SGI: Hardware

HI,
I'm sure this topic has been covered a lot about Origin200 + Gigachannel, but I'm trying this with Origin2000 deskside. If this also has been covered i cant find yet here so I'll just share my own experience and maybe we'll get this working out.

First. I didnt took a diary of the whole from the beginning but who was on channel (IRC) knows almost eveything about how it goes here atm with my tests, and obviously IRC as been really usefull because we could make tests and consideration in realtime.

Second. I'm still trying to get it *working* so this want to be just a start, I'll post a complete description of my steps with evrything i did and with detailed pictures later on when the work will be finished and, again, Working.

by now I'll just post the short text version. (you can find pictures on my website, under "My hardware->tech side)




ok.. Day1, the Presenter + Octane XIO w/presenter board and SI+Tram arrived.
I bought that whole auction specially for two reasons, the Presenter and the SI board.

Presenter apart, the SI was ment from the beginning to be my graphics head in the Origin2000.

First hardware modifications.
I used a spare MSCSI board to take apart what's needed to let a SI board fit in a O2000 XIO (maybe this also fits in a Gigachannel, i guess they are pretty the same architecture) and the needed things is JUST the XIO locker, entirely.

1) so just remove the screws that lock the basement of the whole locker stuffs and the two locking hooks that are near the XIO connector, from the "sacrified" board (MSCSI in my case).

2) remove the similar hooks from the SI board.

3) remove the fron metal panel from the SI board (where 13w3 connector is, removing the 13w3 screws as well that keep the front panel there)

4) screws the XIO Locker on the SI board.

that's it. now the SI GFX board is ready to be fitted and locked to the O2000, what's missing is the front panel that we removed before and that must be obtained by some 'hand work, metal cutting to archieve a frontpanel from, for example, a filler front panel that will be just plaint metal. why we do that?.. because the Locker have such handle that is not ment to be on the SI.. and so we need a hole to let such locker pass throught. Why we need a blank plate (better if from Octane/O200).. because i wont thrash the original one so i'm just building a new one so that if we'll need the SI again we'll have the original unbroken frontpanel.

I didnt made such frontpanel yet.. maybe I'll do that tomorrow.

that's almost done.. just a note.. it "seams" that the graphics head works with IRIX .21 at last.. not more recente release.. this sucks.. but at same time.. its worth (at least for me ).

that's the output of the miniroot "inst" hinv when a SI board is inside a O2000:







next update.. after .21 install will be finished and saw working.. by now.. I just hope you'll enjoy the simple yet non working but exciting experience I had.

I just hope this will works out.

I'm also already preparing proper pictures to show about the hardware mod.. that's btw pretty simple.

If anyone would test it on a GIGAchannel it would be cool..

to answer the question "how you inserted a SI+ Tram ".. well.. it fits with no problems.

see you soon for updates.

cheers.

good job sum][one!

UPDATE.

after couple of tries and guesses, dexter pointed me at the "nogfxkbd 1" environment.. but right after his guess he read that this disable graphics and Keyboard.. not just keyboard so we tought that wasnt good and usefull...

well, while dexter was reading porn, erm, onyx2 spawn report (blossonmedia), i gave a try anyway to that setenv nogfxkbd 1.

result.. i lost my console.. result, i was in panic.

result.. i switched the tft on the analogue input (where my 13w3 cable resides) and it was there!!
the "Welcome to 'machinename'" purple screen with the Prom menu is. i almost got mad and crazy, spamming the channel with such excitment.

nothing more right now than a graphical menu, no mouse movement nor keyboard working yet.. but WE DID IT.. graphics out from the SI.

took pictures as well.. but, i'll post later.. yeah.. later

keep tuned for updates.

cheers.


actually we're doing nothing more than the Origin2000 SI VIZ kit.. SI+IOG6.. but without an IOG6 and a CadDuo instead.. nothing special then.. but its fun and cool anyway let's hope it goes further on.

Update: WE DID IT !! and we did it well.

ok.. end of story.. with complete success and fun.

I'm preparing right now my tech page about how to archieve this result, with pictures and detailed steps, but meanwhile here's a summary report on how we did it.

Object: Making a Origin2000 having a graphic Head, Keyboard and Mouse, without the Origin2000 SI VIZ Sgi kit. (without the IOG6).

Steps:
-1- Board modding (see above, pictures to come soon)
-2- Prom settings
-3- Irix Tricks
-4- vine/beer drinking

for the first step.. as stated.. see above. i'm already working at the pictures for it.

second step, prom setting.

Watching at the Onyx2 Prom and after many guesses, tries, and fails the resulting printenv of the Prom should be something like the following.



the above reflect the following XIO configuration:



Notes about variable:

the variable that made all the success possible.. has been the "nogfxkbd 1" setting. yeah, crazy but true. we tried many settings.. many changes.. but nothing went out of the SI until we set that variable.

BE AWARE that since now you'll loose the serial (console) port since its going out on the graphics port (like when you boot a Octane, O2 or every workstation, the purple screen with the booting messages).

Note. to be able to access the Prom menu again you need to remove the SI board, then the following message will appear:



no worries, this will go away when you'll re insert the SI Board, but now you have, as usual, the console port available with the regular Prom menu.

another note, since you dont have anymore access to the Prom menu (board installed again), you HAVE to set the Autoload variable, else you'll just have a nice looking airduster with a nice graphical menu that waits you to click or press the '1' button to start the system, but you wont be able to do that yet, the Cadduo doesnt work yet.

(note: even the Aux console doesnt work)



that said, we're ready to go on step 3 "Irix Tricks".. but, again, you must have the bove environments properly set, specially autoload, nogfxkbd and gconsole.



Irix part:

since ther's no system keyboard nor mouse, the system simply doesnt recognize any input devices and wont start xdm and the windoemenager.. but now.. you'll have the serial working again and the network (if prior configured), so just login on console (better, since we need to run setmon).

first thing we need to find our ports from the Cadduo board, for mouse and keyboard. those are listed with the command


and in my case they were:


so we need to link the /dev/input/mouse and keyboard properly.

note: I guess because this is now a "onyx2" like.. we got TWO /dev/input directories, /dev/input1 and /dev/input2 (correct me if I'm wrong on this), since the IOG6 of the Onyx2 have two keyb/mouse inputs.

so the commands to links our ports to the devices IRIX needs are:

it might work with /dev/input as well.. didnt tried yet.

then we need to tell the Xserver which inputs devices to use then.. since it cant find anything makes it happy.

/var/X11/xdm/Xservers should be looking like the following


the bold text is what we need.

now we're ready to shake..


watch the clogin panel appears.. the mouse moves and the keyboard types!

That's it.


many special Thanks goes to Dexter for starting this "project" with me and for keeping me encouraged during the tests, and to Grobarium for the latest, savefully tips about Irix, and everyone were in the channel posting tips, guesses or ideas. without those guys this would never been possibile


step 4 ... you dont need any howto :p
Cheers!

Awesome sum][one

Hoping one day to be a lot smarter and be able to do something like you have done.

Richard

Which IRIX version did this work with? I remember reading that the O200 w/graphics head required a less recent IRIX version (6.5.19 or something) - is that still the case?

s/Grobarium/chervarium/g

nekonoko wrote: Which IRIX version did this work with? I remember reading that the O200 w/graphics head required a less recent IRIX version (6.5.19 or something) - is that still the case?

Installed a fresh copy of 6.5.21 since I also read about issues on >21 releases but I'm going to clone the disk to have a backup of the actual working system and try then to overlay to .27

I'll let you know asap.


just to anticipate my work of tomorrow... I'll try to fit in a ... presenter (XIO) board hooked on the SI+tram and see how it'll goes.

I just finished looking at the "to do" that will be needed and sadly ther's no way to add the XIO Locker as in the SI because the Presente board doesnt have XIO connector at all hence no hole for the XIO connector screws.. also i'll need to make a little metal cut on the metal divider of the XIO slots to let the cables that links SI and Presenter board to pass thought when inserted.


I'll keep you posted as well with that upgrade. A presenter will much better than a Monitor as a Server monitor screen

and at last, when I'll receive it, I'll also add the PCI RAD 8ch board, but that is not a big challenge since is already ment to work in the Origin2000/Onyx2. Interesting thing will be to see if this works since I'm using the CadDuo board, Dexter found somewhere that Cadduo on Octanes disables audio.. we all think that this wont happens on the Origin since it might be a Octane Xbow limitation/hinibition cause of the Dual use of a workstation.


Cheers.

nekonoko wrote: Which IRIX version did this work with? I remember reading that the O200 w/graphics head required a less recent IRIX version (6.5.19 or something) - is that still the case?

Just installed 6.5.27 (overlays over my prior .21 fresh install) (and while listening "Carmina Buranah" )

Everything seams fine.

so ... everything woking here.. with .27 IRIX release.




cheers.

Hi sum][one !

Damnit, why could you get this to work?
I have been doing such a similiar thing moths ago.
I added mouse and keyboard ports to the IO6 module of my O2000.
(look good and compare it with the IO6G) there are solder marks on the board and they accept a standard (taken from old PC motherboard)
dual PS/2 connector.
I soldered the connector to the IO6.
then I modified an SI GFX card in such way that it fits into my Origin2000.
When booting I have mouse and keyboard and GFX available
(after setting the console to GFX offcourse)
I installed 6.5.21 with this option too:
Hardware:

CPUARCH=R10000
IP27
CPUBOARD=IP27
MODE=64bit
SUBGR=IP27
GFXBOARD=MGRAS
MACHINE=Onyx2 MXI, SI <---- yeah
SASHNAME=sash64
TARGOS=-1
DISTOS=-1

but ended up with problems, getting the Xsystem running
And I noticed that keyboard and mouse were not detected inside IRIX.
Only in the PROM monitor.

Good that it is weekend now.

I hope you can help me with additional questions?
Oh I also tried SE card succesfully.

loonvf wrote: Hi sum][one !
but ended up with problems, getting the Xsystem running
And I noticed that keyboard and mouse were not detected inside IRIX.
Only in the PROM monitor.

Good that it is weekend now.

I hope you can help me with additional questions?
Oh I also tried SE card succesfully.

chevarium might be helpfull here about this since is the one that fixed the X part, my guess after our experience is that you might be missing the correct links for /dev/input1 /dev/input2 that I stated above.. do you tried those yet?

maybe you should also do a "ls -laR" and check where your keyboard and mouse ports are located (ioc3?).

then adding the -devdir /dev/input1 in the Xservers file might also fix the Xserver starting problem.

hope this help and waiting for chevarium feedback as well (or anyone else ).

cheers.




UPDATE: i'm now trying to get IRIX recognize and use the presenter board I just fitted and hooked to the SI board. by now no luck.. but i'm doing a "install hardware" and i'm quiet ready to reboot and see if its gone right. else.. it might be that i'm just asking too much to this Origin2000

keep you posted.

Can you use more than one head?

Who *wouldn't* want an 8 processor workstation!

UPDATE:
ok then .. overlay to .27 worked apparently with no problems. didnt tested so much thought but the system seams ok.

sadly the presenter board didnt worked.. nor in hinv and no display out on it.
I reoverlayed with .27 with "install hardware".. but no luck.
I had to remove a metal plate from the Chassis, but it was worth a try, just sad it doesnt work.

ok then.. i guess that's all about surgery operations on my Origin2000... now I'll just wait for the other Xtalk to let me host the RAD audio board.

cheers.

colin wrote: Can you use more than one head?

Who *wouldn't* want an 8 processor workstation!

eheh .. dunno .. i'll look for some SE later next months and I'll try that for sure.. now i'm pointing to get a "real" onyx2


cheers.

Trying to find the mouse and keyboard is not easy.
Perhaps an Onyx2 owner can help me?

this is al I see inside /hw/
/hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci
drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 0 Apr 23 04:45 0
drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 0 Apr 23 04:45 1
drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 0 Apr 23 04:45 2
drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 0 Apr 23 04:45 4
crw------- 1 root sys 0, 60 Apr 23 04:44 controller
drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 0 Apr 23 04:45 direct
crw------- 1 root sys 0,280 Apr 23 04:44 io
crw------- 1 root sys 0,280 Apr 23 04:44 io.be
crw------- 1 root sys 0,281 Apr 23 04:44 io.le
crw------- 1 root sys 0,282 Apr 23 04:44 mem
crw------- 1 root sys 0,282 Apr 23 04:44 mem.be
crw------- 1 root sys 0,283 Apr 23 04:44 mem.le
lrw------- 1 root sys 34 Apr 23 04:45 sys_critical_parent -> /hw/module/6/slot/n1/node/xtalk/0


/hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci/2
lrw------- 1 root sys 35 Apr 23 04:45 .guest -> /hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci/4
lrw------- 1 root sys 33 Apr 23 04:45 .master -> /hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci
drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 0 Apr 23 04:45 base
crw------- 1 root sys 0,275 Apr 23 04:45 config
crw------- 1 root sys 0,276 Apr 23 04:45 dma
crw------- 1 root sys 0,125 Apr 23 04:45 ef
crw------- 1 root sys 0,277 Apr 23 04:45 intr
drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 0 Apr 23 04:45 ioc3
crw------- 1 root sys 0,271 Apr 23 04:45 mem
crw------- 1 root sys 0,271 Apr 23 04:45 mem.be
crw------- 1 root sys 0,272 Apr 23 04:45 mem.le
crw------- 1 root sys 0,278 Apr 23 04:45 rom
crw------- 1 root sys 0,278 Apr 23 04:45 rom.be
crw------- 1 root sys 0,279 Apr 23 04:45 rom.le
lrw------- 1 root sys 33 Apr 23 04:45 sys_critical_parent -> /hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci
drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 0 Apr 23 04:45 usrpci

/hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci/4
lrw------- 1 root sys 35 Apr 23 04:46 .host -> /hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci/2
lrw------- 1 root sys 33 Apr 23 04:46 .master -> /hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci
drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 0 Apr 23 04:46 base
crw------- 1 root sys 0,275 Apr 23 04:46 config
crw------- 1 root sys 0,276 Apr 23 04:46 dma
cr--r--r-- 1 root sys 0,217 Apr 23 04:46 ei
crw------- 1 root sys 0,277 Apr 23 04:46 intr
lrw------- 1 root sys 40 Apr 23 04:46 ioc3 -> /hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci/2/ioc3
crw------- 1 root sys 0,271 Apr 23 04:46 mem
crw------- 1 root sys 0,271 Apr 23 04:46 mem.be
crw------- 1 root sys 0,272 Apr 23 04:46 mem.le
crw------- 1 root sys 0,278 Apr 23 04:46 rom
crw------- 1 root sys 0,278 Apr 23 04:46 rom.be
crw------- 1 root sys 0,279 Apr 23 04:46 rom.le
lrw------- 1 root sys 33 Apr 23 04:46 sys_critical_parent -> /hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci
drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 0 Apr 23 04:46 tty
drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 0 Apr 23 04:46 usrpci

/hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci/2/ioc3
lrw------- 1 root sys 35 Apr 23 04:46 sys_critical_parent -> /hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci/2

cd /dev/input1
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root sys 39 Apr 23 02:28 keyboard -> /hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci/2/ioc3
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root sys 39 Apr 23 02:28 mouse -> /hw/module/6/slot/io1/baseio/pci/2/ioc3


I made some nice pictures of my Origin2000 (Onyx2 wanabe)
showing the IO6 hack but I have no idea how to show them here since I
have no website.

Perhaps you, sum][one, can show me your /hw wrt the xtalk_pci/ioc3 ?

ls -laR mayby give me this idea in these directories

./var/sysgen/master.d:
./usr/cpu/sysgen/IP27boot
are the files:
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 162164 Dec 15 23:18 io.a
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 7000 Dec 15 23:18 io6.o
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 27016 Dec 15 23:18 ioc3.o
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 34952 Dec 15 23:18 ioc3_pckm.o
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 21376 Dec 15 23:18 ioc3ei.o
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 412516 Dec 15 23:18 mgras.a
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 5972 Dec 15 22:58 mgrasstubs.a
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 17908 Dec 15 23:18 keyboard.a
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 6280 Dec 15 23:18 mio.o
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 15220 Dec 15 23:18 mouse.a
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 3748 Dec 15 23:18 odysseystubs.a

./usr/include/sys/PCI:
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 14647 Dec 15 23:19 PCI_defs.h
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 79954 Dec 15 23:19 bridge.h
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 34518 Dec 15 23:19 ioc3.h
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 46917 Dec 15 22:58 linc.h
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 3679 Dec 15 23:19 pciba.h
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 19146 Dec 15 23:19 pcibr.h
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 27925 Dec 15 23:19 pciio.h
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 69787 Dec 15 23:19 pic.h
-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 1356 Dec 15 22:58 usrpci.h

and so on
perhaps the ioc3_pckm.o can help me during a kernel rebuild?

hi

I also tried to get this working on my origin 2100, but only the IRIX part is well done, so that I can use mouse and keyboard on a graphical desktop.

At the prom I get a nice picture but keyboard and mouse are not working.

I installed an SI in XIO Slot 3 and a PCI CAD-DUO card with XIO2PCI Converter Card in XIO Slot 5.
Both Cards are shown by "hinv -v".

The necessary Prom variables are set to:

nogfxkbd=1
console=g
gConsoleIn=/hw/module/1/slot/io5 (I also tried /hw/module/1/slot/ioc5) By the way: What ist the difference?
gConsoleOut=/hw/module/1/slot/io3

IRIX is installed in Version 6.5.24 an PROM Version is 6.156.

Maybe there is one of you who had the same problem and may show me the way

regards
manuel

Just got this working tonight - a few tips:

You can skip the part about pulling the SI card - much easier is to run an X-server on your subnet once you manually set your O2K IP properly from the console, and get a nice fully graphical UI to find your keyboard and mouse, and set the links (or upgrade Irix when you can't find your bootable high-revision CD)...

You can skip everything in setting up the PROM variables. A 'resetenv' works fine. The caveat here is the boot diagnostics still go out the serial port, but once Irix boots, you get your graphical login screen. This might also mean that if the Vpro driver in Irix will work on an O2k, having PROM support is probably not necessary. It also means that there's no video *until* you install Irix, but since you're doing the initial install from the console anyways, no problems. Note that you must have already symlinked the keyboard and mouse, and have made the changes to the Xservers file - hopefully from the nice Irix desktop on your remote Xserver - before the video will work properly with the keyboard and mouse, but note that this process worked flawlessly on a fresh install, with only the changed IP address , the mouse and keyboard symlinks , set your video resolution , and the fixed Xservers file - and no other system configuration changes .

Addendum, change the autoload PROM variable to 'Y' also.

A brief note to those who previously had a CadDuo installed for KB&M ports and upgraded to an IO6G , here's a pretty simple fix to *undo* the CadDuo mods:

Power the system down, remove the CadDuo and IO6, then install the IO6G;
Connect your KB&M to the IO6G;
Leave the monitor connected to whichever graphics board you have;
Connect a serial terminal to tty_1 on the IO6G;
Start the system and stop in the PROM;
Issue a ' resetenv ' to the PROM;
Reset ' AutoLoad=Yes <and anything else you can't live without>';
Boot the system, log in via the serial terminal or remote access;
Check the IO6G PROM revision is up to date with the ' flash ' command;
As root edit /var/X11/xdm/Xservers to remove -devdir /dev/input1 ;
As root issue /usr/gfx/stopgfx , then /usr/gfx/startgfx ;
You should now have a dispaly, keyboard and mouse <not to mention sound>.

recondas wrote: You should now have a dispaly, keyboard and mouse <not to mention sound>.

And MP3s never sounded so sweet. The sound quality I get from high quality MP3s and my O2K/IO6G is remarkable. I've owned some decent sound cards and none of them even come close....

dkedrowitsch wrote:

recondas wrote: You should now have a dispaly, keyboard and mouse <not to mention sound>.

And MP3s never sounded so sweet. The sound quality I get from high quality MP3s and my O2K/IO6G is remarkable. I've owned some decent sound cards and none of them even come close....

Try it with a set of digital speakers...you heard mine