Gentoo/MIPS Linux Hardware Requirements

1.  General Requirements

System Requirements

The exact requirements will largely depend on what you intend to use the machine for and how you wish to go about installing Gentoo. The following table should give you a rough idea.

A Note about serial consoles

If you lack an appropriate Framebuffer, you will be required to use serial console. Serial console programs for linux include minicom and xc, and for Windows, HyperTerminal and Tera Term Pro. If you are running Windows, and intend to use HyperTerminal, it is advised that you seek out an updated client from the program's website instead of the one installed by default. An upgraded client provides much better serial support than the default one installed by Windows.

User Testimonies & Kernel Configurations

As an aid to the project, a hardware support database has been set up. This support database is intended to provide a quick and easy way to determine how well certain configurations are supported. The system also allows people to contribute their comments and kernel configs.

2.  Silicon Graphics Systems -- Stable

The following systems are known to be very stable overall. Just about all the core hardware is supported in these systems, and there are very few outstanding stability issues at this time.

IP22: Indy, Indigo 2 and Challenge S

• Processor Options (Stable):
  • (on Indy and Challenge S) R4000, R4400, R4600, R5000
  • (on Indigo 2) R4000, R4400
• Kernel Support:
  • Linux 2.4: Stable
  • Linux 2.6: Experimental
• Kernel Architecture Support:
  • 32-bit: Stable
  • 64-bit: Experimental
• Userland Support:
  • o32: Stable
  • n32: Experimental (Only on Linux 2.6 R5000/RM5200)
  • n64: Not Available In Gentoo
• Notes:
  1. At present, only the Newport (XL) graphics framebuffer is supported in Linux. Therefore on systems with other framebuffers, you will need to use serial console.
  2. The Challenge S has its RJ-45 connector on a daughter board (Mezz) linked with an unsupported SCSI adapter, a WD33C95A. In order for this network connector to function, this SCSI bus needs to be activated, however it is not yet supported by Linux. As a result of this, the Challenge S can only get network connectivity via its AUI connector.
  3. Indigo2 EISA Support is highly experimental. It isn't very well tested and may not work with all hardware. Hardware that it is known to function with is listed, and as more compatible hardware is discovered, it will be added. Please note that hardware requiring DMA support is currently not functional. This includes EISA/ISA-based soundcards. EISA Video cards requiring an x86-compatible BIOS are also not functional.

IP32: O2

• Processor Options:
  • Stable: R5000, RM5200
  • Experimental: RM7000
  • Unsupported: R10000
• Kernel Support:
  • Linux 2.4: Unsupported in Kernel
  • Linux 2.6: Stable
• Kernel Architecture Support:
  • 32-bit: Unsupported in Kernel
  • 64-bit: Stable
• Userland Support:
  • o32: Stable
  • n32: Experimental (Only on Linux 2.6)
  • n64: Not Available In Gentoo
• Notes:
  1. The O2 RM7000 Processor support is limited in Linux currently, as it requires a fairly recent kernel version (>2.6.7), and has several notable issues. The first issue is a problem with SCSI at the moment, making the internal disks unusable at the current time. The Level 3 (Tertiary) Cache is also disabled due to there being no support for this cache in the linux kernel.
  2. Please be aware that this note only applies to the official SGI RM7000 running at 350MHz, not the 600MHz RM7000 that can be assembled using an RM5200 board. These "modded" CPU modules for O2 systems are not supported/tested, although, in theory, they should be functional, but may suffer from the same problems listed above.

3.  Silicon Graphics Systems -- Experimental/Unstable

The systems listed here are known to run Linux... HOWEVER, in many cases, there are known stability issues, and major gaps in the hardware support. In short, it will be a rough and bumpy ride.

IP27: Origin 200 and 2000

• Processor Options (Experimental): R10000, R12000
• Kernel Support:
  • Linux 2.4: Unsupported in Kernel
  • Linux 2.6: Experimental
• Kernel Architecture Support:
  • 32-bit: Unsupported in Kernel
  • 64-bit: Experimental
• Userland Support:
  • o32: Stable
  • n32: Experimental
  • n64: Not Available In Gentoo

IP28: Indigo 2 Impact (a.k.a Indigo 2 R10k)

• Processor Options (Experimental): R10000
• Kernel Support:
  • Linux 2.4: Experimental
  • Linux 2.6: Experimental
• Kernel Architecture Support:
  • 32-bit: Unsupported in Kernel
  • 64-bit: Experimental
• Userland Support:
  • o32: Stable
  • n32: Experimental (Only on Linux 2.6)
  • n64: Not Available In Gentoo
• Notes:
  1. IP28 Indigo2 Impact support (classified as an Indigo2 system w/ an R10000 Processor) is very experimental. Most of the work is currently being done by Peter Fuerst who maintains patches on his website. This kernel is NOT intended for stable, day-to-day use. The Indigo2 IP28 system suffers from an issue known as Speculative Execution, a feature of the R10000 Processor that is problematic on machines that are Non Cache Coherent, such as the IP28 Indigo2 and on R10000/R12000-based IP32 O2 systems. Details on the nature of Speculative Execution, and the issues it poses to the Indigo2 can be found at the following URLs:
     • MIPS R10000 Microprocessor User's Manual (See PDF Pages 51-55) http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/manuals/2000/007-2490-001/pdf/007-2490-001.pdf
     • Post to NetBSD sgimips Mailing List on 29 Jun 2000 http://mail-index.netbsd.org/port-sgimips/2000/06/29/0006.html

IP30: Octane

• Processor Options (Experimental): R10000, R12000, R14000A
• Kernel Support:
  • Linux 2.4: Unsupported in Kernel
  • Linux 2.6: Experimental
• Kernel Architecture Support:
  • 32-bit: Unsupported in Kernel
  • 64-bit: Experimental
• Userland Support:
  • o32: Stable
  • n32: Experimental
  • n64: Not Available In Gentoo
• Notes:
  1. Octane support in Linux should be regarded as experimental. Support for this particular machine from SGI has been progressing quite well and the Linux kernel functions reasonably well. The current status for this system may be found on Stanislaw Skowronek's page. Wider support in Gentoo for this system will be available in the future, so watch this space closely for more details.
  2. The serial ports on the Octane currently only support 9600 baud rate, 8-bits, no parity, 1 stop bit. Other baud rates do not currently work at present.

4.  Silicon Graphics Systems -- Unsupported

Just about all of these systems are totally unsupported at the kernel level -- making a full Linux system totally impossible. Little is known about a lot of the systems listed here -- therefore any support in the near future is highly unlikely. You may wish to keep an eye on the Linux/MIPS website for any news of ports -- either that, or start your own. :-)

• IP12: Iris Indigo (R3000 CPU)
• IP20: Iris Indigo (R4000 or R4400 CPU)
• IP26: Indigo 2 Power (R8000 CPU)
• IP34: Fuel (R14000A or R16000 CPU)
• IP35: Origin 3000 (R14000 or R14000A CPU)
• IP45: Origin 300 (R14000 CPU)
• IP53: Origin 350 & Tezro (R16000 CPU)

5.  Silicon Graphics Accessories

As with most systems, there is quite wide array of peripherals that one can obtain for Silicon Graphics systems. While a lot of these work in IRIX, Linux support is a bit touch-and-go on some of these items. The following table lists the support for each device.

6.  Cobalt Servers -- Stable

The Cobalt servers are a set of machines all based around the QED RM523[01] CPU. They came in two varieties, the RaQ -- a rackmounted model, and the Qube, a small desktop model (1ft. cube). The big difference between these systems and the SGI systems above, is that these systems are little endian (mipsel) as opposed to big endian (mips).

These were also sold under an OEM arragement to other companies, examples of this are the Gateway Microserver (Qube 2) and the Seagate NasRaQ (RaQ 2).

Qube/Raq 2800 (a.k.a Qube/Raq 2)

• Processor: QED RM5231 @ 250MHz
• Kernel Version Support:
  • Linux 2.4: Stable
  • Linux 2.6: Stable
• Kernel Architecture Support:
  • 32-bit: Stable
  • 64-bit: Highly Experimental
• Userland Support:
  • o32: Stable
  • n32: Not Available In Gentoo
  • n64: Not Available In Gentoo

7.  Cobalt Servers -- Experimental

Raq 2700 (a.k.a Raq 1)

• Processor: QED RM5230 @ 150MHz
• Kernel Version Support:
  • Linux 2.4: Experimental
  • Linux 2.6: Untested In Gentoo
• Kernel Architecture Support:
  • 32-bit: Experimental
  • 64-bit: Untested In Gentoo
• Userland Support:
  • o32: Experimental
  • n32: Not Available In Gentoo
  • n64: Not Available In Gentoo

8.  Cobalt Servers -- Unsupported

Qube 2700 (a.k.a Qube 1)

The Qube 2700 was the first of this whole subarchitecture. Unfortunately, it lacks a serial port, making installation at present, damn near impossible. We're looking into ways we can support this system, but as none of the developers have access to one of these machines, we have no way to test our efforts. You may wish to have a look at Jan Metzner's page for more information.

• Processor: QED RM5230 @ 150MHz
• Kernel Version Support:
  • Linux 2.4: Untested In Gentoo
  • Linux 2.6: Untested In Gentoo
• Kernel Architecture Support:
  • 32-bit: Untested In Gentoo
  • 64-bit: Untested In Gentoo
• Userland Support:
  • o32: Untested In Gentoo
  • n32: Not Available In Gentoo
  • n64: Not Available In Gentoo

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