[callahan]

Just set up my Octane in a dual-head VPro (V8)/ESI setup. Images here: https://imgur.com/a/KlKznwj. Please excuse the non-existent cable management and zip-ties attached to the PSU (long story). 

My process:

I started with an installed and working V8, but I see no reason this wouldn't work starting with a MGRAS card. I powered off the machine and installed the ESI card in XIO slot D (I also tried slot C, but that caused the PSU fan to run in fast/deafen mode). 

I rebooted and ran a miniroot installation (using booterizer), opening the foundation/overlay/apps CDs, then entered keep * and install fresh (basically following the VPro upgrade instructions).

The system booted directly to a pretty usable setup, but with 3D only available on the ESI display. So I followed the tips from this old thread salvaged by the nekomicon:

re-symlinking libGL.so and libGLcore.so in: 

/var/arch/lib 
/var/arch/lib32 
/var/arch/lib64 

To the ones present in: 

/usr/gfx/arch/IP30ODSY 
/usr/gfx/arch/IP30ODSY32 
/usr/gfx/arch/IP30ODSY64 

I wasn't, however, able to use xinerama on to make the desktops link together, as suggested by the old thread. When I tried this the ESI desktop freaked out. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out the only limit of not having xinerama is not being able to drag windows from one screen to the next. So no big loss.

I'm only a few minutes in, but so far quite pleased with the setup. Total power draw on my 2x300MHz system (1.5GB RAM, 2 x Fujitsu MAX drives, and the aforementioned V8+ESI) is hovering around 330 watts -- about the same as a single EMXI I pulled for this setup. I pulled the XIO cards after 15 minutes of use and neither felt hot.

For those curious, the left display, a Dell U2412, is running at 1900x1200@60HZ (obviously from the V8) and the right, a Dell 1905FP, is running at 1280x1024@72HZ (ESI). 

PS -- If anyone is in the market for a EMXI card, make me an offer...

[Zerolapse]

Since I took the time to put it together, I'm glad to see someone finally used that nugget of information!  :-)

...only took 13 years, lol

Cheers!
-Jesse

---

In rereading the old thread, it looks like ivelegacy gave it a try at some point as well.

In any event, I definitely did have xinerama working on that for awhile, but actually elected to turn it off since it was convenient to have something full screen on one side (ie mplayer) while working on the other...especially after that machine was upgraded to a dual 600.

-Jesse

[callahan]

After some more fiddling, it seems xinerama was freaking because initially I was trying to use an OpenGL background, which obviously caused issues on the ESI. Without that it seems to work.

[artvandelay]

Thanks for this info. I have an Octane2 with one of the VPro cards on the way (not sure which one actually lol) and now I'm really looking forward to setting it up in a dual-head config with an ESI.

[callahan]

Thanks for this info. I have an Octane2 with one of the VPro cards on the way (not sure which one actually lol) and now I'm really looking forward to setting it up in a dual-head config with an ESI.

Awesome. In the 13 years since zerolapse's Neko post many of us have come to depend on the extra screen real estate. Even at 1900x1200, my SGI's workspace felt cramped.

And good luck with the VPro. The one I snagged was actually marketed at as a V6, but had the V8 board number. Took an eBay gamble and it paid off

[artvandelay]

Thanks for this info. I have an Octane2 with one of the VPro cards on the way (not sure which one actually lol) and now I'm really looking forward to setting it up in a dual-head config with an ESI.

Awesome. In the 13 years since zerolapse's Neko post many of us have come to depend on the extra screen real estate. Even at 1900x1200, my SGI's workspace felt cramped.

And good luck with the VPro. The one I snagged was actually marketed at as a V6, but had the V8 board number. Took an eBay gamble and it paid off

I definitely think having extra screen real estate will be a game changer.

I also took an eBay gamble with this one. The installed card reports simply as "ODYSSEY" in hinv so I suppose it could be any of them.

[Raion]

Yeah HINV isn't gonna tell you anything beyond Odyssey

You need to go by p/n

[callahan]

Yeah HINV isn't gonna tell you anything beyond Odyssey

You need to go by p/n

hinv once booted following driver install does show the VPro card version. But never from the command monitor.

[Jacques]

This is great, thanks. Now kicking myself as I don't have an SI / SE card anymore...just an SSE and a V8 :/

[indy99]

After some more fiddling, it seems xinerama was freaking because initially I was trying to use an OpenGL background, which obviously caused issues on the ESI. Without that it seems to work.

When the are multiple graphics pipes/heads, Xinerama is only capable of displaing OpenGL visuals on the primary head.

Obviously not a fitting outcome for a company whose middle name is Graphics. SGI's provided a workaround for the issue in the form of thier OpenGL Multi-Pipe software. If you're remotely curious Jan-Jaap has kindly made a copy of the User Guide available, and no doubt someone here has a copy of the OGLMP tardist.