This chapter describes how to install the Visual Workstation Environment (VWE) software from CD. You will need to do this only if you have purchased a Silicon Graphics Visual Workstation configuration that did not have Linux preloaded onto the hard disk drive at the factory, or if you should need to reinstall the base Linux distribution for some reason.
 | Note: Silicon Graphics Visual Workstation configurations with preloaded Linux software are shipped from the factory with a null root password. In some cases, a reseller may have configured the system with a root password before it reached you. In any case, you should ensure that your system has a non-null root password before connecting it to a network. |
If you need to install software, you should do it in the following order:
Read the file README.VWE before you install software, including the base Linux distribution. This file is located in the top-level directory of the CD.
Install a base Linux distribution using the base distributor's installation tools.
Install the VWE software using its installer, as described in this chapter.
Configure the base Linux distribution as described in the installation manual for the base distribution.
Note: The VWE software only works with Red Hat 7.1, SuSE 7.1, or TurboLinux 6.1. Earlier versions of these distributions, or any other distributions, are not compatible with VWE.
VWE includes a default XFree86 4.0 configuration file that is specific to the Silicon Graphics VPro accelerated Linux OpenGL implementation. The file is installed in two places:
/etc/X11/XF86Config
/etc/X11/XF86Config_sgi
Please see this file for information about X Window System configuration, including pointers to information about changes to this file that are necessary in order to use a non-English keyboard.
There are many interactive configuration utility programs available to generate XF86Config files. SGI strongly recommends that you not attempt to use any of these programs, because they will not generate a XF86Config file that is appropriate for a Silicon Graphics Visual Workstation.
If your /etc/X11/XF86Config file becomes corrupted (for example, as a result of attempting to run a configuration utility program), simply execute the following command as root:
# cp /etc/X11/XF86Config_sgi /etc/X11/XF86Config
The following information will help you get VWE up and running properly.
The Silicon Graphics VPro accelerated OpenGL implementation is the product of a partnership among SGI, NVidia Corporation, and VALinux. The VPro graphics accelerators are based on accelerator chips from NVidia.
The “workstation” convention is for glXSwapBuffers() to be synchronized to vertical retrace. The “PC” convention is for glXSwapBuffers() not to be synchronized to vertical retrace. The VPro OpenGL implementation follows the “PC” convention by default.
To synchronize glXSwapBuffers() to vertical retrace, set the environment variable GL_SYNC_TO_VBLANK as follows before starting the application program.
For csh-based shells, use the following command:
setenv GL_SYNC_TO_VBLANK 1
For sh-based shells, use the following command:
export GL_SYNC_TO_VBLANK=1
If you encounter a problem with a packaged Linux application program on your Silicon Graphics Visual Workstation, contact the packager to find out if a patch or update is available to fix the problem.
The URL for Performer information is http://www.sgi.com/softare/performer .
Performer for Linux is included in VWE. To run the Performer Town demonstration program, use the following command:
% perfly town.perfly
You should see a full-screen animated 3D simulation of a vehicle driving through a town.
The URL for Blender information is http://www.blender.nl .
After installing Blender, execute the following command:
% blender -f -H
The URL for Heretic II is http://www.lokigames.com/products/heretic2 .
After installing Heretic II, change directories to the Heretic II application directory and remove the following symbolic link:
libGL.so -> libMesaGL.so
After starting the application, use the video menu to set the render mode to OpenGL.
Updates and patches are available at the following URL:
Should you need to install VWE from a CD, first ensure that Red Hat 7.1, SuSE 7.1, or TurboLinux 6.1 is installed, and then use the procedure in this section.
The installation procedure has buttons that will allow you to go back to the previous screen or to quit the installation. To use these buttons, press the Tab key to highlight the one you want to use and press Enter.
Log in as root.
Mount the VWE CD by executing the mount command as you have configured it. A common example is mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom.
Change directories to the root directory for the mounted CD. A common root directory is /mnt/cdrom.
Execute ./INSTALL
Note: VWE provides support for the 2.2.17 Linux kernel. Install this software by executing ./INSTALL -k 2.2.17 rather than ./INSTALL. Select the language you want to use for the installation procedure. The default is English. Use the up and down arrow keys to select your language of choice. Press the Tab key to highlight OK and press Enter.
The Welcome screen appears. Highlight OK and press Enter.
The Language Support screen appears. Select the language you want for the documentation that will be installed on your system. All languages are provided on the CD, so you can retrieve languages other than the one you select at this time. The default is to install the English documentation. Use the up and down arrow keys to highlight your selection, then press the Tab key to highlight OK and press Enter.
The Package Group Selection screen appears. This screen allows you to select the type of package you want to install. You select a package by using the up and down arrow keys and pressing the Space bar to select the one you want. When you select a package, RPMs for that package will be installed after you press the Tab key to highlight OK and press Enter.
You may also choose Select individual packages, which lets you choose the specific RPMs that you want to install.
You may see the Package Dependencies screen, which tells you if there are additional packages required beyond those you selected. Review the packages. If you want to install them (you should install them unless there is some important reason not to do so), press the Tab key to highlight OK and press Enter.
The Installation to Begin screen appears. It tells you that a log of the installation will be placed in /tmp/sgi-install.log. Press the Tab key to highlight OK and press Enter.
The installation begins. You will see the Package Installation screen, which tells you which packages are being installed and logs the time it takes to install them.
After the installation is complete, the Complete screen appears. Press Enter. You are returned to the root prompt.
After the VWE installation is complete, reboot your system to begin using the newly installed VWE kernel. You can reboot by typing reboot and pressing RETURN.
Should you need to recreate your system (returning it to its original state), install your base distribution as described in the distributor's installation instructions and then install the VWE from the CD as described in “Installing VWE from a CD”.
To upgrade your software from earlier SGI Linux releases, you should follow the instructions for upgrading the base distribution. VWE will only run on Red Hat 7.1, SuSE 7.1, or TurboLinux 6.1.
After you have upgraded your base distribution, install the VWE as described in as described in “Installing VWE from a CD”.
| Note: It is not possible to change base distributions after upgrading your VWE release. You must install or upgrade to the appropriate base distribution and then install VWE. |