Systems

Origin 200

Introduction

General

The Origin 200 (codename "Speedo") is the entry level server of the Origin line. Although being designed with an entry budget in mind the Origin 200 is based on the same core technologies as the larger scale Origin 2000 system: Silicon Graphics distributed Scalable Shared-memory MultiProcessing architecture (S2MP), the CrayLink interconnection and MIPS R10000 or later RISC CPUs.

The Origin 200 is a deskside tower system, much smaller in size than the larger Origin 2000. A single tower can support dual processors and can be Cray-linked to another tower to build a larger Origin 200 system, which is also the Origin 200 maximum configuration with four processors. The towers are enclosed in the usual heavy sheetmetal which is covered in decent but brittle blue plastics.

Unless otherwise noted the text below describes a single-tower system.

Configuration

History

1996, 2nd half

Origin 200 series introduced

1998, August

MIPS R10000 processors with 225 Mhz introduced to Origin 200 series

2002, January

End of Production announced for 30 June 2002.

2002, June

End of Production

2007, June

End of Service

Processor

The processors for the Origin 200 are located on daughtercards called PIMM that are installed on the mainboard. Each PIMM contains 1 or 2 processors and 1 or 4 MB secondary cache.

Only one module can be installed, so an upgrade always requires a replacement of the complete PIMM. It is not possible to upgrade a 1 CPU Origin 200 by just adding another 1 CPU module.

Memory

Type:                   DIMM, SDRAM
Sockets:                8 (4 * 2 sockets)

Minimum configuration:  32 MB (2 16 MB DIMMs (16MBit))
Maximum configuration:  2 GB (8 256MB DIMMs (64MBit)) 

DIMMs are available in sizes of 16, 32, 64 and 256 MB. The memory modules used in the Origin 200 and Origin 2000 / Onyx 2 are of the same type.

Colors are used to distinguish between the different memory modules:

GREEN        64 MB
WHITE       128 MB
RED         256 MB
  

Graphics

Although the Origin 200 systems have keyboard and mouse ports SGI has never released any graphics options for them. The existance of these ports may indicate that SGI originally planned to offer the Origin with graphics.

PsiTech made a PCI board that could be used as a graphics head in an Origin 200 system. A local copy of the datasheet is available on this page. A PCI Cardcage is required to install this board.

It is unsupported but it has been reported that it is possible to add a single Impact graphics head in the second tower of a GigaChannel Origin 200 (see below).

Other

While in the larger Origin 2000 systems the IO subsystem is located in a dedicated part of the hardware (IO6 board) than the nodeboard, the lower end Origin 200 has an integrated motherboard that also includes all IO functionality:

• 1 10/100Base-TX
• 2 460Kbaud Serial
• 1 parallel port
• 1 Fast Wide UltraSCSI internally routed to the internal 3-1/2” disks (up to 6)
• 1 Fast Narrow UltraSCSI internally routed to the internal 5-1/4” devices (up to 2)
• 3 PCI-64/32 full-size slots for expansion
• 1 CrayLink interface to connect a second tower to the system
• 2 XIO interfaces (A/B) on GIGAchannel Origin 200 systems

Options

GIGAchannel

GIGAchannel Origin 200 systems come with a second tower that does include additional expansion slots instead of an Origin 200 system.

The GIGAchannel tower adds 5 XIO slots and 4 PCI slots to the system, which can be either a single or dual tower Origin 200 system.

Required is the Crosstown board for the base Origin 200 system which enables the XIO connection between the host computer and the GIGAchannel tower.

Chassis

The chassis has a slot for a single 5.25" device (a CD-ROM for example) five slots for 3.5" devices.

width:     22,8 cm /  9.0"
height:    58,4 cm / 23.0"
depth:     63,5 cm / 26.5"

weight:    27 kg / 59 lbs (min.) 

The size of the GIGAchannel tower is the same.

Specials

WebFORCE

Silicon Graphics sold the WebFORCE Origin 200 as an entry point to the scalable line of WebFORCE Origin dedicated servers. As usual the WebFORCE systems came with a special software bundle for Inter- and Intranet solutions:

• Netscape Enterprise server 2.0
• Silicon Graphics WebMeter
• Intranet Junction

Rugged Version

CRI, a division of RSI Inc., is building rugged rackmount versions of this system.

Problems

Operating System

Choosing an operating system.

When the Origin line was introduced the system specific IRIX 6.4 was released. Later models may require a different OS release to support the hardware. The systems are also supported by IRIX 6.5 including the final release IRIX 6.5.30.

Regardless of the system configuration it is always recommended to use IRIX 6.5.30.

Parts

Pictures

Links

Manuals

• Origin 200 Owner's Guide
• Origin 200 and Origin 200 GIGAchannel Owner's Guide
• Origin 200 and Origin 200 GIGAchannel Maintenance Guide
• Origin Vault Owner's Guide

Websites