Other

Input Devices

Keyboards

Warning

Some of the proprietary input devices use the same connector as the later PS/2 devices. Connecting a PS/2 device to the proprietary port and vice versa may result in hardware damage.

IRIS Keyboard

About the input devices for the original Motorola based IRIS systems virtually nothing is known. They might share some traits with the devices used for IRIS4Ds given their general appearance. While the basic styling of the keyboard is the same as the of the one that was used on later IRIS4Ds, the original IRIS keyboards have fewer keys and a slightly different layout.

IRIS4D Keyboard

Description

The IRIS4D keyboard comes in different shapes and with different connectors/cables but they all share the same basic technology. The technical specifications including pinouts for this type of keyboard using a serial interface can be read from within IRIX on the keyboard(7) manpage.

Part Numbers

021-0006-00?        -  Crimson/PowerSeries Keyboard
021-0800-00?        -  Personal Iris Keyboard
9500801             -  Personal Iris/Indigo Keyboard (slab)

Pictures

 

 

Onyx Keyboard

Description

Onyx systems come with a Granite Slab keyboard that is technically the same as the classic IRIS4D/Indigo keyboard.

Part Numbers

041-0136-001        -  Onyx Keyboard (granite slab)

Pictures

 

PS/2 Keyboard

Description

On newer systems (as Indigo 2, Indy and newer) SGI has dropped using their proprietary input devices and switched to PS/2 compatible inputs. So basically one is no longer required to use original SGI parts here. Technically any PS/2 compatible input device should work within reasonable limitations. Technical specifications are available from within IRIX on the pckeyboard(7) manpage.

Part Numbers

062-0002-00?        -  PS/2 Keyboard (granite)
9500904             -  PS/2 Keyboard (granite slab)

Pictures

 

Mice

Warning

Some of the proprietary input devices use the same connector as the later PS/2 devices. Connecting a PS/2 device to the proprietary port and vice versa may result in hardware damage.

IRIS Mouse

About the input devices for the original Motorola based IRIS systems virtually nothing is known. They might share some traits with the devices used for IRIS4Ds given their general appearance. The mouse looks exactly the same as the one that is used for the IRIS4Ds later on.

IRIS4D Mouse

Description

The IRIS4D mouse comes as two different types: An optical mouse with a DB9 connector for older style IRIS4D keyboards and a mechanical mouse with 6pin MiniDIN connector. Regarding their interface to the host system they all share the same basic technology. The technical specifications including pinouts for this type of mouse using a serial interface can be read from within IRIX on the mouse(7) manpage. Note that there is no mouseport on the system itself. The mouse is attached to a connector on either side of the keyboard.

Part Numbers

021-0004-00?        -  Personal Iris/Crimson/PowerSeries Mouse (optical)
9150800             -  Personal Iris/Indigo Mouse (mechanical)

Pictures

Onyx Mouse

Description

Onyx systems come with a granite mouse that is technically the same as the classic IRIS4D/Indigo mouse.

Part Numbers

041-0141-001        -  Onyx Mouse (granite mechanical)

Pictures

PS/2 Mouse

Description

On newer systems (as Indigo 2, Indy and newer) SGI has dropped using their proprietary input devices and switched to PS/2 compatible inputs. So basically one is no longer required to use original SGI parts here. Technically any PS/2 compatible input device should work within reasonable limitations. Technical specifications are available from within IRIX on the pcmouse(7) manpage.

Part Numbers

063-0001-00?        -  PS/2 Mouse (granite)
063-0009-00?        -  PS/2 Mouse (granite)

Pictures

Various

Dials and Buttons

Description

The Dials and Buttons are two pieces of input hardware that are now legacy hardware for quite a while. The package consits of two small boxes - one with 8 Dial inputs, the other with 32 Button inputs (hence the names).

Operation

The functions of the individual items on the Dials and Buttons boxes can be configured within the applications that support such devices. For their operation an external powersupply is required, which originally was shipped with the Button box only.

The Dials box is connected to the Buttons box which again connects to the host system. The powersupply also attaches to the Buttons box. Using the original cable for IRIS4D systems the whole setup can connect to one of the powered serial ports this way:

HOST -> PSU -> BUTTONS -> DIALS

If the powered serial ports are not used both the Dials and Buttons boxes have connectors for external powersupplies.

Software

Software support is available from within IRIX. The packages containing Dials and Buttons support are eoe.optinput.*.

Spaceball / Spacemouse

Description

The Spaceball and Spacemouse was a series of 3D input devices introduced by Labtec and that is used on a variety of workstations, of course including Silicon Graphics systems. Support can still be found on the 3Dconnexion website.

The most common model which isn't too rare is the Spaceball 2003, but also Spaceball 3003 and Spaceball 4000 are known to be supported by commercial applications on IRIX.

Pictures