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Conference bgsdev::open3d

Title:open3d
Notice:Kits on notes 3 and 4; Documents note 223
Moderator:WRKSYS::COULTER
Created:Wed Dec 09 1992
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1306
Total number of notes:5260

1279.0. "AS255/ZLXP2-E/4.0B X hangs machine" by RHETT::ORENDORF () Thu Apr 24 1997 18:10

    
    I've got a customer running 4.0B on an AlphaStation 255 with a
    ZLXp2-E (PBXGB-AA).  The machine is hanging fairly often and
    giving Machine Checks that point to the graphics card (which
    has been replaced several times).
    
    The problem looks like a known issue with the card/OS/machine
    combination - there's a STARS article which says the problem
    is solved by installing Open3D 4.0 or higher.  However,
    the customer is adamant about the fact that he *cannot*
    install Open3D on the machine due to a third party
    application that they're running (the manual for the app
    explicitly states that Open3D must *not* be installed).
    
    Is there any other fix for this problem?  Can the drivers for
    this card be extracted from the Open3D subsets and installed
    rather than installing the whole kit?  What are the minimum
    subsets that can be installed from Open3D?
    
    Any suggestions/hints/recommendations appreciated.
    
    -Jason
    [email protected]

    
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1279.1No Open3D, no supportWRKSYS::COULTERIf this typewriter can't do it, ...Thu Apr 24 1997 21:1817
    The minimum you need is a new driver and a new ddx, for
    the specific device you have.  Then you need to re-build
    your kernel.
    
    But ... could you maybe tell us what the app is?  Open3D
    contains the latest-and-greatest drivers and 2D code for
    devices.  That's what even a 2D app needs.  Is there some
    side-effect that we should know about?  Contact the app
    writer?  To deny Digital the opportunity to fix bugs is
    pretty harsh.  [Oh, and by the way, Open3D is FISed onto
    the disks prior to shipment.  So unless he's re-installing
    UNIX from CD-ROM, he's got it anyway.  A little ironic,
    isn't it?]
    
    So, unless you install Open3D, you're on your own:  that's
    our bug-fix mechanism.
    
1279.2What's he really need?NNTPD::"[email protected]"Jason OrendorfThu Apr 24 1997 23:3515
Thanks for the info; it jives with what I've told him.  You stated that the
necessary components are a new driver and ddx.  What files from the open3d
kit make up the driver and ddx?  Looking at the subsets from Jan '97 SPL
(open3d 4.3) I'm guessing he'll need lib_dec_ffb.so & lib_dec_ffb.so.EV5
(from O3DDWSZLXE430 - driver??).  What else.  At a minimum, does he need
to install O3DDWSZLXE430, O3DDWSBASE430, O3DDWSCOMMON430, & O3DDWSCONFIG430?

I'll try to get more info about the app from the FE.  Last I talked with him
he didn't know too much about the details.

Thanks again,

-Jason
[Posted by WWW Notes gateway]
1279.3WRKSYS::COULTERIf this typewriter can't do it, ...Fri Apr 25 1997 09:0720
    Well, the easy thing to do is install Open3D on a different
    machine, and then pull the files you need from that machine.
    
    For pure 2D work, all you need is the correct lib_dec_ffb.so
    (the EV4 or EV5 version), and tga.o (the driver).  However,
    for 3D work, it's a lot more complicated:  the client libraries
    and server extensions all have to be "right" -- which is where
    the intelligent, hard-working install script is a big help.
    
    Before anyone adds or changes anything, take a look at what's
    already there.  As I said, Open3D is FISed anyway;  some version
    is present, and you only want to change compatible files.
    
    And if a customer gets bug fixes this way, they are an
    unsupported customer:  we have to be able to say "install the
    following Open3D kit ..." to help with problems.
    
    The "solutions" being discussed in this thread will ultimately
    cause the customer a bigger problem down the road.  Find out why
    there documentation says NOT to install Open3D.  
1279.4try loading without a licenseHYDRA::DONSBACHJeff Donsbach, Software Partner Engineering, DTN 297-6862Fri Apr 25 1997 12:2610
    
    If the presence of the GLX extension in the X server somehow
    confuses the app, install Open 3D on the macine, but don't
    install a license. That way you'll be getting all the latest
    driver bits.
    
    just a suggestion...
    
    -Jeff
    
1279.5WRKSYS::COULTERIf this typewriter can't do it, ...Sat Apr 26 1997 01:097
    Not installing the license can cause a little problem
    on occasion (OK, it's a small bug :-).  Not loading
    the extension is a better idea (modify the config file).
    
    But let's not guess:  again, find out why the app says
    "don't install Open3D".  Then we can deal with it.
    
1279.6Thanks for info / followup.NNTPD::"[email protected]"Jason OrendorfThu May 01 1997 18:2013
Thanks for the info.  With much arm-twisting, the FE has been convinced to
install the minimum subsets from Open3D.  The application in questions is
called IDL (no other info).  According to the customer, when he installed
Open3D before "it took up too much disk space", "it messed with the colors",
and "IDL didn't run with it".  Not many specifics as you can see...  Anyway,
Open3D was supposed to have been installed & I haven't heard anything back
from the FE, so I'm guessing that with Open3D installed correctly, everything
is OK.

Thanks again.
-Jason
[Posted by WWW Notes gateway]