[jan-jaap]

Interesting, I followed these instructions when doing the disc exercise:
https://software.majix.org/irix/install-fx.shtml

which is to do an "exercise/sequential"; modifier = wr-o (write only?); 1 scan(s), and it definitely took many hours (maybe 5 was an exaggeration, but it was definitely more than 2). Maybe I have a dying disc or a problem with the scsi controller?

The instruction are correct, but if you wipe the entire disk you need to re-create a new disc label before you leave fx, because the miniroot installer cannot do this.

Do you have any more info about running graphics tests from the serial console? So far I've been relying on my monitor for this whole process. If there's better diagnostic info I can get from the serial console then I'll go find my usb/serial adapter and null modem cable.

You need a serial null-modem cable and another computer with a serial terminal program, e.g. a Windows PC with 'putty'. If your PC doesn't have a 'real' serial port, USB-to-serial dongles work too.

Connect with the following parameters: 9600-n-8-1. Hardware handshaking settings are mostly irrelevant at these speeds.

If you disconnect the keyboard and mouse, the Octane will default to the serial console at power-on, and print a 'running power-on diagnostics' message followed by the [1]...[5] menu you know from the monitor. You can take it from there.

Other question: ide said tests were completed, but I didn't see a way to view results. Does it produce any kind of report, or only report if problems are found?

I *think* it's supposed to print something along the lines of "all tests passed" and show an 'ide>>' prompt. The problem is that the graphics console doesn't really work when the diagnostics take over the graphics board, so you're missing most output until the test is finished. That's why the serial console is a good idea.