This chapter provides information about SCSI bus bandwidths and rates, SCSI and serial device cabling, rules for daisy-chaining peripherals, pointers to configuration documentation, and instructions for installing and removing external devices. For information on internal SCSI devices, see Chapter 7, “Installing and Removing Internal Drives and Front Module Parts.”
To install an external device, power down your workstation, connect the device to your workstation, power on the device, then power on your workstation. Following this sequence allows the system software to recognize the external device.
The following topics are covered in this chapter:
SCSI devices continue to evolve with higher bus bandwidths, faster data transfer rates, and channels with longer cables and more devices. The Octane2 workstation has two wide SCSI buses, one for internal devices and one for external devices.
Table 6-1 compares Ultra and Fast, wide and narrow SCSI rates.
Table 6-1. Comparison of Ultra and Fast, Wide and Narrow SCSI Rates
| Wide (16-bit) Bus | Narrow (8-bit) Bus |
|---|---|---|
Ultra SCSI (Fast-20) | 40 MB/s (theoretical peak rate) | 40 MB/s (theoretical peak rate) |
Fast SCSI | 20 MB/s (theoretical peak rate) | 10 MB/s (theoretical peak rate) |
The data transfer rate is also affected by the media speed of the SCSI device. Fast-20 SCSI is not merely “fast SCSI.” The “-20” in this term signifies the maximum number of megatransfers (millions of 8-bit or 16-bit data transfers per second) that can occur during an I/O operation.
Data transfer rates are either slow or fast, and are measured in megabytes per second. An operation is either 8-bit or 16-bit in size; thus, data transfer rates depend on bus width.
By default, the Ultra SCSI controller tries to negotiate for wide (16-bit) and for Ultra speed. Table 6-2 provides data burst rate information.
Table 6-2. Bus Rate + Operating Mode = Data Burst Rates
Existing Bus | Operating Mode | Data Burst Rate |
|---|---|---|
8-bit | Fast | 10 MB/second |
8-bit | Ultra | 20 MB/second |
16-bit | Fast | 20 MB/second |
16-bit | Ultra | 40 MB/second |
Following are some tips for connecting SCSI devices to your workstation.
You can mix Ultra and Fast devices on the same bus. You can also mix 16-bit and 8-bit devices on the same bus. The overall performance of a mixed bus can vary widely.
To daisy-chain a mix of wide and narrow devices, place the wide devices (as a group) closest to the Octane2 workstation where the bus is wide, and place the narrow devices (as a group) at the end of the daisy chain.
Note: Be sure to use an adapter or other special cable that terminates the upper half of the SCSI bus when converting from the final wide device to the first narrow device. SGI integrates termination into all SGI-supplied cables, but not all third-party cables have integrated termination. Unsupported devices may not work with the Octane2 workstation, and may be incompatible with supported devices.
The combined length of all the SCSI cables on a daisy-chain determines how many devices can be daisy-chained.
Set addresses manually only on external SCSI devices. See the device manual for setting the address on the device. Each device must have a unique address.
Drives are easily damaged. Handle your drive carefully; do not drop it or handle it roughly.
This section shows you how to connect external SCSI devices to your workstation. External devices include:
For information about SCSI bus and device speeds, see “About SCSI Buses and Devices”.
You must assign a SCSI address to each external SCSI device before you connect the device to your workstation. Bus 1 (the external bus) has addresses such as 1-1, 1-2, 1-3. The second number indicates the unique SCSI address you must set for each external device.
If you do not have any external SCSI devices connected to your system, you can assign any number between 1 and 15 (for wide SCSI devices) or 1 and 7 (for narrow devices) to your new SCSI device. Skip to the next section “Setting the SCSI Address on an External Device”.
If you have one or more external SCSI devices connected to your system, assign a number between 1 and 15 (for wide SCSI devices) or between 1 and 7 (for narrow SCSI devices) that is not assigned to any of the other external SCSI devices. Check available addresses for external SCSI devices as follows:
If your workstation is powered off, turn on the power.
Log in to your account.
For more information on logging in, go to “Logging In to the Octane2 Workstation”.
When the system comes up, choose Toolchest > System > System Manager > Hardware and Devices > Removable Media Manager.
You see a listing of your system's hardware devices and their SCSI address numbers.
Choose a number between 1 and 15 (for a wide SCSI device) or between 1 and 7 (for a narrow SCSI device) that is not assigned to any of your connected SCSI devices.
Go to the next section, “Setting the SCSI Address on an External Device.”
To set the SCSI address, locate a switch, button, dial, or jumpers on the external device, then manually set the address to the number you chose in step 4 of the previous section.
| Note: Although you can connect up to 15 wide SCSI devices to the Octane2 workstation, some devices may have SCSI address dials that provide only 9 possible addresses. |
If the SCSI device has a button, switch, or dial on the back, follow these steps (if there is no switch or dial on the device, see the instructions included with the device).
Remove the SCSI device from its packaging, then locate the button, switch, or dial. It may be on the rear or bottom of the device. An example is shown in Figure 6-1.
Use a small screwdriver or pencil tip to move the dial or button to the number you chose in step 4 of the previous section.
You can connect one or more external SCSI devices to the SCSI port on the back of your workstation. Connecting more than one device is called daisy-chaining. You connect external SCSI devices in a chain, with the first device attached to the SCSI port on your workstation.
The combined length of SCSI cables determines the number of external SCSI devices you can daisy-chain. Table 6-3 shows the maximum cable lengths for the various types of SCSI devices.
Table 6-3. Maximum Combined Cable Length
SCSI type | |
|---|---|
1.5 meters | |
3 meters | |
Ultra SCSI and Fast SCSI 2 | 1.5 meters |
Use the cables and active terminator that came with the wide device, or purchase an active terminator, if necessary. Use only an active terminator.
 | Caution: Using other types of cables or terminators can cause your system to malfunction. |
If you want to connect a device to your system, but do not have the required cables, you can order them by contacting your authorized SGI service representative.
To connect an external device, power off your workstation, then prepare the device for installation. Instructions begin in the next section.
To shut down and power off your system, follow these steps:
Open the cover and press the power button (see A in Figure 6-2) to power off your workstation.
Unplug the power cable from the electrical outlet (B) and from your workstation.
Press the monitor power switch (C) to power off your monitor.
If you are daisy-chaining a new SCSI device to a connected SCSI device, remove the terminator from the connector on the last device in the current chain by squeezing the clips on both sides of the terminator and pulling it off. See Figure 6-3.
If the new SCSI device is the only SCSI device, do not remove its terminator.
Note: If no SCSI devices are connected to your workstation, termination is not required on the workstation's SCSI port.
Choose the required SCSI cable to connect your external SCSI device.
Caution: Exceeding the maximum 1.5 or 3 meters combined cable length recommended for your SCSI type can cause your external SCSI devices to operate unreliably (see Table 6-3 for maximum cable length for each type of device or combination of devices). Connect the fastest SCSI device or devices to your workstation and to each other, then connect slower devices at the end of the chain. See Figure 6-4.
Use the following cables between your workstation and the SCSI device, or between devices:
To connect the device directly to your workstation's SCSI port, use the high-density 68-pin to Centronics® 50-pin Fast SCSI cable. See Figure 6-5.
To daisy-chain an Ultra SCSI device to another Ultra SCSI device, use a 68-pin to 68-pin cable.
To daisy-chain an Ultra SCSI device to a Fast SCSI device, use a 68-pin to 50-pin Centronics Fast SCSI cable.
The speed of the active SCSI device determines the speed of any other devices in a daisy chain. If a slow device is active, the SCSI bus runs at a slow speed; if a high-speed device is active, the SCSI bus runs at a high speed.
Connect a single device, or the first of several devices, as shown in Figure 6-6.
Connect one end of the SCSI cable to your workstation's SCSI port or to the back of another SCSI device.
Connect the other end of the SCSI cable to one of the SCSI connectors on the back of the device and secure the clips on each side of the connector.
Connect one end of the SCSI cable to the open connector on the first SCSI device, as shown in Figure 6-7.
Attach the other end of the SCSI cable to one of the connectors on the SCSI device you are adding.
Connect the terminator to the last device in the daisy chain (see A in Figure 6-8).
Make sure you secure the clips on each side of the terminator. The terminator is designed to fit in only one direction.
Connect power cables (B) to each device and to an electrical outlet.
Note: Remember to turn on the external SCSI devices first, then turn on your workstation, to make sure your system recognizes the devices.
You are now ready to power on your workstation and verify that your system recognizes the external SCSI devices.
Plug in the power cable (see A in Figure 6-9).
Replace the lockbar (if one was removed).
Open the cover on the front of your workstation.
Slide the lockbar into the lockbar slot.
Insert the lock through the lockbar at the back of the workstation.
Press the power button (B) on your workstation.
Press the monitor power switch (C) to power on your monitor.
After you connect the external SCSI device to your workstation, verify that your system recognizes the device.
The system software automatically recognizes most external SCSI devices and displays an icon representing that device on the desktop.
Turn on all external SCSI devices first.
You can turn on external devices (see A in Figure 6-10) in any order.
Tip: Always turn on the external SCSI device(s) before turning on your workstation; otherwise, the system does not recognize the device.
To check the system configuration, follow these steps:
If your workstation is unplugged, plug in the power cable (B), then open the cover on the front of your workstation.
Press the power button (C) to turn on your system.
Press the monitor power switch (D) to power on your monitor.
After a few moments, the system starts.
When you see the login screen, log in to your account. For more information on logging in, go to “Logging In to the Octane2 Workstation”.
If the SCSI device is installed correctly, an icon representing the device appears on the desktop. Figure 6-11 shows the icon for a CD-ROM drive.
You can also use the System Manager to verify that the external device is installed correctly.
If the device you installed does not appear, follow these steps:
Power off your system.
Make sure you connected the correct SCSI cable to the device or between devices.
If you daisy-chained a mix of wide and narrow SCSI devices, make sure you connected the wide devices (as a group) closest to your workstation (where the bus is wide), and the narrow devices (as a group) at the end of the daisy chain.
If the device is the last SCSI device on the chain, make sure a terminator is plugged into one of its SCSI connectors.
Restart your system and recheck the System Manager listing or hinv listing
(see step 1).
The system automatically recognizes most installed SCSI devices. Table 6-4 provides additional references for the various external SCSI devices.
Table 6-4. Additional References on External SCSI Devices
Installed device: | For Information on: | Go to: |
|---|---|---|
Formatting and | ||
CD-ROM drive | Setting up a CD-ROM | Toolchest > Help > Online Books > End User |
Tape drive | Backing up data onto a tape | Toolchest > Help > Online Books > End User |
Printer | Setting up a printer | Toolchest > System > Printer Manager |
If you use a DAT or DLT drive frequently, magnetic dust or debris can collect on the heads of the drive. This can make your DAT or DLT tapes unreadable or unwriteable.
If the green LED on the front of the DAT drive flashes at about 5-second intervals, clean the DAT drive heads. Clean DAT drives after approximately 30 hours of use. Clean DLT drives more frequently.
Follow these steps to clean your DAT or DLT drive:
Insert a DAT or DLT cleaning cassette tape.
Note: Be sure to use a cleaning tape authorized by your DAT drive manufacturer. The drive loads the tape and cleans the heads automatically.
The DAT or DLT drive ejects the cleaning tape when the cleaning is complete.
If the green LED on the front of the DAT drive continues to flash at about 5-second intervals after cleaning the drive, there may be a problem with your cleaning-tape, or your drive may require cleaning by an authorized service provider.
First, try cleaning your drive again with a new DAT or DLT cleaning cassette tape.
If the LED continues to flash, take your drive to an authorized service provider for professional cleaning.
If you are using the external floppy drive as an IRIX device, you can format a floppy disk as follows:
Choose Toolchest > System > System Manager > Hardware and Devices > Removable Media Manager.
A window appears with icons of the recognized devices.
Click the device you want to format.
Click the Format button.
| Note: Floppy disks take about 2 minutes to format. You can eject a floppy disk by pressing the eject button on the external floppy drive. |
For more information on formatting disks, choose Toolchest > Help > Online Books > IRIX Admin: Peripheral Devices and search for “Formatting Floppy Disks.”
This section shows you how to install serial devices. Serial devices include:
The Octane2 workstation has two PC-compatible serial ports. You can also configure these ports to operate in other modes. Adapter cables are available that simplify interconnection for each of these modes. For more information, see “Serial Port Adapter Cables” or Octane2 Hardware Central.
To install a serial device, follow these steps:
Locate the serial ports on the back of your workstation, as shown in Figure 6-12.
Serial ports are labeled 1 and 2 and are DB9 connectors.
Unpack the serial device and cables.
Table 6-5. Serial Port Assignment
If you are installing:
Use:
A console terminal
Serial port 1
Any other serial device
Either serial port
Attach the serial device cable.
See the instructions included with the serial device for detailed instructions on connecting the cable to the device.
Plug the other end of the cable to the serial connector on the back of your workstation, as shown in Figure 6-13.
Plug in the serial device's power cable (if any).
Plug the socket end of the power cable into the power connector on the back of the serial device.
Plug the other end into a grounded three-pronged wall outlet or power strip.
All Octane2 audio ports are located on the upper left side of the system module, as shown in Figure 6-14.
To connect an audio device, plug the device cable into the appropriate port.
Use the Audio Panel in Toolchest > Desktop > Control Audio to adjust the audio.
For additional audio information, choose Toolchest > Help, then choose one of the following sources:
Online Books > End User > Media Tools User's Guide
How Do I (if you have a specific audio task you want to perform.
Attach the microphone to your workstation as follows:
Place the microphone cord through the slot in the microphone base.
Slide the microphone into the base, as shown in Figure 6-15.
Place the microphone on top of the monitor (in the center, near the front).
Drape the cord over the back of the monitor.
Draping the cord over the side of the monitor causes the microphone to point away from the user, reducing the quality of the sound.
Connect the microphone cable to the microphone port on your workstation.
For pinout and technical specifications, see Appendix B.
You connect the speakers to the speaker ports on the system module. If you want to use headphones without speakers, plug the headphones directly into the speaker port. Otherwise, insert the headphones into the jack on the front of the right (active) speaker.
Before connecting the speakers, power off your workstation. For instructions on shutting down and powering off the Octane2 workstation, see “Shutting Down and Powering Off the System”. Then return to this page for instructions on connecting the speakers.
Place the left (passive) speaker on the left side of the monitor and the right (active) speaker on the right side of the monitor (the left [passive] speaker has a cord permanently attached to it).
Run the cord from the left (passive) speaker behind the monitor.
Attach the left (passive) speaker cord to the right (active) speaker. Use the port marked L, as shown in Figure 6-16.
On the cable with double connectors on each end, locate the end with one female connector and one male connector.
Attach the female power connector to the middle port on the right (active) speaker, as shown in Figure 6-17.
Attach the male connector to the port labeled R on the right (active) speaker.
Attach the other end of the speaker power and audio cable to your workstation as follows:
Attach the smaller tipped power connector to the speaker power port.
Attach the larger tipped connector to the speaker port, as shown in Figure 6-18.
Press the power button on the front of the active speaker.
Power on your workstation. For instructions, see “Powering On the Octane2 Workstation”.
For pinout and technical information, see Appendix B, “Technical Specifications” or Octane2 Hardware Central.
You can identify the analog line level audio ports as follows:
Red is right
White is left
Input is upper
Output is lower
These ports are compatible with consumer devices such as stereo receivers, VCRs, and professional audio equipment.
For pinout and technical information, see Appendix B, “Technical Specifications”.
The coaxial digital audio ports are color-coded. Output is white. Input is red. These ports are compatible with consumer devices with coaxial digital interfaces, CD players, and professional audio equipment.
This port is in accordance with AES-3id recommendations for 75 ohm 1 V peak-to-peak coaxial connection of AES3-1992 interfaces.
For pinout and technical information, see Appendix B, “Technical Specifications”.
A red LED is visible in the optical digital Out port or cable tip when audio is activated. Optical digital In is the upper port. Optical digital Out is the lower port.
These ports are compatible with other equipment displaying the ADAT® optical logo, as well as consumer devices such as CD players with digital optical interfaces.
When not in use, cover the optical digital port with a cap to keep out dust and debris.
Optical digital cable should be three meters or less. Using a longer cable may cause performance to be reduced.
For pinout and technical information, see Appendix B, “Technical Specifications,” or Octane2 Hardware Central.
Follow the instructions for “Shutting Down and Powering Off the System”.
SGI recommends that you connect the keyboard to the keyboard port, and the mouse to the mouse port. However, both work in either port. Before switching the ports, you must power off your workstation.
Note: Although you can disconnect and reconnect the mouse/keyboard while the system is on, you cannot switch ports unless you turn off your workstation. For pinout and technical information, see Appendix B.
With your workstation shut down, disconnect the mouse or keyboard from its port on the back of the workstation.
Connect the new mouse or keyboard cable to your workstation, as shown in Figure 6-19.
Power on your workstation.
Plug in the power cable to an electrical outlet (see A in Figure 6-20).
Press the power button (B) on your workstation.
Press the monitor power switch (C) to power on your monitor.
