User`s guide

007-4701-003 xvii
About This Guide
This guide provides an overview of the Silicon Graphics Prism Visualization System
components and describes how to set up and operate this system.
The most basic Silicon Graphics Prism consists of a base compute module combined with
an extensible graphics 2-processor capable node module (XG2N module). Larger
systems use a base compute module, XG2N module(s), and other optional modules that
are rackmounted together. The following optional modules are available:
• A CPU expansion module provides zero, one or two additional 64-bit Intel
processors and up to 24 GB of memory. No PCI or disk options are available in this
module.
• A CPU, memory and PCI/PCI-X expansion (CMPX) module provides zero, one or
two optional processors, up to 24 GB of memory, and four PCI and PCI-X card slots.
• A Router module provides eight NUMAlink-4 ports and functions as a high-speed
switch to route network packets between base compute, XG2N, CPU expansion,
and CMPX modules.
• The SGI TP900 storage module provides additional disk storage to the system. For
detailed information about this module, see SGI Total Performance 900 Storage System
User’s Guide (007-4428-00x). Note than an optional SCSI PCI card is required to use
this option in a Silicon Graphics Prism.
This guide is written for owners, system administrators, and users of the Silicon Graphics
Prism. It is written with the assumption that the reader has a good general knowledge of
computer graphics and computer operations.