2832 - POWER GXT120P GFX & 44P Model 170 1

[jpor2003]

All,

I currently have a 7044-170 44P Model 170 Workstation. As it stands it has no Graphics card. I have the opportunity of obtaining a GXT120P card. But the blurb for the Model 170 only lists the GXT130P as the entry level card of choice. Is it possible to use a GXT120P in the Model 170 workstation and use this to drive X-windows?

Thanks.

Jon.

 

[DukeSSD]

http://publib16.boulder.ibm.com/pseries/en_US/infocenter/base/hardware_docs/pdf/380538.pdf

According to the PCI adapter placement guide the FC 2838 GTX120P is not supported on the 44p 170.

From the comments about the F80 it looks like this is a 5 volt card and I guess the 170 only supports 3.3 volt cards.

 

[DukeSSD]

Page 7 of the service guide says slots 3, 4, 5 and 6 are 5V:

http://publib16.boulder.ibm.com/pseries/en_US/infocenter/base/hardware_docs/pdf/380560.pdf

Double check my info, but it looks like it might work in one of these slots.

Bear in mind that IBM won't support it for some reason, like they just didn't bother testing it, or it is not compatible, or any number of reasons.

You only have one system board and that is what it will break if things go wrong - try it at your own risk...and worst case be prepared for your motherboard to go up in smoke...

I'd not try it, too much at stake, find one of the supported cards mentioned in the adapter guide to be on the safe side.

 

[jpor2003]

Thanks DukeSSD. Managed to get hold of the card in question. Turns out to be a Matrox Mystique. Put the card into any of the PCI slots but get no display at boot-up. Managed to connect through Telent session. Looked at the card via AIX 5.3 and it shows up as a GXT120P. But only in 'Defined' mode. When Try the mkdev command to make it available. It bleats that the Vital Product Data cannot be found. Anyways I am now in the midsts of obataining a GXT200P which I believe is supported. Hopefully I'll have better luck with that card.

 

[DukeSSD]

I don't think there ever was a GTX200P, I hope you mean GTX2000P, type 1-S, Feature code 2823, which is supported.
You will need to install new filesets to use the card though: devices.pci.1410b800.*
If the system was installed without a video card you will also need to install X11.
If you want to use the graphics card as the console you wil also need to muck about with your console config and probably the /etc/dt/config/Xservers file.

 

[jpor2003]

Thanks DukeSSD. I do mean a GTX2000P. Looking at the installed filesets, I already seem to have support installed for the GTX2000P.
Coming back to running the main console through the card. Just out of a matter of interest. When I plug in the GXT2000P, should I see on the computer monitor screen the standrad boot-up screen with the options 1 - SMS
Etc? This is one of the reasons why I am opting to putting this card into the machine, instead of relying on running a serial cable into a PC running Hyperterminal.

 

[DukeSSD]

Yes you should but the service console it a bit of a mythical beast. You may need to do a service mode boot to get the firmware to ask you to select the console, the old "type 1 and press enter to use this as the system console...etc" type message. After you have done that once you should be fine.

 

[jpor2003]

Thanks again DukeSSD. Just need to get hold that card now.