The Onyx 350 InfiniteReality graphics module is a one- or two-pipe rackmounted graphics interface that requires 18U of space within a rack. The Onyx 350 graphics system supports a maximum of 8 InfiniteReality graphics pipes. Figure 5-1 shows the front and rear views of the graphics module.
This chapter describes this graphics module in the following sections:
The InfiniteReality graphics module contains the following front panel items (see Figure 5-2):
L1 display is a 2-line by 12-character liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays status and error messages that the L1 controller generates.
On/Off button with LED enables you to manually power on and power off the module.
L1 controller LEDs function as follows:
On/Off button LED illuminates green when the internal components are powered on.
Service-required LED illuminates orange to indicate that an item is not functioning properly, but the InfiniteReality graphics module is still operating.
Failure LED illuminates red to indicate that a failure has occurred and the InfiniteReality graphics module is down.
The InfiniteReality graphics module has the following rear panel items, as shown in Figure 5-3:
Power switch powers on the L1 controller when moved to the On (1) position; moving it to the OFF (0) position powers off the L1 controller.
PWR (power) cord attaches to an external 200-240 VAC power receptacle.
11 board slots that house a Ktown2 board and 1 or 2 InfiniteReality graphics pipes. As you face the rear panel, the boards are located as follows:
6 rightmost slots (pipe 0) support a Geometry Engine processor board; 1, 2, or 4 raster manager (RM) boards; and a display generator (DG) board.
4 leftmost slots (pipe 1) support a Geometry Engine processor board, 1 or 2 RM boards, and a DG board.
Ktown2 board with 2 connectors is located between pipe 0 and pipe 1. The top connector connects pipe 0 (6 rightmost slots) to an Onyx 350 series compute module. The bottom connector connects pipe 1 (4 leftmost slots) to an additional compute module.
L1 (USB) connector attaches the InfiniteReality graphics module to the L2 controller.
The InfiniteReality graphics module contains the following:
The Onyx 350 graphics system can support different InfiniteReality board sets. All of the InfiniteReality board sets consist of the following board types (see Figure 5-4):
Ktown2
Geometry Engine (GE)
Raster manager (RM)
Display generator (DG5)
Note: The InfiniteReality board sets are distinguished from each other primarily by the types of GE and/or RM boards that they contain. Check with your SGI sales or service representative to confirm any compatibility questions.
The Ktown2 board, which is physically located between the two pipes, provides two Crosstown2 (Xtown2) connections. The top Xtown2 connector is for the right pipe; the bottom Xtown2 connector is for the left pipe (see Figure 5-5). The Xtown2 connectors connect to the XIO port of the Onyx 350 compute modules.
Each graphics module requires one Ktown2 board so that the graphics module can convert the data it receives from the host processors to differential signal levels.
The GE (Geometry Engine) board contains four processors that process OpenGL commands and vertex data that the GE board receives from the host processors (see Figure 5-6). Each pipe contains one GE board.
The GE board creates polygons and performs basic geometric transformation, lighting calculations, and other processes that make an image look normal to the human eye. The mathematical processes that occur in the GE board are measured in polygons per second (the unit for the rate at which data moves through the graphics pipe).
The RM (raster manager) boards have the following characteristics:
Contain the main memory of the graphics system
Provide the frame buffer
Manage anti-aliasing
Provide appropriate levels of screen resolution
Contain texture memory (TM), which contains textures that can be applied to an image
Each InfiniteReality graphics module supports two graphics pipes: a 2-RM pipe and a 4-RM pipe. The 2-RM pipe, which is physically located to the left of the Ktown2 board, contains one or two RM boards. The 4-RM pipe, which is physically located to the right of the Ktown2 board, contains one, two, or four RM boards.
The DG5 (display generator) board formats images so that they can be displayed on a monitor or delivered to other devices. The DG5 board has the following characteristics:
Converts digital data to analog
Handles all pixel clocking, genlocking, and cursor display functions
Performs the role of functional manager
Connects to the graphics display(s)
Each pipe contains one DG5 board. Figure 5-8 shows an example of the optional DG5-8 display generator.
The Onyx 350 graphics system supports the DG5 options listed in Table 5-1.
Option Name | Description |
|---|---|
DG5-2 | Default DG5 board that is configured with each graphics pipe. It has two high-resolution video outputs that can connect to two monitors. This option does not have a daughtercard. |
DG5-2/DPLEX | DG5-2 board with a digital video multiplexer (DPLEX) daughtercard that enables multiplexing of two or more graphics pipes (referred to as a hyperpipe). The output of the graphics pipes is sent to a single monitor or other video input device. |
DG5-2/HDGVO | DG5-2 board with a daughtercard that provides high-definition real-time graphics-to-video output. |
DG5-2/DDO2 | DG5-2 board with a daughtercard that is used for custom hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) simulations. |
DG5-8 | DG5 board that has eight high-resolution video outputs that can connect to eight monitors. This option has a VIO5H daughtercard. |
The DG5 options have the standard connections that are listed in Table 5-2.
Table 5-2. DG5 Standard Connections
Label | Type | Function |
|---|---|---|
Monitors 0 through X | 13W3 | Variable high-resolution monitor outputs |
S-Video | 4-pin mini-DIN | Interface to SVHS VCR or monitor |
CMPST 1 | RCA jack | Interface to composite monitor or VCR |
CMPST 2 | BNC | Interface to composite monitor or VCR |
Stereo View | 9-pin sub-D | Interface to Stereo View goggles |
Swap-ready | BNC | Interface to other graphics pipes |
Genlock in | BNC | Interface to house sync or other pipes |
Genlock loop-through | BNC | Loop-through connection |
The L1 controller performs various functions for the InfiniteReality graphics module; for example, the L1 controller monitors the voltage and temperature of the module. The L1 controller display, which is located on the front of the graphics module (see Figure 5-9), is a liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays error and status messages that the L1 controller generates.
The L1 controller also has the following button and LEDs:
On/Off button with LED enables you to manually power on and power off the module. The LED illuminates green when the internal components are powered on.
Service required LED illuminates orange to indicate that an item is not functioning properly, but the InfiniteReality graphics module is still operating.
Failure LED illuminates red to indicate that a failure has occurred and the InfiniteReality graphics module is down.
The midplane provides connections for the board set, power supply, and L1 controller (see Figure 5-10).
The InfiniteReality graphics module has its own power supply, which requires an external 200-240 VAC power receptacle. The power supply is located on the front side of the midplane (see Figure 5-10).