Origin 2000

A deskside Origin 2000 server
A deskside Origin 2000 server

For the graphics deskside variant, see the Onyx2 article
The SGI Origin 2000, code name Lego, is the successor of the SGI Challenge line. Sold in deskside, rack and multi-rack configurations, the Origin 2000 is a highly modular and scalable system.

Another angle of the Origin 2000 Deskside
Another angle of the Origin 2000 Deskside

Features

Each Origin 2000 module is based on nodes that are plugged into a midplane. Each module can contain up to four node boards, two router boards and twelve XIO options. The modules are then mounted inside a deskside enclosure or a rack. Deskside enclosures can only contain one module, while racks can contain two. In configurations with more than two modules, multiple racks are used.

The following table shows a list of models and their possible configurations:

Model CPUs Memory I/O Chassis
Origin 2100 2 to 8 Up to 16 GB 12 XIO Deskside
Origin 2200 2 to 8 Up to 16 GB 12 XIO Deskside
Origin 2400 8 to 32 Up to 64 GB 96 XIO 1-4 Racks
Origin 2800 32 to 128 Up to 256 GB (512 GB unsupported) 384 XIO 1 to 9 racks (with Meta Router)


A 3-slot PCI cage can be installed as well as a maximum of 10 XIO cards, giving a massive amount of expandability. This is in addition to 5 hard disks and one 5.25 option drive.

An Origin 2000 and Onyx2 rack server. The top module only contains graphics
An Origin 2000 and Onyx2 rack server. The top module only contains graphics

CPU

The following table shows the possible CPU configurations.

Processor Clockspeed Cache
R10000 180 MHz 1MB R10000
R10000 195 MHz 4MB R10000
R10000 250 MHz 4MB R10000
R12000 300 MHz 8MB R12000
R12000 350 MHz 4MB R12000
R12000 400 MHz 8MB R12000
R14000 500 MHz 8MB R12000

Memory

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. To support the Origin 2000 distributed shared memory model, the memory modules are proprietary and include directory memory, which contains information on the contents of remote caches for maintaining cache coherency, supporting up to 32 processors. Additional directory memory is required in configurations with more than 32 processors. The additional directory memory is contained on proprietary DIMMs that are inserted into eight DIMM slots set aside for its use.

IO6

An IO6 base I/O board is present in every system. It is a XIO card that provides:

  • a 10/100BASE-TX Ethernet port
  • 2 Serial ports provided by dual UARTs
  • 1 internal Fast 20 UltraSCSI single-ended port
  • 1 external wide UltraSCSI, singled ended port
  • 1 real-time interrupt output for frame sync
  • 1 real-time interrupt input (edge triggered)

Also on the card is the Flash PROM, NVRAM and real time clock of the system.

PCI

The system can utilize PCI with the addition of an Origin 2000 XIO PCI "Shoebox" or individual XTalk PCI adapters inserted in the cage. These are the same sort form factor as Octane units.

Operating System Support

IRIX Versions from 6.4 to 6.5.30 supports the Origin 2000.