seems the easiest way to do things.  This cache feature will actually cut down on the work I do at the moment transferring individual work units with my floppy network. I've almost processed my first unit on the slow machine, I don't think I'm going to need an always on connection although in checking out my options I've found some prices that are better than what I pay now for dial up so I expect I shall upgrade.

Thank you for all the help offered in this thread.