Chapter 1. Installing the PCI Digital Audio Board

This chapter explains where to find PCI board installation instructions for your workstation or server, and describes how to verify the board installation. It also explains how to connect cables once the board is in place.

The following topics are covered:

The PCI Digital Audio Board (Figure 1-1) is a half size PCI expansion board that provides multichannel digital audio expansion via the PCI bus. It connects to consumer and professional audio and video equipment via industry-standard interfaces. If your workstation has multiple PCI slots, you can install multiple PCI Digital Audio Boards for more channels of synchronized digital audio. To determine the maximum number of boards you can install in your workstation or server, see the appropriate section later in this chapter.

Figure 1-1. PCI Digital Audio Board


PCI Digital Audio Board Package

Your package includes all of the following items. If anything is missing, contact your sales representative.

  • PCI Digital Audio Board

  • breakout cable

  • fiber optic cable

  • feature cable (for use on media-ready Origin200 servers only)

  • bag of hardware for installing the board

  • antistatic wrist strap

  • PCI Digital Audio Board Installation Guide (this manual)

  • Compact disc (CD-ROM)

Installing the PCI Digital Audio Board in the O2 Workstation

In an O2 workstation, you install the PCI Digital Audio Board in the PCI module located on the system module.


Note: The feature connector (see Figure 1-1) is not used in the O2 workstation.

For instructions on how to install the board, see the section on installing PCI boards in the O2 Workstation Owner's Guide.

  • If you don't have the printed manual handy, it is available on the Internet in the SGI Technical Publications Library at the following location:
    http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/

    Choose Catalogs> Hardware Catalog > and look in the O2 section for the O2 Hardware Reference Guide.

After installing the board in the PCI tray and before replacing the system module in the O2 chassis, connect the cables. In this guide, go to “Connecting the Cables”.

Installing the PCI Digital Audio Board in the Octane and Octane2 Workstations

In Octane and Octane2 workstations, you install the PCI Digital Audio Board in the PCI module, which is an optional module. You can install the board in any open PCI slot. A maximum of three PCI Digital Audio Boards can be installed.

For instructions on installing the board, see the OCTANE PCI Module Installation Guide that came with the optional PCI module. Or see the section on installing PCI boards in the printed OCTANE or OCTANE2 Workstation Owner's Guide, which is shipped with these workstations.

If you don't have either of the printed manuals handy, the manuals are available on the Internet in the SGI Technical Publications Library at the following location:
http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/

Choose Catalogs> Hardware Catalog > and look in the Octane section for the OCTANE or OCTANE2 Workstation Owner's Guide, or the OCTANE PCI Module Installation Guide.

After installing the board in the PCI module and before reinstalling the module in the workstation, connect the cables. In this manual, go to “Connecting the Cables”.

Placing a System Upgrade Label

Figure 1-2. Rear Views of the Octane and Octane2 Workstations


If you received an Octane or Octane2 system upgrade label, place it on the system label as follows:

Face the rear of the workstation. The system label (containing the model/CMN number) is located at the top center of the rear of the workstation. Place the label over the VCCI and CISPR 22 information.

Installing the PCI Digital Audio Board in the Origin200 Server

Table 1-1 lists the maximum number of boards you can install in the Origin200 and Origin200 GIGAchannel servers and describes performance issues.

Table 1-1. Maximum Number of PCI Audio Boards in Origin200 Servers

Server Type

Maximum Number of PCI Digital Audio Boards

Where To Install the Boards for Optimum Performance

Origin200

3 per CPU module (6 max.)

Install boards starting with slot 5 in the CPU module.

Origin200 GIGAchannel

6 boards maximum in the entire system

Install boards anywhere in the GIGAchannel expansion cabinet first, then in the CPU module (starting with slot 5).

For instructions on installing the board, and how to connect the feature connector cable received with this package, see the Origin200 and Origin200 GIGAchannel Maintenance Guide.

Most manuals are available on the Internet in the SGI Technical Publications Library at the following location:
http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/

Choose Catalogs > Hardware Catalog and look in the Origin section for the appropriate manual.

After installing the board in the Origin200, return to this guide and go to “Connecting the Cables”.


Note: There are some versions of the audio board that do not support media synchronization on Origin200 servers. For a list of supported and non-supported configurations (by part number), see “ Supported Configurations for All Silicon Graphics Systems”.


Installing the PCI Digital Audio Board in Onyx 3000 Workstations and Origin 3000 Servers

You can install a maximum of six PCI Digital Audio Boards in Onyx 3000 workstations and Origin 3000 servers. For instructions on installing the board, see the sections on installing PCI boards in the I-Brick and the P-Brick in the appropriate owner's guide.


Note: The Onyx 3000 ships with one PCI Digital Audio Board installed in the I-Brick.

Most manuals are available on the Internet in the SGI Technical Publications Library at the following location:
http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/

Choose Catalogs > Hardware Catalog and look in the Onyx or Origin section for the appropriate manual.

After installing the board in the Onyx 3000 or Origin 3000, return to this guide and go to “Connecting the Cables”.


Note: If you have more than one board installed and you want to reconfigure the slot numbers for the digital audio software, call your System Administrator.


Supported Configurations for All Silicon Graphics Systems


Warning: To prevent serious physical damage, do not use audio boards with part numbers 030-0950-001 and 030-0950-002 with the IRIX-based Onyx 3000 series and Origin 3000 series, or the Windows NT-based 320 and 540 Workstations.

Table 1-2 shows the audio board compatibility information for all Silicon Graphics systems.

Table 1-2. Supported Configurations

Board part number

Compatible platforms

Notes

030-0950-001

O2, Octane, Octane2

Do not use with Origin200 media-ready servers, Origin 3000 or Onyx 3000

030-0950-002

O2, Octane, Octane2, Origin200 media-ready servers

Do not use with Origin200 nonmedia-ready servers,
Origin 3000, or Onyx 3000

030-1649-001

All platforms, except as noted

Do not use with Origin200 nonmedia-ready servers

030-1441-001

All platforms, except as noted

This board was designed for the Silicon Graphics 320 and 540 Windows NT systems but is compatible with all IRIX-based platforms if the required software is installed



Note: Do not install the 030-0950-001 audio board in Origin200 media-ready servers or the 007-1649-001 and 030-0950-002 boards in non media-ready Origin200 servers. Although these boards work, some of the functionality is lost. For example, with these boards, you cannot fully synchronize the audio in this module with audio in another module. For full operation of the PCI Digital Audio Board in an Origin200 media-ready server, use the board and the feature connector cable shipped in this package. If you install the 030-0950-001 board in a media-ready Origin200 server, the following error message appears:

The PCI Digital Audio I/O option feature connector is not detected. Be sure that the feature connector is properly installed. Note that IP29 processor modules before 030-1244-001 rev A do not support the PCI Digital Audio I/O option.

Connecting the Cables

You received three cables with your package—a fiber optic cable, a feature cable (for use on Origin200 servers only), and a breakout cable (Figure 1-3). Follow the steps below to remove the dust caps and connect the cables. (It's easier to remove the dust caps before reinstalling the PCI module in the chassis.)

  1. Remove the dust caps from the ADAT® Optical interface connectors (see Figure 1-1).

  2. Attach one end of the provided fiber optic cable to one of the ADAT connectors and the other end of the same cable to the second ADAT connector. This protects the connectors from dust until you are ready to connect a device. At that time, remove one end of the cable and connect it to the device. Use the cable provided with the optical device for the second optical interface connector.

  3. Connect the breakout cable to the DB15 connector (see Figure 1-1). The breakout cable supports video synchronization and the AES-3id digital audio standard. The black and green video ref loop cables are interchangeable.


    Note: If you are using only a video input and not looping through to another device, you must terminate the unused video connector with a 75 ohm BNC terminator.


To verify that the system recognizes the new board, see “Verifying the Hardware Installation”.

Figure 1-3. The Breakout Cable


Installing the Software

After installing the PCI Digital Audio Board, read any release notes on the CD that came in this package. In addition, read the booklet enclosed with the software CD for information on installing the software.

Verifying the Hardware Installation

After you install the PCI Digital Audio Board and the required software, follow these steps to verify that the system recognizes the new hardware:

  1. Open a UNIX® shell. At the prompt type

    hinv

    The hardware inventory list appears.

  2. Look for a line similar to this:

    Iris Audio Processor: version RAD revision 12.0, number 1

    A line appears for each PCI Digital Audio Board installed.

    If the board(s) do not appear in the hardware inventory list, turn off your workstation and repeat each step of the installation instructions. Make sure the board is fully seated in the slot.

Connecting ADAT Optical Devices

You can connect ADAT Optical interface-compatible devices to the optical input or output connectors on the PCI Digital Audio Board.


Note: Some of these devices provide the option of clocking their inputs either externally or internally. Often the default is set to internal clocking. For output to these devices to work properly, you must configure them to use external clocking. Refer to the manual that comes with the device for instructions on how to do this.