This guide provides information for the SGI Onyx 350 visualization systems. The Onyx 350 systems differ from previous SGI 300 series visualization systems in the following ways:
The Onyx 350 visualization systems offer a compute module or a combined graphics and compute module (using an internally-mounted InfinitePerformance graphics pipe).
2U “MPX” option modules are available for system memory and PCI-X expansion.
Onyx 350 systems can be ordered with different types of graphics interfaces; InfiniteReality and InfinitePerformance graphics are covered in this guide (only one type may be used within each system).
Each Onyx 350 compute/graphics/MPX “module” has PCI-X capability.
17U “short rack” systems are available with Onyx 350 InfinitePerformance visualization systems.
Compositor options are available with all Onyx 350 InfinitePerformance visualization systems.
Digital media options are available with Onyx 350 InfiniteReality and InfinitePerformance visualization systems.
This guide is written for owners, system administrators, and users of SGI Onyx 350 visualization systems. General knowledge of computers and computer operation is presumed.
This section contains information on general guidelines and warnings you should be aware of while working with your Onyx 350 visualization system.
As a general warning, you are asked to have your SGI system support engineer (SSE) perform all the setup, addition or replacement of parts, cabling, and service of your SGI Onyx 350 visualization system, with the exception of the following items that you can perform yourself:
Using your L1 or L2 controller displays to enter commands and perform system functions such as powering on and powering off as described in this guide.
Adding and replacing PCI and PCI–X cards as described in this guide.
Adding and replacing disk drives as described in this guide.
Removing and replacing the module power supplies.
Removing and replacing DIMMs.
Removing and replacing the system modules in the rack.
The following topics are covered in this guide:
Chapter 1, “System Overview”, provides a general overview of the SGI Onyx 350 visualization systems and gives details about the individual standard and optional components that make up the system. Examples of system configurations (how the components connect physically) are provided.
Chapter 2, “Installation and Operation”, includes power-on and off procedures and other important operating information.
Chapter 3, “Compute Module”, describes the module used as the base module for all InfiniteReality visualization systems. This module could also be used as a non-graphics compute expansion module in an InfinitePerformance visualization system.
Chapter 4, “InfinitePerformance Graphics and Compute Module”, describes the functions and connectors of the combined InfinitePerformance graphics and compute module.
Chapter 5, “InfiniteReality Graphics Module”, covers the two-pipe InfiniteReality graphics module that is combined with the compute module(s) and other optional modules to provide a high-performance visualization system.
Chapter 6, “Memory and PCI Expansion Module”, describes the features of the optional MPX module. This NUMAlink connected option provides expanded DIMM memory, serial ports, and PCI or PCI-X slots without the expense of additional processors.
Chapter 7, “Installing and Removing Customer-replaceable Units”, gives instructions for the various maintenance and upgrade procedures you can perform.
Chapter 8, “Troubleshooting”, contains instructions for troubleshooting the Onyx 350 visualization systems.
Appendix A, “Technical Specifications and Pinouts” contains environmental and physical specifications as well as connector pinouts.
Appendix B, “Safety Information and Regulatory Specifications” contains safety and regulatory warnings.
The following documents may be helpful or of interest to users or administrators of the Onyx 350 products:
PCI Expansion Module User's Guide (P/N 007-4499-00x)
SGI Total Performance 900 Storage System User's Guide (P/N 007-4428-00x)
SGI Total Performance 9100 (2Gb TP9100) Storage System User's Guide (P/N 007-4522-00x)
SGI TP9400 and SGI TP9500 RAID Owner's Guide (P/N 007-4304-00x)
SGI Origin 350 Server User's Guide (P/N 007-4566-00x)
IRIX man pages
IRIX release notes (as applicable)
You can obtain SGI documents, release notes, or man pages in the following ways:
See the SGI Technical Publications Library at http://docs.sgi.com . Various formats are available. This library contains the most recent and most comprehensive set of online books, release notes, man pages, and other information.
If it is installed on your SGI system, you can use InfoSearch, an online tool that provides a more limited set of online books, release notes, and man pages. With an IRIX system, select Help from the Toolchest, and then select InfoSearch. Or you can type infosearch on a command line.
You can also view release notes by typing either grelnotes or relnotes on a command line.
You can also view man pages by typing man <title> on a command line.
SGI systems include a set of IRIX man pages, formatted in the standard UNIX “man page” style. Important system configuration files and commands are documented on man pages. These are found online on the internal system disk (or CD-ROM) and are displayed using the man command. For example, to display the man page for the Add_disk command, type the following on a command line:
man Add_disk |
References in the documentation to these pages include the name of the command and the section number in which the command is found. For example, “Add_disk(1)” refers to the Add_disk command and indicates that it is found in section 1 of the IRIX reference.
For additional information about displaying man pages using the man command, see man(1).
In addition, the apropos command locates man pages based on keywords. For example, to display a list of man pages that describe disks, type the following on a command line:
apropos disk |
For information about setting up and using apropos, see apropos(1) and makewhatis(1M).
The following conventions are used throughout this document:
Convention | Meaning |
Command | This fixed-space font denotes literal items such as commands, files, routines, path names, signals, messages, and programming language structures. |
variable | The italic typeface denotes variable entries and words or concepts being defined. Italic typeface also is used for book titles. |
user input | This fixed-space font denotes literal items that the user enters in interactive sessions. Output is shown in nonbold, fixed-space font. |
[ ] | Brackets enclose optional portions of a command or directive line. |
... | Ellipses indicate that a preceding element can be repeated. |
man page(x) | Man page section identifiers appear in parentheses after man page names. |
GUI element | This font denotes the names of graphical user interface (GUI) elements such as windows, screens, dialog boxes, menus, toolbars, icons, buttons, boxes, fields, and lists. |
SGI provides a comprehensive product support and maintenance program for its products, as follows:
If you are in North America, contact the Technical Assistance Center at
1 800 800 4SGI or contact your authorized service provider.
If you are outside North America, contact the SGI subsidiary or authorized distributor in your country.
If you have comments about the technical accuracy, content, or organization of this document, contact SGI. Be sure to include the title and document number of the manual with your comments. (Online, the document number is located in the front matter of the manual. In printed manuals, the document number is located at the bottom of each page.)
You can contact SGI in any of the following ways:
Send e-mail to the following address:
Use the Feedback option on the Technical Publications Library website:
Contact your customer service representative and ask that an incident be filed in the SGI incident tracking system.
Send mail to the following address:
Technical Publications
SGI
1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy., M/S 535
Mountain View, CA 94043-1351
Send a fax to the attention of “Technical Publications” at +1 650 932 0801.
SGI values your comments and will respond to them promptly.