[jwcotejr]

Greetings, folks

Got myself a rather nice Octane2 recently: 1x 360 MHz R12000, 1.5 GB RAM, 300 GB 15K RPM HDD, and V10 graphics. Currently running a fresh install of IRIX 6.5.30 via Booterizer. So far I'm happy with the result & performance! This is basically my first working SGI, so I still have a lot to learn.

That said, which version of IRIX do you folks prefer to run, 6.5.22 or 6.5.30? I do know that older systems cap out at 6.5.22, though I am aware that some do prefer 6.5.22 even on the machines that can support 6.5.30. Are there differences between the two versions that would make one more favorable over the other, or would it just be a matter of preference?

Also, 6.5.30 does not seem to include the ubiquitous SGI demos that earlier versions of IRIX included; would I be able to get those on 6.5.30?

Thank you!

[vishnu]

-> Insert hamei 6.5.30 rant here <-

I ran 6.5.22 for years, then "upgraded" to 30. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't. That said, 6.5.30 isn't all bad, but there's no question parts of 6.5.22 are better...  

[Raion]

Running an octane it does not offer as many benefits as it would for some later systems. The octane does not generally make use of firewire or USB which are the target of many of the drivers in the later releases. You lose compatibility with software, and you can't compile MIPS3 on .23 or later. PostScript was removed in .24, and much of the fundamentals such as demos and other things have been pushed the side for very late model support.

Ultimately though it depends upon what you want. Unless you plan to install firewire cards and try getting USB working you're not going to really benefit as a day to day user because the same patches are available for both systems.

as I've studied more and more into it I think that .22 is probably the preferred release for most people.

[Irinikus]

As far as the Demo’s go, they’re a separate install for all versions of Irix!

[jwcotejr]

Thank you, folks; 6.5.22 for the Octane it is!

Would anyone here perhaps be able to point me in the right direction for installing the SGI demos such as buttonfly, doom, etc?

[callahan]

You'll need the general platform demo disc (I seem to recall disc 1 has O2 software and 2 is Octane, but I can't guarantee it) and octane demos.

Look here: http://jrra.zone/sgi/

The images here are efs images. You can use efs2tar to convert them to tarballs which you can then just ftp/nfs over to your SGI.

[Raion]

I plan to add those to the FTP soon. I'm behind guys, so I apologize if I seem a bit hectic

[jwcotejr]

You'll need the general platform demo disc (I seem to recall disc 1 has O2 software and 2 is Octane, but I can't guarantee it) and octane demos.

Look here: http://jrra.zone/sgi/

The images here are efs images. You can use efs2tar to convert them to tarballs which you can then just ftp/nfs over to your SGI.

Excellent, thank you!!

[Jacques]

The standard buttonfly demos etc. are on the Application Nov 1999 disc. The other demo discs are machine specific and offer demos for IR, Octane, O2. etc.