Systems

Origin 350 / Onyx 350 / Onyx 4 (Chimera)

Introduction

General

The Origin 350 / Onyx 350 are mid-range server and visualization systems. As such they are successors to the Origin 300 / Onyx 300 systems. Based on the same core technology the Onyx 4 system was introduced.

All of these systems are members of the Chimera family which also includes the Tezro workstation. The three systems are based on the same hardware featuring SGIs NUMAflex technology. Adding a VPro graphics option to an Origin 350 makes it an Onyx 350. The difference between the Onyx 350 and the Tezro is that the latter is limited in expansion.

System Graphics max. Nodes (CPUs)
Origin 350 none 8 nodes (32 CPUs)
Onyx 350 VPro 8 nodes (32 CPUs)
Tezro (rackmount) VPro 2 nodes (8 CPUs)

A few new bricks were introduced for the Origin / Onyx 350 line:

  • Compute node with Infinite Performance graphics
  • MPX memory expansion module
  • PCIX module

Possible Origin 350 Configurations

A single Origin 350 compute module has 2 or 4 processors and can have up to 8 GB RAM. Two modules can be combined using a NUMAlink cable to build a single system with twice the processors and memory as a single Origin 350 has (max. 8 processors and 16 GB RAM).

Using NUMAlink cables and an 8-port NUMAlink router up to 8 Origin 350 compute module can be combined to a system that has at maximum 8 times CPU, memory and PCI slots as a single Origin 350 (max. 32 processors and 64 GB RAM).

Using the special memory or PCI (MPX, PCI-X) expansion modules it is possible to enhance memory or IO of a system without adding further CPUs.

Possible Onyx 350 Configurations

A single Onyx 350 compute module has 2 or 4 processors and can have up to 8 GB RAM.Two modules can be combined using a NUMAlink cable to build a single system with twice the processors and memory as a single Origin 350 has (max. 8 processors and 16 GB RAM).

Using NUMAlink cables and an 8-port NUMAlink router up to 8 Onyx 350 compute modules can be combined to a system that has at maximum 8 times CPU, memory and PCI slots as a single Onyx 350 (max. 32 processors and 64 GB RAM).

Using the special memory or PCI (PCI-X) expansion modules it is possible to enhance memory or IO of a system without adding further CPUs.

Possible Onyx 4 Configurations

Onyx4 UltimateVision Power Configuration

Processors:        2-8
Graphics pipes:    2-4
Memory:            up to 16 GB
Configuration:     small rack

Onyx4 UltimateVision Team Configuration

Processors:        8-16
Graphics pipes:    4-8
Memory:            up to 64 GB
Configuration:     small rack

Onyx4 UltimateVision Extreme Configuration

Processors:        16-64
Graphics pipes:    8-32
Memors:            up to 128 GB
Configuration:     tall rack

History

2003, April
Origin 350 is announced
2003, April
Onyx 350 is announced
2003, July
Onyx 4 is announced
2006, July
End announced for this series. Last systems to be shipped until end of March 2007
 

Compute

Compute Node

General

The compute node can be used as a standalone system or part of a larger configuration.

Processors

CPU Board Processor Number Clockspeed Cache (d/i) Cache (2nd) Floating Point
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 1 600 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 600 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 1 700 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 700 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 4 700 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 1 800 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 800 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 4 800 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 1 GHz 32kb / 32kb 16MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 4 1 GHz 32kb / 32kb 16MB onboard

Memory Specifications

Type:                   DDR-SDRAM DIMMs (proprietary)
Sockets:                8 (4 banks of 2 sockets)
 
Minimum configuration:  1 GB (2x512MB DIMMs) 
Maximum configuration:  8 GB (8x1GB DIMMs) 

IO Subsystem

The IO subsystem is implemented via the IO9 PCI board. In a setup with mutiple compute nodes only the first node needs to be equipped with an IO9 board leaving the PCI slots in the other nodes available for expansion.

Expansion Options

  • ATM OC3 (1 port)
  • ATM OC12 (1 port)
  • Gigabit Ethernet (copper/optical)
  • LVD/single-ended Ultra160 SCSI (2 ports)
  • Audio
  • Fibre Channel (optical)
  • Myrinet 2000 (1 port)

Brick Specs

Front:                  L1 system controller
                        4 LED (service, failure, 2 drive)
                        Power button with LED
                        NMI button
                        Reset button
Back:                   1 NUMAlink connector (NUMAlink 3)
                        1 XIO connector
                        1 L1 console port
                        1 L1 USB port
                        4 serial ports
                        2 PS/2 ports
                        RT interrupt input/output
                        1 Ethernet port (10BaseT / 100BaseT / 1000BaseT)
                        1 External SCSI connector (68pin VHDCI)
                        1 PCI slots (IO9 in first node)
                        2 PCI-X slots
                        Heartbeat LED
Internal:               PCI / PCI-X slots
                        1 internal SCSI port		
                        2 internal 3.5" drivebays		

 

width:     43,33 cm / 17.06"
height:     8,74 cm /  3.44"
depth:     68,58 cm / 27.00"

weight:    up to 20,23 kg (44.50 lb)

Compute Node with Infinite Performance

General

Infinite Performance graphics may not be mixed with Infinite Reality in a single system. The compute node can be used either as a standalone node or a part of a larger configuration.

Processors

CPU Board Processor Number Clockspeed Cache (d/i) Cache (2nd) Floating Point
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 1 600 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 600 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 1 700 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 700 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 4 700 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 1 800 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 800 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 4 800 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 1 GHz 32kb / 32kb 16MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 4 1 GHz 32kb / 32kb 16MB onboard

Memory Specifications

Type:                   DDR-SDRAM DIMMs (proprietary)
Sockets:                8 (4 banks of 2 sockets)
 
Minimum configuration:  1 GB (2x512MB DIMMs) 
Maximum configuration:  8 GB (8x1GB DIMMs) 

IO Subsystem

The IO subsystem is implemented via the IO9 PCI board. In a setup with mutiple compute nodes only the first node needs to be equipped with an IO9 board leaving the PCI slots in the other nodes available for expansion.

Expansion Options

  • ATM OC3 (1 port)
  • ATM OC12 (1 port)
  • Gigabit Ethernet (copper/optical)
  • LVD/single-ended Ultra160 SCSI (2 ports)
  • Audio option
  • Fibre Channel (optical)
  • Myrinet 2000 (1 port)

Brick Specs

Front:                  L1 system controller
                        4 LED (service, failure, 2 drive)
                        Power button with LED
                        NMI button
                        Reset button
Back:                   1 NUMAlink connector (NUMAlink 3)
                        1 XIO connector
                        1 L1 console port
                        1 L1 USB port
                        4 serial ports
                        2 PS/2 ports
                        4 USB ports (PCI card)
                        RT interrupt input/output
                        1 Ethernet port (10BaseT / 100BaseT / 1000BaseT)
                        1 External SCSI connector (68pin VHDCI)
                        1 PCI slots (IO9 in first node)
                        2 PCI-X slots
                        1 Genlock port        \
                        1 Stereo View port    |         on
                        1 Swap Ready port     | Infinite Performance
                        1 DVI-I Monitor port  /
                        Heartbeat LED
Internal:               PCI / PCI-X slots
                        1 internal SCSI port		
                        2 internal 3.5" drivebays		

 

width:     43,33 cm / 17.06"
height:     8,74 cm /  3.44"
depth:     68,58 cm / 27.00"

weight:    up to 20,23 kg (44.50 lb)
  

Compute Node with Ultimate Vision (G2N)

General

Ultimate Vision (Onyx 4) graphics may not be mixed with Infinite Reality or Infinite Performance (both Origin 350) in a single system. The compute node can be used either as a standalone node or a part of a larger configuration. For additional graphics pipelines a graphics only module called G2 was available.

Processors

CPU Board Processor Number Clockspeed Cache (d/i) Cache (2nd) Floating Point
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 1 600 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 600 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 1 700 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 700 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 4 700 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 1 800 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 800 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 4 800 MHz 32kb / 32kb 4MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 2 1 GHz 32kb / 32kb 16MB onboard
IP53 (SW: IP35) R16000 4 1 GHz 32kb / 32kb 16MB onboard

Memory Specifications

Type:                   DDR-SDRAM DIMMs (proprietary)
Sockets:                8 (4 banks of 2 sockets)
 
Minimum configuration:  1 GB (2x512MB DIMMs) 
Maximum configuration:  8 GB (8x1GB DIMMs) 

IO Subsystem

The IO subsystem is implemented via the IO9 PCI board. In a setup with mutiple compute nodes only the first node needs to be equipped with an IO9 board leaving the PCI slots in the other nodes available for expansion.

Expansion Options

  • ATM OC3 (1 port)
  • ATM OC12 (1 port)
  • Gigabit Ethernet (copper/optical)
  • LVD/single-ended Ultra160 SCSI (2 ports)
  • Audio option
  • Fibre Channel (optical)
  • Myrinet 2000 (1 port)

Brick Specs

Front:                  L1 controller
                        LED: Failure, Service, Power
						   Reset button
						   NMI button
Back:                   1 Console port
                        1 L1 USB port
					   	   1 XIO port
						   1 NUMAlink port
                        3 ImageSync connectors
                        2 DVI-I connectors per pipe
                        1 stereo sync connector per pipe
Internal:               ?

 

width:     48,3 cm / 19.00" 
height:     8,8 cm /  3.46" 
depth:     66,4 cm / 26.15" 
 
weight:    up to 16,36 kg (36 lb) 

Expansion

MPX Module

General

The MPX Expansion Module allows to add up to 8 GB (8 slots) memory and offers also 4 PCI-X slots (2 busses). It is added via NUMAlink to the system. It can be equipped with an additional IO9 board which adds further ethernet and SCSI ports. If such a board is installed in PCI slot one then the second slot on that bus is also running as PCI (not PCI-X anymore).

Front:                  L1 system controller
                        4 LED (service, failure, 2 drive)
                        Power button with LED
                        NMI button
                        Reset button
Back:                   1 NUMAlink connector (NUMAlink 3)
                        1 XIO connector
                        1 L1 console port
                        1 L1 USB port
                        1 serial ports
                        4 PCI-X slots
                        Heartbeat LED
Internal:               PCI / PCI-X slots
                        1 internal SCSI port		
                        2 internal 3.5" drivebays	

 

width:     43,33 cm / 17.06"
height:     8,74 cm /  3.44"
depth:     68,58 cm / 27.00"

weight:    up to 20,23 kg (44.50 lb)
    

PCI Expansion Module

General

12 hot pluggable PCI slots (6 busses with 2 slots each). There are two versions of the PCI expansion module: one module supports twelve 3.3-V or universal PCI cards, and one module supports six 5.0-V or universal PCI cards and six 3.3-V or universal PCI cards. It can be connected to the NUMAlink port of an Origin/Onyx 350 (LINK (NI)) system or NUMAlink module (port 2,3,4,5 (R-to-R / R-to-C) only!). The PCI Expansion Module is similar to the Origin/Onyx 3000 P-Brick, but it is not interchangeable (the "PCI Expansion Module User’s Guide") covers the differences in detail.

Available Options

  • ATM OC3 (1 port)
  • ATM OC12 (1 port)
  • Gigabit Ethernet (copper/optical)
  • LVD/single-ended Ultra160 SCSI (2 ports)
  • Audio
  • Fibre Channel (optical)
  • Myrinet 2000 (1 port)

Brick Specs

Front:                  L1 controller
                        Cooling fans
Back:                   12 PCI slots
                        1 NUMAlink connector
                        status LED
Internals:              12 PCI slots

 

width:     44,5 cm / 17.50"
height:    17,8 cm /  7.00"
depth:     69,8 cm / 27.50"

weight:    31,5 kg / 70 lb

PCIX Module

General

The PCI-X Expansion Module allows to add 4 PCI-X slots (2 busses). It is added connected via the XIO port to an Origin/Onyx 350 system.

Available Options

Brick Specs

Front:                  ?
Back:                   ?
Internals:              ?			

 

width:     ? cm / ?"
height:    ? cm / ?"
depth:     ? cm / ?"

weight:    ? kg / ? lb
  

Graphics

Compute Node with Infinite Performance

The Infinite Performance graphics options are installed in the system nodes. No specific external modules are required.

Infinite Reality Graphics Module

General

This module is built to include up to 2 InfiniteReality graphics pipelines (one with 2 RM, another with 4 RM maximum). It is attached to the XIO port of a Compute Module.

Brick Specs

Front:                  L1 controller
Back:                   access to the cardcage
                        2 Ktown2 connectors
Internal:               11 card slots (1 occupied by Ktown2 board)

 

width:     48,26 cm / 17.50"
height:    80,01 cm / 19.00"
depth:     50,80 cm / 20.00"

weight:    98 kg / 215 lb
  

Ultimate Vision Graphics Module (G2)

General

The G2 module is a graphics expansion module for Onyx 4 systems that add up to two additional graphics pipelines to a system. The basic compute node G2 for Onyx 4 systems also comes with up to two graphics pipelines installed.

Graphics Options

Brick Specs

Front:                  L1 controller
                        LED: Failure, Service, Power
						   Reset button
						   NMI button
Back:                   1 Console port
                        1 L1 USB port
						   1 XIO port
					   	   1 NUMAlink port
                        3 ImageSync connectors
                        2 DVI-I connectors per pipe
                        1 stereo sync connector per pipe
Internal:               ?

 

width:     48,3 cm / 19.00" 
height:     8,8 cm /  3.46" 
depth:     66,4 cm / 26.15" 
 
weight:    up to 16,36 kg (36 lb) 

 

Router

NUMAlink Module

General

The NUMAlink Module connects up to 8 Compute Modules to one larger system with up to 32 processors.

Brick Specs

Front:                  L1 controller
                        Cooling fans
Back:                   4 R-to-R connectors (1,6,7,8)
                        4 R-to-R / R-to-C connectors (2,3,4,5)
                        LINK status LED
                        L1 USB connctor
Internals:              -		

 

width:     44,14 cm / 17.38"
height:     8,38 cm /  3.30"
depth:     60,96 cm / 27.50"

weight:    9 kg / 20 lb
  

Other

 

Chassis

 

Specials

Problems

Operating System

Choosing an operating system.

The Origin 350 / Onyx 350 and Onyx 4 are supported in IRIX 6.5 up to the final release IRIX 6.5.30.

Regardless of the system configuration it is always recommended to use IRIX 6.5.30.

Powersupply failures

Origin 350 and possibli Onyx 350 PSUs may fail.

Jan-Jaap reported a problem relating to these powersupplies which is of relevance for all owners of these machines. Owners should read the thread opened by Jan-Jaap in the Nekochan hardware forum.

Parts

Pictures

 

Links

SGI Press Releases

  • 2003, July - Unveiling the Most Powerful Advanced Visualization System at Radical New Entry Price [www.sgi.com]

SGI Website

Manuals

For additional documentation on software, optional hardware or upgrading instructions see SGIs technical publications library.