____________________________________________________ OpenVMS Alpha Support for 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller two-dimensional (2D) support software November 2000 Software Version: OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.2-1 This documentation provides information for installing and modifying the 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller two-dimensional (2D) support software on an OpenVMS system. The method used to load the software is directly dependent on the version of OpenVMS that you will be installing or upgrading to. Section 1.1, Installation, explains in detail the steps that must be taken for each of the different OpenVMS versions. The behavior of the 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller support software may be modified after installation on OpenVMS by editing the appropriate files and issuing DCL commands. (See Section 1.5.) 1.0 Required Software kits --------------------------- The following table lists information on which software kits are required to install 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller support on your Alpha platform. The kits can be downloaded from the world wide web at: http://www.support.compaq.com/patches/* or, kits can be copied by anonymous ftp at: ftp1.support.compaq.com in VMS version specific subdirectories of /public/vms/axp/ Table 1-0 OpenVMS Version Supporting the 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- OpenVMS Version | Required Kit(s) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- V7.3 | No separate software kits are necessary. The 3Dlabs | OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller support software | will be fully integrated into OpenVMS Version 7.3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- V7.2-1H1 | VMS721H1_VX1-V0100 (or later) | VMS721H1_UPDATE-V0300 (or later) | VMS721H1_CPU2208-V0100 (or later) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- V7.2-1 | VMS721_VX1-V0100 (or later) | VMS721_PCSI-V0100 (or later) | VMS721_UPDATE-V0100 (or later) | VMS721_CPU2208-V0100 (or later) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- V7.1-2 | VMS712_VX1-V0100 (or later) | VMS62TO71U2_PCSI-V0200 (or later) | VMS712_UPDATE-V0300 (or later) | VMS712_CPU2208-V0100 (or later) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prior to V7.1-2 | 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller support | is not available on versions of OpenVMS prior to V7.2-1 Note: Where applicable the OpenVMS PCSI kit should be installed first. Installation order of any of the other kits is not important. 1.1 Installation ----------------- This section covers installation of the 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller software driver on various versions of the OpenVMS operating system. 1.1.1 OpenVMS Version 7.3 Installation For OpenVMS Version 7.3 and higher, the 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller support software will be automatically loaded following installation Of OpenVMS and becomes active when the operating system is booted. No other action needs to be taken by the system operator. 1.1.2 OpenVMS Versions 7.1-2, 7.2-1, and 7.2-1H1 After the appropriate kits for your version of OpenVMS are downloaded, the 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller support software is installed by using the POLYCENTER Software installation utility. To install the kit, log into the SYSTEM account, and type the following command at the DCL prompt: PRODUCT INSTALL VMS***_VX1 /SOURCE=[location of Kit] *** = the version of OpenVMS that is running on the system, i.e. 712, 721 or 721H1. For example, for a V7.2-1H1 system you would enter the command: PRODUCT INSTALL VMS721H1_VX1 /SOURCE=[location of Kit] The location of the kit may be a tape drive, CD, or a disk directory that contains the kit. To install a PCSI or UPDATE kit, follow the installation directions included in that kit's Release Notes. If you ordered the 3Dlbas OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller separately, then follow the additional instructions provided with the module to install the appropriate support software contained on the CD-ROM shipped with the module. Also, check the World Wide Web at: http://www.support.compaq.com/patches/ for newer patch kits that may have superseded the installation CD-ROM provided. Additional help on installing PCSI kits can be found by typing HELP PRODUCT INSTALL at the system prompt. 1.1.3 Reboot Requirements In order for the 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller two-dimensional (2D) support software to become active, a system reboot is required. It is not necessary to reboot the system after installation of each required kit. Reboot can be delayed until all kits are installed. Compaq strongly recommends that a reboot is performed immediately after kit(s) installation to avoid system instability. If you have other nodes in your OpenVMS cluster, they must also be rebooted in order to make use of the new image(s). If it is not possible or convenient to reboot the entire cluster at this time, a rolling re-boot may be performed. 1.2 Video Resolutions Supported -------------------------------- The 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller is capable of supporting the graphics resolutions and refresh rates shown in Table 1-2. Table 1-2 Supported Video Modes and Refresh Rates ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resolution Color Depths (Bits per Pixel) Refresh Rates ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 640 x 480 8, 16, 24 60, 65, 70, 75, 85 Hz 800 x 600 8, 16, 24 60, 65, 70, 75, 85 Hz 1024 x 768 8, 16, 24 60, 65, 70, 75, 85 Hz 1152 x 870 8, 16, 24 60, 65, 70, 75, 85 Hz 1152 x 900 8, 16, 24 60, 65, 70, 75, 85 Hz 1280 x 1024 8, 16, 24 60, 65, 70, 75, 85 Hz 1600 x 1200 8, 16, 24 60, 65, 70, 75 Hz 1600 x 1280 8, 16, 24 60, 65, 70 Hz 1920 x 1080 8, 16 60, 65, 70 HZ 1920 x 1200 8, 16 60, 65, 70 HZ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The modes available are dependent on monitor capabilities. In general, refresh rates below 70 Hz are discouraged, as they tend to show flicker based on the lighting source and surrounding equipment. The available resolution is monitor dependent. All heads must have the same pixel depth. The pixel depth default is 8 bits per pixel. 1.3 Default Graphics Settings ------------------------------ The default graphics resolution is 1024 x 768. The default refresh rate is set to 70 Hz and the default color depth is set to 8 bits per pixel. 1.4 Determining Current Settings --------------------------------- To find the current settings under OpenVMS, issue the following two commands, in order, at the DCL prompt: $ @decw$utils:decw$define_utils $ xdpyinfo In addition, you can show the following logical names at the DCL prompt: $ show logical/system decw$server pixel_depth $ show logical/system decw$server refresh_rate $ show logical/table=decw$server* *size_in_pixels If any of these logicals is not defined, then the respective default is in effect (See section 1.3). Alternatively, you can also view the following error log file to determine the current settings: $ type sys$manager:decw$server_0_error.log 1.5 Overriding Default Settings -------------------------------- To change any of the default settings, follow these steps: 1. Copy or rename the SYS$MANAGER: DECW$PRIVATE_SERVER_SETUP.TEMPLATE file to create a new command (.com) file called DECW$PRIVATE_SERVER_SETUP.COM. 2. Now make the edits for the settings you want to change using a text editor, and save the file. 3. For the changes to take effect immediately you must then restart the Xserver so that the new command file and changed settings will be used. The command to do this is as follows: $ @SYS$MANAGER:DECW$STARTUP RESTART The new file settings will now override the original default settings. The DECW$PRIVATE_SERVER_SETUP procedure contains documentation for many of the default Xserver settings which may be changed. For more information on making changes to the default settings, symbols and system-wide logicals, refer to the manual titled Managing DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS Systems. This document describes the symbols and settings that can be changed in the DECW$PRIVATE_SERVER_SETUP.COM file. For a copy of the document contact your local sales support representative or visit Compaq's web site located at http://www.compaq.com. Additional system logicals are described in the file SYS$MANAGER:DECW$DEVICE_CONFIG_GF.COM. However, this file should not be modified. If you wish to make changes to the default logicals defined within it, please redefine them in the DECW$PRIVATE_SERVER_SETUP.COM file. These changes will supersede the logicals assigned in the device configuration file. Some of the items you can change via system logicals are described in the device configuration file but are not normally defined in DECW$PRIVATESERVER_SETUP.COM file. Those logical default settings not defined in that file but that can be changed include the following items: DECW$XSIZE_IN_PIXELS (Set by global symbols) DECW$YSIZE_IN_PIXELS (Set by global symbols) DECW$SERVER_REFRESH_RATE (Set by logical name) DECW$SERVER_PIXEL_DEPTH (Set by logical name) 1.6 Multihead Support ---------------------- Multiple 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controllers may reside on the same system. However, only one will be used for the VGA console. The supported number and configuration of multiple 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controllers varies by platform. OpenVMS can support up to four devices on a single system. The actual maximum is a combination of the number of slots available and the number of heads (graphics modules) qualified for each of the platforms. Other software may put additional restrictions on the number of units supported. Other documentation shipped with your workstation or server may put specific limitations on the number and configurations for multihead support. Therefore, you should refer to the appropriate documentation set for limitations or exclusions that are appropriate to your situation. The 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller is not supported in conjunction with any other graphics board residing in the same system. 1.6.1 Matching Primary Screen with VGA Console Screen 0 is always the VGA enabled head and must be installed in the lowest numbered slot of ALL installed graphics cards and must be placed on the PCI bus containing the ISA bridge. If you wish to change a screen with any of the console displays, you can alter the logical order for mapping of physical screens to logical screens by making a copy of the file DECW$PRIVATE_SERVER_SETUP.TEMPLATE and saving it to a new file named DECW$PRIVATE_SERVER_SETUP.COM. You can then make changes to the default settings by editing the newly created file. Reference Section 1.5 for details on changing the default settings. WARNING: Changing the default settings in the DECW$PRIVATE_SERVER_SETUP.COM file to try matching a screen with a console display can have unanticipated and adverse consequences. You should attempt to perform this operation only if you fully understand all possible consequences including the chance for loss of your primary screen. 1.8 Messages ------------- Server messages are typically logged to the DECW$SERVER_0_ERROR.LOG file located in the SYS$MANAGER directory. Be sure to check this file first for informational messages related to any problems that are encountered during installation or usage.