C H A P T E R 2 - Installing the Software and Hardware

C H A P T E R 2

Installing the Software and Hardware

This chapter provides Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator software and hardware installation information.

Before Installation

Software Requirements

Installing the Software

Removing the Software

Installing the Hardware

Man Pages

Changing Resolution and Color Depth Through the GUI

Before Installation

Refer to the Solaris Handbook for Sun Peripherals that corresponds to your Solaris Operating System. The handbook describes how to shut down the system safely before installing any internal cards and how to reboot your system after installation.

Software Requirements

The Solaris 10 1/06 Operating System, or subsequent compatible version of the Solaris Operating System, is required on your SPARC® system before installing the
Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator software.

Installing the Software

Install the Sun XVR-200 software from the CD-ROM provided with your Sun
XVR-200 graphics accelerator installation kit. TABLE 2-1 lists the Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator CD-ROM directories.

TABLE 2-1 Sun XVR-200 Graphics Accelerator CD Directories
Directory Name	Description
`Copyright`	U.S. version of copyright
Docs	Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator documentation
FR_Copyright	French version of copyright
README	Listing of Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator CD contents
SLA_TRANSLATED.pdf	Translated software licensing agreement
Solaris_10/	Sun XVR-200 software packages
Sun_XVR-200_Driver_SLAandEntitlement.txt	Software licensing agreement and information
`install`	Product installation script
`uninstall`	Product removal script

Software Package Locations

The Sun XVR-200 software packages are located in the directory listed in TABLE 2-2.

TABLE 2-2 Location of Sun XVR-200 Software Packages
Software Packages	Directory Location
Solaris 10 software	`/cdrom/cdrom0/sun_xvr_200/Solaris_10/Packages`

Software Package Names

TABLE 2-3 lists the Sun XVR-200 software package names and descriptions.

TABLE 2-3 Solaris Package Names
Package name	Description
`TSImkox`	64-bit system software and device driver
`TSImkow`	Window system support
`TSImkomn`	Manual pages

Installing the Sun XVR-200 Software

If necessary, see Appendix E for keyboard and mouse installation references.

1. Boot your system at the ok prompt.

ok boot

Boot your system to the ok prompt by using the procedures outlined in your server installation guide. If you have not already set up your server, you need to use the integrated service console with the server. After you have been able to successfully boot the server and log in as superuser, go to Step 2.

2. As superuser, check if the Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator is already on your system.

To do this, type:

# /usr/bin/pkginfo | grep mko

3. Insert the Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator CD-ROM into the drive.

If the drive is already mounted, type the following, and go to Step 4:

# cd /cdrom/cdrom0

If the CD-ROM is not already mounted, type:

# mount -F hsfs -O -o ro /dev/dsk/c0t6d0s0 /cdrom

# cd /cdrom

Note - The CD-ROM device might be different on your system. For example,
/dev/dsk/c0t2d0s2.

4. Run the installation script. Type:

# ./install

The following Sun Entitlement information is displayed:

Sun Microsystems, Inc. ("Sun") ENTITLEMENT for SOFTWARE

Licensee/Company: Entity receiving Software

Effective Date:  Date Sun delivers the Software to You.

Software: "Software" means all software provided to You to be used with

the Host.

Host: The hardware product described in the Software's documentation

with which the Software is intended to be used.

Do you accept the license agreement? [y/n]: y

At the end of the licensing agreement information, you are asked to accept it.

5. Type y, and Return, to accept the license agreement.

The following is displayed:

Installing TSImkox.v TSImkomn TSImkow for Solaris 10 ...

*** Installation of drivers is complete.

To uninstall this software, use the 'uninstall' script on this CDROM, or

the following script:

        /var/tmp/xvr-200.uninstall

A log of this installation can be found at:

        /var/tmp/xvr-200.install.2006.03.29

To configure a Sun XVR-200 accelerator, use the fbconfig

utility.  See the fbconfig(1m) and TSCmko_config(1m) manual

pages for more details.

*** IMPORTANT NOTE! ***

This system must be rebooted for the new software to take effect.

6. Install the Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator.

(See Installing the Hardware.)

7. Do a reconfiguration reboot of your system at the ok prompt to complete the installation:

ok boot -r

To use the Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator as a console, type a Solaris prompt:

# eeprom output-device=screen

# eeprom input-device=keyboard

Removing the Software

1. Log in as superuser.

2. Insert the Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator CD-ROM into the drive.

If the drive is already mounted, type the following, and go to Step 3:

# cd /cdrom/cdrom0

If the CD-ROM is not already mounted, type:

# mount -F hsfs -O -o ro /dev/dsk/c0t6d0s0 /cdrom

# cd /cdrom

Note - The CD-ROM device might be different on your system. For example,
/dev/dsk/c0t2d0s2.

3. To remove Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator software, type:

# ./uninstall

In this example, the following is displayed.

Removal of Sun XVR-200 Sun XVR-200 Graphics accelerator Software is complete.

A log of this uninstall is at:

        /var/tmp/xvr-200.uninstall.2006.03.29

Installing the Hardware

Refer to the hardware installation documentation provided with your Sun system for instructions on accessing your system and installing Sun PCI-Express (PCI-E) graphics cards. Your system platform documentation also provides removal procedures.

To find the most recent information on supported systems for the Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator, and additional specifications, go to:

http://www.sun.com/desktop/products/graphics/xvr200/

TABLE 2-4 lists the supported systems and number of PCI-E slots supported.

TABLE 2-4 Supported Systems
System	Maximum Number of Boards
Sun Fire T2000 system	1

Man Pages

The Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator man pages describe how you can query and set frame buffer attributes such as screen resolutions and visual configurations.

Use the fbconfig(1M) man page for configuring all Sun graphics accelerators.
TSImko_config(1M) contains Sun XVR-200 device-specific configuration information.

To get a list of all graphics devices on your system, type:

host% fbconfig -list

This example shows a list of graphics devices displayed:

  Device-Filename              Specific Config Program

  ---------------              -----------------------

  /dev/fbs/mko0                TSImko_config

Use the fbconfig -help option to display the attributes and parameters information of the man page.

host% fbconfig -dev mko0 -help

To access the fbconfig man page, type:

host% man fbconfig

To access the Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator man page, type:

host% man TSImko_config

Changing Resolution and Color Depth Through the GUI

The default resolution is dictated either by EDID information from the connected monitor or by the console resolution that is set (Appendix A). In the absence of this piece of information, the default resolution is 1024 × 768 × 75 Hz and the default window system color depth is 24-bit.

To get a list of available screen resolutions for your display device, type:

host% fbconfig -res \?

See Appendix A, "Changing the Console Resolution", which includes methods on changing your screen resolution from the OpenBoot ok prompt, a list of supported resolutions, and additional information.

However, if you decide to set a different resolution and color depth configuration under the X Window System, follow the instructions in this section to set your resolution and color depth appropriately.

You can use the fbconfig utility any time after installation to change these parameters and to turn on dual-screen mode.

Please see the man page on TSImko_config for a detailed description.

Note - dual-screen mode is a feature described in Dual-Screen Mode. In this mode, you can only configure the Sun XVR-200 to a color depth of 24-bits.

The next two sections describe two methods of using fbconfig to configure the graphics board.

Interactive Configuration

fbconfig has an interactive menu-style interface (FIGURE 2-1).

To configure your Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator, type one of the following:

# fbconfig -i

# fbconfig -dev mko0 -i

Note - If the X Window System is running on the Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator to be configured, please exit out of it before running fbconfig. Failure to do so could result in a corrupted screen for the remainder of the X Windows session.

The Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator device is listed in the left column of the configuration screen displayed by fbconfig -i (FIGURE 2-1).

FIGURE 2-1 Configuration Interface Display

Figure showing the Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator configuration interface display.

TABLE 2-4 lists the configuration interface options:

TABLE 2-5 Configuration Interface Options
Option	Description
Up/Down Arrow	To select the desired graphics device you want to modify.
Left/Right Arrow	To select the parameter to modify (for example, resolution, color depth, or sync).
Space Bar	To modify the parameter for the selected graphics device (displays a menu when applicable).
t	Puts a test pattern on the entire display (press any key to return to the main screen). Note that the test pattern feature is disabled if the X Window System is running.
s	Saves current settings and exits.
h	Help
q	Exits the program without saving any changes.

Note - To enable dual-screen, select the OPTION menu and enter w. (See Dual-Screen Mode .)

Noninteractive Configuration

Sometimes it is convenient to configure the Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator noninteractively. This method is especially useful when configuring many systems identically or when the appropriate configuration for the system is already known.

You can set the parameters using the interactive version by specifying the option followed by a desired value. TABLE 2-4 lists the parameters.

TABLE 2-6 Parameter Options
Parameter	Description
`-d` device	Selects the device to configure.
`-res` resolution	Sets the resolution.
`-res \?`	Lists supported resolutions.
`-file machine \| system`	Specifies whether to modify `OWconfig` from `/etc/openwin/server/etc` or `/usr/openwin/server/etc`, respectively.
`-depth 8\|24\|8+24`	Changes the color depth to 8 only or 8+24 mode.
`-defaults`	Changes all option values to their default values.
`doublewide, doublehigh enable/disable`	Enable/disable the dual-screen output feature. (See Dual-Screen Mode .)
`-24only enable/disable`	Forces all windows to use 24-bit visuals. This disables 8+24 mode and might prohibit some 8-bit applications from working.
`-cachedpixmap enable/disable`	Turns off the off-screen cached pixmap feature. Default is `enable`.
`-propt`	Displays current settings.
`-prconf`	Displays hardware information.
`-help`	Shows complete usage listing.

Note - By default, the color depth is set to 24-bit for all resolutions.

Examples

To configure the resolution to 1280 × 1024 × 60 Hz, type:

# fbconfig -res 1280x1024x60

Note - If no device is specified, fbconfig configures the console Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator.

To verify the resolution prior to setting it permanently, add the word try after the resolution name. This option displays a test pattern on the screen until you press the Return key. The resolution is then accepted or rejected. For example:

# fbconfig -dev /dev/fbs/mko0 -res 1280x1024x60 try

To set the resolution to 1024 × 768 × 60 with a single TrueColor visual (no 8-bit PseudoColor visual):

# fbconfig -res 1024x768x60 -24only enable

To display the current settings for /dev/fbs/mko0:

# fbconfig -dev /dev/fbs/mko0 -propt

Dual-Screen Mode

The Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator has the ability to support two displays - two digital displays, two analog displays, or one analog and one digital. You can configure the card so that the two displays appear as one unified screen to the X Windows display. In other words, windows can be easily moved between the two displays (without the need for a special xinerama mode). This unified screen mode is also called dual-screen mode.

The Sun XVR-200 graphics accelerator has only one graphic processor and two DACs. The drawing engine is capable of driving both DACs. See "X Window System (Dual-Screen Mode) Configuration" below.

Console Display Configuration

In console mode (that is, prior to starting the X Window System), only one monitor head is used.

X Window System (Dual-Screen Mode) Configuration

You can configure graphics boards under the X Window System in either a single-screen mode or a dual-screen mode, using the fbconfig utility.

To configure the graphics board to dual-screen mode, type:

# /usr/sbin/fbconfig -dev /dev/fbs/mko0 -doublewide enable

When running fbconfig in the interactive mode (fbconfig -i), select w under the OPTION menu to enable dual-screen mode.

In dual-head configurations, the X Window System acts as one single display across two screens. Both heads must be set to the same resolution, and each is limited to
1600 × 1200 × 60 analog. So, the maximum effective resolution across both screens is
3200 × 1200 × 60 analog. In the dual-screen mode, only the 24-bit TrueColor visual is supported.

In single-head configurations, the resolution is limited to 1920 × 1200 × 76, and supports 8-bit, 24-bit, and 8+24-bit modes.

Note - These limits apply to analog output only. Digital output is restricted to
1280 × 1024 × 60. Dual-head configurations that include a digital monitor are also limited to 1280 × 1024 × 60 for both heads.