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Thread: Linux or a free UNIX-like on an SGI?

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    Linux or a free UNIX-like on an SGI?

    Hi all,

    I inherited an old SGI Indigo2 Impact R10k from an old workplace. Currently it's serving as the world's most expensive coffee table (a sin, I know!) but I'd like to put it to some proper use. The IRIX install on it is broken and I don't have original install media to reinstall it. Anyone got any ideas for a half-decent Linux distro or a free UNIX-like that can be installed on it?

    TIA,
    8bit
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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    the only UNIX that'll go on it is IRIX - and you can't legally get the media. that & IRIX is nasty as all hell.

    best option is Debian MIPS.

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    Agent of the System ikonia's Avatar
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    The Gentoo Mips build would probably work and is a tad more active than the debian project.

    You may want to look in general at the linux-mips project and see what they are saying. They are a good group and contribute to a lot of projects.
    It is Inevitable.....


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    Fried Chip Extremist alsenior's Avatar
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    You could run net bsd or open bsd. Both are similar to IRIX.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay View Post
    What kind of emergency would need Windows 95? I think you are already in a bad state of emergency when your backup plan is Windows 95.
    Beginners guide to raid Beginners guide to raid post edition Hexus.Social - FAQ

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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    BSD's a reasonable enough idea

    it all comes down to what you want to be able to do with the machine

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    A shadowy flight. MSIC's Avatar
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    I'll paypal you 10 quid if you can get windows to run on it
    Edit: NATIVELY! Not virtualised!
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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MSIC View Post
    I'll paypal you 10 quid if you can get windows to run on it
    Edit: NATIVELY! Not virtualised!
    will you be providing him with the several million lines of windows source code?

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    Agent of the System ikonia's Avatar
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    I have Windows NT4 on Alpha CD rom if anyone wants to run it on an alpha
    It is Inevitable.....


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    Quote Originally Posted by directhex View Post
    BSD's a reasonable enough idea
    Hehe I love BSD - it will run on almost anything

  10. #10
    Are you Junglin' guy? jamin's Avatar
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    Ah man I love those Silicon G's You should polish the old girl up, put her on a pedestal and feed her caviar and pink champagne!

    Pure "vintage" comuter pron.

    Oh yeah, and I'm with MSIC. I'll send you a £10 cheque if you get that NATIVE windoze install running without hanging yourself after 5 minutes!
    Beer is life, life is good!

  11. #11
    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spud1 View Post
    Hehe I love BSD - it will run on almost anything
    linux passed netbsd for number-of-platforms a while back

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    Theoretical Element Spud1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by directhex View Post
    linux passed netbsd for number-of-platforms a while back
    Really? I thought that BSD varients were still king when you consider the number of embedded systems running it..but Linux could easily have taken over in recent years I guess, I don't have any up to date info really.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by directhex View Post
    linux passed netbsd for number-of-platforms a while back
    If you're talking about freely-available, user installable distros/variants then no, NetBSD can be got and installed on about 40 or 50 different architectures. Most linux distros are available to support a handful of different architectures only, some only on x86 and x86-64.

    However, if you're talking about specifically built, customised versions for embedded applications like mobile phones, set-top boxes, ePOS devices etc. etc. then it becomes a slightly different story. Montavista Linux has been customised for hundreds of different devices covering a range of archs just for starters. Things like NetBSD can often be installed on these as well but not without very detailed technical knowledge of the target device.

    Back on-topic, my search for an alternative to IRIX for my Indigo2 goes on. NetBSD and OpenBSD don't seem to cover the IP28 architecture (R10k CPU). Gentoo is looking like a possibility but the chances are it won't support any of the framebuffer cards in the machine. I'm now toying with the idea of scooping out its innards and modding the case to take an ATX PC motherboard
    "shiro" - Windows 11 Home x64 :: Intel i5-12600K :: Corsair H115i :: MSI Z690-A Pro :: 2x 16GB Kingston HyperX DDR5 :: NVidia 4070 Super FE :: Corsair Force MP600 (1TB) :: WD Caviar Black (2TB) :: WD Caviar Green (2TB) :: Corsair Carbide Air 540 (white) :: LG 32QK500 2560x1440 :: Razer Pro Click :: Cherry KC6000 Slim ::

  14. #14
    Fried Chip Extremist alsenior's Avatar
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    if you could get some media you can get trial keys from sgi's site.

    imho it would be a travesty for any piece of working sgi gear to be scrapped for a X86 puter
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay View Post
    What kind of emergency would need Windows 95? I think you are already in a bad state of emergency when your backup plan is Windows 95.
    Beginners guide to raid Beginners guide to raid post edition Hexus.Social - FAQ

  15. #15
    Fried Chip Extremist alsenior's Avatar
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    Just found some media for sale in the us. if you still have it.
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...LanguageToggle

    Edit: found some in ireland http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SGI-IRIX-6-5-8...QQcmdZViewItem
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay View Post
    What kind of emergency would need Windows 95? I think you are already in a bad state of emergency when your backup plan is Windows 95.
    Beginners guide to raid Beginners guide to raid post edition Hexus.Social - FAQ

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