Chapter 2. Getting Started

This chapter tells you how to set up your Indigo2 IMPACT workstation. It includes instructions on

If you've already set up your Indigo2 IMPACT workstation and want to learn how to use the IRIX system software, go to “Using the Indigo Magic User Environment”.

If you want to mechanically secure your workstation, follow the instructions in “Locking Your Indigo2 IMPACT Workstation” on page 43.

Selecting a Site

Indigo2 IMPACT is designed to sit on or beside your desk. The monitor fits easily on top of the workstation. If you prefer to keep the workstation on the floor, you can attach the workstation stand that shipped with your Indigo2 IMPACT workstation and set the workstation beside your desk.

Install any internal drives or memory first, before placing your monitor on top of the workstation or placing the workstation beside your desk.

Select a site using these suggestions:

  • Place Indigo2 IMPACT and the monitor within 6 feet of each other; you'll connect them with cables that are 10 feet long.

  • Place Indigo2 IMPACT within 8 feet of a standard three-pronged (grounded) electrical outlet.

  • Do not place Indigo2 IMPACT within a small, enclosed area, such as a closet, or it may overheat. Do not block the vents.

Checking Your Shipment

The Indigo2 IMPACT workstation is shipped with the pieces shown in Figure 2-1. If you ordered extra memory or internal drives, they will be in separate boxes.

A fold-out poster ships in the box that contains the Indigo2 IMPACT chassis. This poster has pictorial instructions on how to unpack and set up the workstation. You can use the poster to set up your Indigo2 IMPACT or, if you prefer, you can follow the step-by-step instructions in this chapter.

After you unpack your Indigo2 IMPACT workstation and its parts, make sure you have all the parts shown in Figure 2-1.

Figure 2-1. Indigo2 IMPACT Parts


If your site has multiple Indigo2 IMPACT workstations, it's a good idea to save at least one set of packing materials in the event that you need to return a system for upgrading or for service.

Learning About the CD Software Media

You received one or more compact discs (CDs) with your Indigo2 IMPACT workstation. The CDs include optional software that you might find useful, and a copy of the operating system and software installation tools that are already on your system disk. You don't need the compact discs to set up and use your system. Store them in a safe and convenient place so you can find them if you need to install new software, or if the system fails.


Note: Not all the software on these CDs is pre-installed on your system disk.

For more information on installing software, refer to Chapter 6, “Installing and Removing Peripherals: Internal and External Devices.”

Putting the Pieces Together

Place the monitor next to the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation, near the site you selected, then follow the instructions in the next sections to

For tips on keeping your hardware and software in good running order, see Chapter 10, “Maintenance, Safety, and Regulatory Information.”

Installing Any Internal Drives and Additional Memory

If you are running your Indigo2 IMPACT as a diskless system or if you do not need to install an internal drive or memory, turn to “Setting Up the Workstation”.

If you need to install or reconfigure memory, turn to Chapter 3, “Installing and Removing Memory,” for instructions.

If you need to install other internal drives, follow the steps below.

  1. Open the front cover of the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation.

    • Face the front of the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation.

    • Snap the cover away from the top edge of the chassis and tip it down, as shown in Figure 2-2.

      Figure 2-2. Opening the Front Cover


  2. Remove the bezel.

    • Press down on the tabs on each side of the bezel, as shown in Figure 2-3.

      Figure 2-3. Releasing the Bezel


    • Pull the bezel down and away from the chassis.

      Figure 2-4. Removing the Bezel


  3. Install any internal option drives.

    An internal option drive is any drive other than the system disk. Option drives include floppy drives, floptical drives, secondary hard disk drives, QIC tape drives, CD-ROM drives, or DAT drives.

    • You can install a secondary hard disk, a floppy drive, a floptical drive, or DAT drive in the 3-1/2" drive slot above the system drive slot. You can install a QIC tape drive, a 3-1/2 x 1-6/10" hard disk drive, or a CD-ROM drive in the 5-1/4" drive slot to the left.

    • Pick up the drive so the lever is facing you and is on the bottom of the drive.

    • Slide the drive into the slot, making sure that the guides underneath the drive line up with the guides in the Indigo2 IMPACT chassis. As you slide the drive in, the lever moves to the right.

    • Push the drive in firmly until you feel solid resistance.

    • Push the lever all the way to the right. This locks the drive in place. The lever should be flush with the front of the drive.

      Figure 2-5. Installing an Option Drive


  4. Replace the bezel.

    • Place the tabs on the bottom of the cover in the grooves in the front of the chassis, as shown in Figure 2-6.

    • Tilt the bezel up until it snaps into place.

      Figure 2-6. Replacing the Bezel


You are finished installing the drives and are ready to set up the workstation.

Setting Up the Workstation

To set up your workstation ergonomically, see Chapter 10, “Human Factors Guidelines for Setting Up Your Indigo2 IMPACT Workstation,” on page 300.

You can position your workstation on the floor in its workstation stand, or under your monitor.

To place your Indigo2 IMPACT workstation on the floor in its workstation stand, follow these steps:

  1. Face the front of the workstation.

  2. Push the workstation so the left side is hanging off the edge of your work surface.

  3. Look at the underside of the workstation. You see guides for the workstation stand, as shown in Figure 2-7.

  4. Press each piece of the stand onto the workstation, aligning the pieces with the guides.

    Figure 2-7. Attaching the Workstation Stand to the Workstation


  5. Tip the workstation down onto the floor so that it rests on the stand. Place it under or beside your desk or workspace, as shown in Figure 2-8.

    Figure 2-8. Placing Your Workstation Under Your Desk


To place your monitor on your workstation, see Figure 2-9.

Figure 2-9. Placing the Monitor on Top of Your Indigo2 IMPACT Workstation


Connecting the Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse,
and Microphone

To connect the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and microphone to the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation, follow these steps:

  1. Connect the monitor cable to the monitor and the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation.

    • Connect one end of the cable to the connector on the back of the monitor, as shown in Figure 2-10. Screw in the thumbscrews on both sides of the connector.

    • Connect the other end of the cable to the graphics board connector on the back of the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation, as shown in Figure 2-10. Screw in the thumbscrews on both sides of the connector.

      Figure 2-10. Connecting the Monitor Cable to the Indigo2 IMPACT Workstation


  2. Connect the keyboard cable to the connector below the keyboard icon on the back of the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation, as shown in Figure 2-11.

    Figure 2-11. Connecting the Keyboard Cable


  3. Connect the mouse cable to the connector below the mouse icon on the back of the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation, as shown in Figure 2-12.

    Figure 2-12. Connecting the Mouse Cable



Note: The Indigo2 IMPACT workstation uses mice and keyboards that are PS/2 compatible. They are not interchangeable with older Silicon Graphics mice and keyboards. For a listing of some off-the-shelf PC keyboards that work with Indigo2 IMPACT, type man pckeyboard from a shell window.

The default keyboard language is U.S. English. Since the Indigo2 IMPACT system uses a PS/2 compatible keyboard that does not automatically identify the varied international keyboard languages that Silicon Graphics offers, you must set the nationality manually if you want to change the keyboard language. To find out how to do this, see Appendix B, “International Keyboard Support.”

  1. Connect the microphone to the connector above the microphone icon on the back of the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation, as shown in Figure 2-13.

    Figure 2-13. Connecting the Microphone


See Figure 2-14 for audio port detail.

Figure 2-14. Audio Ports


Attaching the SCSI Terminator

Your Indigo2 IMPACT workstation may have the SCSI terminator attached to the SCSI port. If it does not, you must install it. See Figure 2-15.

Figure 2-15. Installing SCSI Terminator


Install the terminator by pushing it into the SCSI port until it is completely seated.

Attaching the Ethernet Cable

The Indigo2 IMPACT workstation supports two types of Ethernet connections on the main system (only one of which may be connected):

  • Ethernet AUI (electrically Ethernet type 2)

  • Ethernet 10-BASE T

For information on which type of Ethernet to use, see your network administrator.

To attach an Ethernet AUI cable, see below. To attach an Ethernet 10-BASE T cable, turn to “Attaching an Ethernet 10-BASE T Cable”.


Note: If you attach both an Ethernet AUI cable and an Ethernet 10-BASE T cable to your system, and the Ethernet 10-BASE T connection is “live,” the system will use Ethernet 10-BASE T.


Attaching an Ethernet AUI Cable

To attach an Ethernet AUI cable to your workstation, follow these steps:

  1. From your network administrator, obtain a drop cable that is long enough to reach the back of your Indigo2 IMPACT, but no longer than 75 feet, for correct operation.

  2. Attach the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on the back of the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation, as shown in Figure 2-16.

    Figure 2-16. Ethernet AUI Port


    • Make sure the sliding bracket on the Ethernet port on the workstation is pushed all the way down, as shown in Figure 2-17.

      Figure 2-17. Connecting the Standard Ethernet Cable


    • Plug the cable into the port.

    • Slide the bracket up to hold it in place.

You are finished installing the Ethernet AUI cable. Turn to “Attaching the Power Cables” to attach the power cables.

Attaching an Ethernet 10-BASE T Cable

If you are attaching an Ethernet 10-BASE T cable to your workstation, follow these steps:

  1. From your network administrator, obtain a 10-BASE T cable that reaches from the wall to the back of your Indigo2 IMPACT.

  2. Plug one end of the cable into the Ethernet 10-BASE T port on the back of the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation, as shown in Figure 2-18.

    Figure 2-18. Attaching an Ethernet 10-BASE T Cable


There are earlier versions of cabling similar to 10-BASE T. These may mechanically fit the Indigo2 IMPACT connector, but do not work electrically.

Attaching the Power Cables

You received two identical power cables—one for the monitor and one for the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation. Silicon Graphics monitors and Indigo2 IMPACT base systems accept 100-120/200-240 V and 50 or 60 Hz.

To attach the power cables, follow these steps:

  1. Connect one power cable to the monitor, as shown in Figure 2-19.

    • Connect the socket end of the power cable to the power connector on the back of the monitor.

    • Plug the other end into a three-pronged grounded electrical outlet.


    Note: For voltage and frequency requirements, see the manual that came with your monitor.

    Figure 2-19. Attaching the Power Cable to the Monitor


  2. Connect the other power cable to the workstation, as shown in Figure 2-20.

    • Connect the socket end of the power cable to the power connector on the back of the Indigo2 IMPACT workstation.

    • Plug the other end into a three-pronged grounded electrical outlet.

      Figure 2-20. Attaching the Power Cable to the Indigo2 IMPACT Workstation


You are finished setting up your Indigo2 IMPACT workstation and are ready to power on.

Turning On the Indigo2 IMPACT Workstation

Once you've connected all of the pieces as described in the last section, power on and log in to your workstation by following these steps:

  1. Turn on the monitor.

    The monitor's power switch is on the front of the monitor in the lower right corner. The LED next to the switch lights up when you turn on the monitor.

  2. Turn on the system power.

    • Open the front cover by snapping it away from the top edge of the chassis and tipping it down.

    • Press the power switch to turn on the system, as shown in Figure 2-21.

      Figure 2-21. Turning On the Indigo2 IMPACT Workstation


When you power on your system, you hear the boot “tune” and see the LED on the front of the machine turn on. While the system is running power-on diagnostics, you see an orange light. Then you see the notifier shown in Figure 2-22. If you don't see the notifier, go to Chapter 7, “Installing and Removing Software.”

Figure 2-22. Running the Power-On Diagnostics Notifier


If the system passes all of the diagnostics tests, the light turns green, the system continues booting, and you see the startup notifier shown in Figure 2-23.

Figure 2-23. System Startup Notifier


After a few seconds, you see the notifier shown in Figure 2-34.

Figure 2-24. System Is Coming Up Notifier


If you do not hear the boot tune or the LED does not turn green, there may be a problem. Go to Chapter 7, “Installing and Removing Software,” to run some tests.

The system now boots the operating system and then you see the login screen.

Logging In to the Workstation

Welcome to your new system. Once you create a user login account for yourself and set up networking software, your system has the basic information it needs to create a personal work area for you and to let you communicate with other systems and people on your network.

If this is the first time the system is being booted, you see a login screen similar to the one shown in Figure 2-25.

Figure 2-25. The Login Screen


If you already have a login account, you'll see an icon with your login name. Double-click the icon. If you do not have a login account, double-click the EZsetup icon and go to the next section, “Creating Your Login Account and Network Connection.”

Creating Your Login Account and Network Connection

After double-clicking the EZsetup icon, you see the EZsetup screen shown in Figure 2-26.

Figure 2-26. The EZsetup Screen


Setting up your login account through EZsetup gives you administrative (root) privileges.

  • If you plan to connect to an existing network, contact your network administrator for a login name for yourself, a hostname and IP address for your system, and the IP address of another system on the network that has a master list of all systems on the network. Then go to Step 1 below.

  • If you don't have the network information, you can complete the login name and full name fields, and click the OK button to set up your login account. Your network administrator can set up your network connection later. Or you can set it up yourself by choosing “System Manager” from the System toolchest and double-clicking the Network Setup icon.

For more information on setting yourself up on a network, log in and select “Online Books” from the Help toolchest. Then select the Personal System Administration Guide and look in Chapter 3, “Setting Up Network, Peripheral, and Printer Connections.”

Follow the steps below to set up your login account and network connection.


Note: If you change your mind at any time while entering the information, click the Cancel button. The system makes no changes, logs you out of the EZsetup account, and shows the login screen again.


  1. Type your login name (usually a shorter version of your name; for example, your first name or initials) in the field labeled Your login name.

  2. Type your full name in the field labeled Your full name.

    If your system is already physically connected to a network, and you have the necessary network information from your network administrator, go on to step 4.

    If your system is not connected to a network, skip to step 5.

  3. Move the cursor over the box next to Set up basic networking, and click the mouse button. Enter the network information that your network administrator provided.

    • Type the hostname in the field labeled This system's name.

    • Type the IP address in the IP address field. Make sure it consists of two to four numbers, separated by periods, such as 192.0.2.2

    • The box next to Use default netmask is checked by default.
      Do not remove the check mark unless your network administrator wants to specify a custom netmask.

    • Click the box next to Turn on networking. The system will not turn on the networking software until you click OK.

    • In the field labeled “Copy the host list from the server,” type the IP address of a system on the network that contains a master list of all other systems on the network, if there is one. If not, use a system that has your system listed.

  4. When all the information is correct, click the OK button.

    The system sets up the software, logs you out of the EZsetup account, and shows the login screen displaying people who have accounts on the system.

  5. When you see the login screen, log in to your new account by double-clicking the icon that's labeled with your login name.

Now that you have a login account, go to the next section to learn about the desktop management system called the Indigo Magic™ User Environment.

Using the Indigo Magic User Environment

Once you're logged in, you are in the Indigo Magic User Environment. Before learning about the environment, however, you may be interested in learning a few tips and shortcuts for using the mouse.

Mouse Techniques and Shortcuts

To get started, you need to know a few basic techniques for using the mouse and working with icons.

  • To select an icon, place the cursor over the icon and then press the left mouse button. Icons turn yellow when they are selected.

  • To select several icons, press the <Shift> key while selecting the icons, or press the left mouse button in the background and drag the mouse. A box is created as you drag the mouse. All icons touched by the box you create are selected.

  • To open an icon, place the cursor over the icon and then double-click the left mouse button. When you open an application icon, you run the application; when you open a folder icon, you open a window that shows the contents of that directory.

  • To drag and drop icons, place the cursor on an icon, press the left mouse button, and move the mouse. Release the mouse button to drop the icon.

    This drag-and-drop technique lets you copy icons from one directory to another and launch applications with a particular file.

  • To display a popup menu that contains commands from the Selected menu, place the cursor over a window and then press the right mouse button. (Not all windows have popup menus.)

Now you are ready to use the desktop management system called the Indigo Magic User Environment.

Reading the following sections will give you a quick overview of the new environment and help you become productive rapidly.

The Desktop and the Icons

When you log in, a collection of windows and icons (small pictures) appears on your screen by default. If you don't see any items on your screen, contact your system administrator.

The screen background is called the desktop. It's a place for you to set frequently used icons so you have quick and easy access to them. In this way, the desktop is similar to an actual office desk. For example, on your desk you might have a telephone, a container of pens and pencils, and a stack of folders or notebooks related to the projects on which you're currently working. Other, less frequently used items are stashed away in desk drawers. Your online desktop mimics this arrangement using icons.

Figure 2-27. Desktop Icons


The default desktop contains

  • the console window

  • the toolchest

  • the desktop and the icons that appear on it

By default, several icons appear on the desktop: a folder icon representing your home directory, a dumpster icon, and icons for peripherals you have installed. (See Figure 2-27.)

Figure 2-28. CD Player Icon


The peripheral icons show the current state of the devices they represent. For example, if you place a music CD into the compact disc player, the icon changes to display a few musical notes. (See Figure 2-28.) When you double-click the icon, it opens CD Manager, a utility that lets you play and record from a compact disc.

The Console Window

Figure 2-29. The Minimized Console Window


The small box next to the toolchest is the console window. It looks like a small box because it has been minimized. You can open it to its full size by clicking on it with the left mouse button. Many of the error messages that the system generates appear in this window.

Clicking on the console brings up the IRIX shell where you can type IRIX commands. For information on IRIX commands, open the Help toolchest and choose “Online Books.” Select IRIS Essentials and look for “Using IRIX Commands.”

The Toolchest

Figure 2-30. The Toolchest


The toolchest in the top left-hand corner of the screen (shown in Figure 2-30) provides a listing of most of the system functions and programs. Under the System toolchest is the System Manager, which provides hardware information about your workstation. From the Help toolchest you can access the library of online documentation and online help.

To pop up a menu, move the cursor over a label on a toolchest, then press the left or right mouse button.

IRIS InSight and Online Help

Figure 2-31. IRIS InSight Icon


The Indigo2 IMPACT workstation includes IRIS InSight (shown in Figure 2-31), a library of online documentation and extensive online help that is available from the desktop and from most Silicon Graphics applications. From the desktop, you access the online help and documentation from the Help toolchest as follows:

  • From the Help toolchest, choose “Online Books” and the IRIS InSight Document Library appears. Once the IRIS InSight Document Library is open, you can open a manual and read it, or you can type in a word or phrase and quickly find the information you need. See the IRIS InSight online help for instructions.

  • From the Help toolchest, choose “Desktop Help.” A listing of system-level help appears. Additionally, each application provides a Help button or Help menu so that you can get help on a particular application.

Shutting Down and Powering Off Your Indigo2 IMPACT System

There are two ways to shut down and power off your Indigo2 IMPACT system:

  • Use the power switch to shut down the system software and power off.

  • Use the Toolchest menu to shut down the system software and return to the System Maintenance menu or power off.

Using the Power Switch to Shut Down the System

To use the power switch to shut down the software and power off the system, follow these steps:

  1. Open the front cover of the chassis, as shown in Figure 2-32.

    • Face the front of the Indigo2 IMPACT chassis.

    • Snap the cover away from the top edge of the chassis and tip it down, as shown in Figure 2-32.

      Figure 2-32. Opening the Front Cover


  2. Press and release the power switch, as shown in Figure 2-33.

    Figure 2-33. Pressing and Releasing the Power Switch


  3. The notifier shown in Figure 2-34 appears on your screen within a few seconds. Then the system powers off automatically within the next minute.

    Figure 2-34. System Shutdown Notifier


  4. Turn off the monitor by pressing the monitor power switch.

If the system does not power off, either the system never came up all the way, or the operating system is hung. If you do not see any activity for several minutes, follow the steps below.

  1. Press and hold the power button again.


    Note: If you press the power switch a second time, the system powers off immediately, but it is not a clean shutdown. Avoid using this method unless the system does not respond for several minutes after you press the power button the first time.


  2. If that doesn't work, use a pencil to press the reset switch, wait a few seconds, and then press the power button. See Figure 2-35.

    Figure 2-35. Power Switch and Reset Switch


  3. If the system still fails to power off, unplug the power cord from the back of the workstation and contact your maintenance provider.

Using the Toolchest to Shut Down the System

You can use the System menu in the Toolchest to shut down the system. You can also choose to power off the system. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Choose “System Shutdown” from the System menu in the Toolchest.

    • Place the cursor over the word “System” in the Toolchest and click the left or right mouse button. The toolchest is shown in Figure 2-36.

    • Place the cursor over the words “System Shutdown” and click the mouse button.

      Figure 2-36. The Toolchest


    After a few seconds you see the notifier shown in Figure 2-37. At this point you can either power off the system, or shut down the system and get the System Maintenance Menu.

    Figure 2-37. System Shutdown Caution Message


    • To power off the system, click Power Off the System and then click OK. The screen clears and you see the notifier shown in Figure 2-38. After a few seconds, the system powers off.

    • To shut down the system and get the System Maintenance Menu, click OK at the notifier shown in Figure 2-37. The screen clears and you see the notifier shown in Figure 2-38.

      Figure 2-38. System Shutdown Notifier


    Next you see the message shown in Figure 2-39.

    Figure 2-39. Okay to Power Off Notifier


    • Click Restart. You see the system startup message shown in Figure 2-40.

      Figure 2-40. Starting Up the System Notifier


    • Click Stop for Maintenance or press <Esc> to bring up the System Maintenance menu.

Locking Your Indigo2 IMPACT Workstation

To lock your Indigo2 IMPACT workstation, follow these steps:

  1. Snap the front cover away from the top edge of the chassis and tip it down.

  2. Place the straight end of the lockbar into the opening between the disk drive slots in the front of the chassis, and push the lockbar all the way through the workstation, as shown in Figure 2-41.

    Figure 2-41. Installing the Lockbar


  3. Attach a lock through the hole in the lockbar in the back of the workstation to lock it, as shown in Figure 2-42.

    Figure 2-42. Locking the Indigo2 IMPACT Workstation


  4. Close the front cover.

Congratulations! You have finished setting up your Indigo2 IMPACT workstation.