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Octane Video: Using the Compression Option w/ VPro Graphics
Octane Compression Option
The Octane Compression Option is an XIO option board that can provide SGI Octane workstations with analog video input/output and up to two streams of JPEG compression and/or decompression.
The Octane Compression Option is officially supported for installation only in Octanes with SGI_Octane#Graphics_subsystem MGRAS/Impact based graphics. It is possible to install the Octane Compression Option in Octanes with SGI_Octane#VPro_Series VPro graphics using the following procedures:
Installing Octane Compression and IMPACT Compression Subsystems Software
Install the drivers and software necessary to use the Octane Compression before installing the hardware. SGI's Technical Publications Library, or TechPubs, specifies the software subsystems and prerequisites for the Octane Compression Option. TechPubs lists those subsystems and prerequisites as:
Octane Compression and IMPACT Compression Software - includes the following subsystems: impactcomp.sw.eoe: Kernel device driver and Video and Compression Library software for Octane Compression and Impact Compression impactcomp.man.pages: Man pages for Octane Compression and Impact Compression impactcomp.man.relnotes: Release notes for Octane Compression and Impact Compression impactcomp.books.Ind2IMCpres_PG: Programmer's Guide for Octane Compression and Impact Compression Prerequisites - Octane Compression and Impact Compression require the following software: Octane and Impact Digital Media Base Execution Environment, 6.5 (impactdm) Digital Media Execution Environment, 6.5 (dmedia_eoe)
The Digital Media Execution Environment, dmedia_eoe, is installed from the IRIX Base (Foundation 1) and Overlay CDs (and may already be installed on your system).
The Octane/Impact Compression for IRIX 6.5 software includes the Octane/Impact Compression base software; impactcomp, and Octane/Impact Digital Media Base Execution Environment; impactdm. In addition to base software included in that distribution, you must also install the upgraded versions of impactcomp and impactdm from the "unbundled" directory of the Overlay (2 of 2) CD (dist/unbundled).
As mentioned previously, if you have a VPro graphics option installed, IRIX thinks VPro and Octane Compression are incompatible, and will indicate conflicts with the Octane/Impact Compression for IRIX 6.5 software. The IRIX Software Manager will allow an install in spite of unresolved conflicts with the "rulesoverride" setting.
If installing via Software Manager, the rulesoverride flag can be activated from the "File" menu on the toolbar (File>Set Preferences). The rulesoverride setting is transient and remains in effect only as long as that instance of Software Manager is open.
Confirming Installation of the Octane Compression Software
You can confirm you've installed all the necessary software subsystems <impactdm, dmedia and impactcomp> with the versions command:
# versions impactcomp I = Installed, R = Removed Name Date Description I impactcomp 06/17/2006 IMPACT Compression Execution Environment 6.5.xx I impactcomp.books 06/17/2006 IRIS InSight Books, 6.5 I impactcomp.books.Ind2IMCpres_PG 06/17/2006 IMPACT Compression Programmer's Guide I impactcomp.books.OctaneCpres_PG 06/17/2006 Octane Compression Programmer's Guide I impactcomp.man 06/17/2006 IMPACT Compression Documentation I impactcomp.man.pages 06/17/2006 IMPACT Compression Man Pages I impactcomp.man.relnotes 06/17/2006 IMPACT Compression Release Notes I impactcomp.sw 06/17/2006 IMPACT Compression Software I impactcomp.sw.eoe 06/17/2006 IMPACT Compression Execution Software
# versions impactdm I = Installed, R = Removed Name Date Description I impactdm 06/17/2006 IMPACT Digital Media Base Execution Environment, 6.5.xx I impactdm.man 06/17/2006 IMPACT Digital Media Base Documentation I impactdm.man.relnotes 06/17/2006 IMPACT Digital Media Base Release Notes I impactdm.sw 06/17/2006 IMPACT Digital Media Base Software I impactdm.sw.eoe 06/17/2006 IMPACT Digital Media Base Execution Software
# versions dmedia_eoe I = Installed, R = Removed Name Date Description I dmedia_eoe 01/24/2006 Digital Media Execution Environment, 6.5.xx I dmedia_eoe.sw 01/24/2006 Digital Media Software I dmedia_eoe.sw.synth 01/24/2006 MIDI Synthesizer I dmedia_eoe.sw64 01/24/2006 Digital Media 64-bit Software I dmedia_eoe.sw64.lib 01/24/2006 Digital Media 64-bit Execution Libraries I dmedia_eoe 01/24/2006 Digital Media Execution Environment, 6.5.xx I dmedia_eoe.books 01/24/2006 Digital Media Books I dmedia_eoe.books.FXbuilder_Help 01/24/2006 FXBuilder Help I dmedia_eoe.books.MediaTls_UG 01/24/2006 Media Tools User's Guide, Help and Book I dmedia_eoe.books.SynthEditor_UG 01/24/2006 Using Synthesizer Editor I dmedia_eoe.data 01/24/2006 Digital Media Data Files I dmedia_eoe.data.movies 09/07/2003 Sample Movie Files I dmedia_eoe.data.soundscheme 09/07/2003 Desktop Sound Files I dmedia_eoe.data.synth 01/24/2006 MIDI Synthesizer Data Files I dmedia_eoe.man 01/24/2006 Digital Media Documentation I dmedia_eoe.man.pages 01/24/2006 Digital Media Manual Pages I dmedia_eoe.man.relnotes 01/24/2006 Digital Media Release Notes I dmedia_eoe.sw 01/24/2006 Digital Media Software I dmedia_eoe.sw.audio 01/24/2006 Audio System Components I dmedia_eoe.sw.base 01/24/2006 Digital Media System Components I dmedia_eoe.sw.lib 01/24/2006 Digital Media Execution Libraries I dmedia_eoe.sw.plugins 01/24/2006 Digital Media Plug-ins I dmedia_eoe.sw.tools 01/24/2006 Digital Media Tools
Installing Octane Compression Option Hardware
Shut down and unplug the power from your Octane. The XIO tri-carrier in Octanes with VPro graphics allows for installation of two half-height XIO boards. To avoid having your Octane run in "fastfan" mode, install the Octane Compression Option in XIO slot "C" (the one farthest from the power supply). Re-install the tri-carrier and restart your Octane. For further reference, the OCTANE Digital Video and Compression Hardware Installation Guide can be downloaded.
Starting the Video Daemon
At a command prompt (with root privileges), query the system configuration state:
# chkconfig
Check that "windowsystem" configuration flag is set to "on", it should appear in the chkconfig list as:
windowsystem on
Set the video daemon (videod) configuration flag "on":
# chkconfig videod
And either reboot or load the video daemon manually:
/etc/init.d/videod start
At this point you should be able to connect an anlogue video source to either the composite or s-video in ports and display a live video feed on your desktop using videoin
External Links and Sources
Chris Pirazzi's: Lurker's Guide to Video
Ian Mapleson's SGI Depot: Depot Resources
SGI TechPubs: impactcomp
SGI TechPubs: The Octane Compression Programmer's Guide
SGI TechPubs (Download Only): OCTANE Digital Video and Compression Installation Guide (Hardware)