Re: [UUG/MLUG] SGI Linux

[Ryan Dooley <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

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> I have in my pocession two SGI boxes nobody here knows how to use. My plan
> is to learn Irix (they seem to have came with 100lbs of manuals) on one and
> convert the second to Linux. Does anyone have experience with SGI boxes or
> know a good source of Linux information for them?

For IRIX:

http://viz.tamu.edu/~sgi-faq/
http://support.sgi.com/

news:comp.os.sgi.admin
news:comp.os.sgi.bugs
- -or-
http://www.deja.com

The online documentation isn't that bad either (start at:

http://support.sgi.com/sitemap/index.html

and hit the online books and release notes)


For Linux (for SGI Indy only for now)

http://www.linux.sgi.com/ (which is probably http://oss.sgi.com/ now).


> Has SGI ported their high power graphical software to SGI Linux yet? I see
> they are supposed to be at the show Sunday. Can't wait to talk to them. :)

There's rumors of performer running on a SGI Visual Workstation running
Linux, but I think that got canned.

> *coughs* I must admit Irix is the first OS I've seen with manuals I had to
> configure. It took me quite some time to sort through the loose binder pages
> and put them in the right place for all those manuals. My theory is some
> coder who was forced into designing the manuals did it this way so that his
> boss would never again ask him to do the manual. :)

The only piece of manual you need IMHO is the installation manual that
comes with the CDs.  After that it's all online.

I like IRIX 'cept for the small fact that you usually have to deal with
two binary formats at any given time if you're using other third party
software for which you don't have source (say Oracle).  Most SGI systems
now are based on the N32 binary format while Oracle only ships in o32 or
N64 flavors.  This makes compiling things like DBD/DBI (heck, even Perl) a
pain in the rear.  N32/N64 is far better for dealing with XFS than o32
is... better stop the rant there :-)

I still think IRIX runs well on the older R4x00 series of hardware.  Sure
it's a bit slow, but it for the most part the system is rock solid.  I
hope that Linux benefits from SGIs work on IRIX now that SGI committed to
Linux.  I also hope that Linus accepts most if not all of the good stuff
they package up and contribute.


                cheers,
                  --ryan

~Ryan Dooley                                    EMAIL:PROTECTED
~Systems / Network Administrator                       (573) 884-5154
~Center for Tech. Innovations in Education             [573] 884=5158
~College of Education               http://www.coe.missouri.edu/~ryan
~University of Missouri - Columbia

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