Software
Installation Guide
For Sun
CD-ROM Release 2.0
©Copyright Parallax Graphics, Inc. 1996.All rights reserved.
Printed in the USA.
Parallax Graphics, Inc., 2500 Walsh Street, Santa Clara, CA 95051 USA
Phone 408-727-2220; Fax 408-727-2367
World Wide Web: http://www.parallax.com
E-mail: info@parallax.com
No part of this manual or the accompanying software may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means--electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and
recording--without the prior written permission of Parallax Graphics, Inc.
VideoStream, XVideo, PowerVideo,MultiVideo, Video Development Environment,
Software Essentials and Parallax Graphics are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Parallax Graphics, Inc.
All other products, services or companies mentioned in this document are identified
by the trademarks or service marks of their respective companies or organizations.
Parallax Graphics, Inc. disclaims any responsibility for specifying which marks are
owned by which companies or organizations.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Welcome!
Whats on this CD
How to Reach Us
About Parallax Graphics Video Software
Font/Usage Conventions
Before You Install
Required Hardware, Software et Cetera
Removing a Previous Version of Parallax Software
Installation
For Solaris 2.5, 2.4, or 2.3
For Solaris 1.x with OpenWindows 3.0 or X11R5
Installation from a Remote Cd-Rom
Using Multiple Displays
Troubleshooting
Whats Next?
Congratulations on your purchase of one of Parallax Graphics' premier workstation
video cards. With Parallax Graphics video hardware and software you enter the world
of corporate quality digital video. Please check the Release Notes for important
updates, then use this guide to lead you through the installation process. We hope
that your installation of the video software is easy and problem-free.
This CD includes all versions of the Parallax Graphics software for SPARCstation
users, so you can choose the version you need, and upgrade your Parallax Graphics
software when you upgrade your operating system. This CD includes Parallax Graphics
software for:
Solaris 2.5 (SunOS 5.5)/OpenWindows 3.5 (Parallax Version 1.0)
Solaris 2.4 (SunOS 5.4)/OpenWindows 3.4 (Parallax Version 1.1)
Solaris 2.3 (SunOS 5.3)/OpenWindows 3.3 (Parallax Version 1.1)
Solaris 1.x (SunOS 4.1.x)/OpenWindows 3.0 (Parallax Version 3.07)
Solaris 1.x (SunOS 4.1.x)/MIT X11R5 (Parallax Version 1.2)
Solaris 1.x (SunOS 4.1.x)/MIT X11R5 (Parallax Version 1.1)
If you need any technical assistance during this installation, please contact
Parallax Graphics technical support at:
Parallax Graphics Technical Support
Herndon, Virginia USA
Phone: +1 703 450 7718
Fax: +1 703 450 7719
E-mail: tsupport@parallax.com
Parallax Graphics World Headquarters
2500 Walsh Street
Santa Clara, CA 95051 USA
Phone: 408-727-2220
Fax: 408-727-2367
E-mail: tsupport@parallax.com
World Wide Web: http://www.parallax.com
Parallax Graphics provides the following software to all users:
A Parallax Graphics video hardware driver, provided as a loadable
kernel module.
A server extension module (for Solaris 2.x users) or server (for Solaris 1.x
users) that supports Parallax Graphics video hardware. (For Solaris 1.x
users, use this server instead of the server distributed with the
standard operating system release.)
Parallax Graphics video applications: VideoTool for video display and
image capture, MovieTool for motion video capture and playback, and for
Solaris2.5 users, Real-Time MovieTool for near-broadcast-quality video
capture and playback.
And for XVideo and Video Development Environment users:
A full suite of developers tools, including API, libraries, sample
source code and sample programs.
TypewriterFont Indicates code and on-screen text.
<Words> Indicates code and on-screen text that is variable, conditional,
or that presents options (for example, <openwin or X11>).
To complete this software installation,you will need the following:
UNIX system administration experience.
Root accounts and password permissions for each system.
Access to a CD-ROM drive.
Before you install, make sure you have the following on each system:
1. XVideo,PowerVideo or MultiVideo video cards. See your Hardware
Installation Guide for instructions.
2. One of the following sets of operating and windowing systems
and available storage space, see details below) on local hard disks:
Solaris 2.5 (SunOS 5.5)/OpenWindows 3.5(35 MegaBytes (MB) space)
Solaris 2.4 (SunOS 5.4)/OpenWindows 3.4(35 MB space)
Solaris 2.3 (SunOS 5.3)/OpenWindows 3.3(35 MB space)
Solaris 1.x (SunOS 4.1.x)/OpenWindows3.0 (20 MB space)
Solaris 1.x (SunOS 4.1.x)/MIT X11R5 (v.1.2: 20 MB space)
Solaris 1.x (SunOS 4.1.x)/MIT X11R5 (v.1.1: 15 MB space)
NOTE: If you are using one of the MIT X11R5 releases, you need the XView libraries
from the MIT contrib directory located in your /usr/lib/X11 directory.
If you have a previous version of Parallax Graphics software on your workstation,
you must remove it before installing the new version. Because this software
includes server and driver software, you need to be in command line mode to
remove it correctly.
1. Exit the windowing environment and get into command line mode.
2. When you are in command line mode, login as root.
3. Remove the Parallax Graphics software with the command:
Solaris 2.x users: Remove the Parallax Graphics software:
# pkgrm <PLXse or PLXvde>
NOTE: Use PLXse for Software Essentials users and PLXvde
for Video Development Environment users.
Solaris 1.x users: Edit rc.local and remove Parallax Graphics
entries, then remove the Parallax Graphics software:
# rm -rf <parallax base directory>
4. Reboot your system to complete the de-installation.
NOTE: For this de-install to work correctly, you must be outside
the windowing environment (in command line mode).
Before you install, read the Release Notes and review Before You Install
to make sure you have the hardware,software, et al you need. If you are
installing on a Solaris 2.x system, start below. If you are installing on a
Solaris 1.x system (withOpenWindows or X11R5) go to here.
1.1 Login as root and insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive.
1.2 If you haven't removed any previous version of Parallax Graphics
software, do so now. See page 8.
1.3 Volume manager will auto mount the CD onto /cdrom/cdrom0.
1.4 Start the installation with volume manager by loading the software
from the CD-ROM onto your hard drive:
# cd /cdrom/<solaris2.3, solaris2.4, or solaris2.5>
# pkgadd -d .
NOTE: If your system does not find the software in /cdrom/cdrom0, then
look in /cdrom/<plx_se_20 or plx_vde_20> (for Software
Essentials use plx_se_20, for Video Development Environment
use plx_vde_20).
1.5 Follow the prompts to finish the installation. The interactive
instructions will lead you to load the drivers, complete the
installation and restart your system to start up the Parallax
Graphics software.
NOTE: We use /opt/parallax as the default <parallax base directory>
for Solaris 2.x users.
2.0 Setting User Environment
2.1 Setting up the start-up script. You will want to put your start-up
script in your home directory for easy customization. A sample
start-up file is provided for you in the directory
$PARALLAX_HOME/bin/start_ow3. This start-up file is a C Shell script
that you can modify to the Bourne or Korn Shell, and customize for
your environment and specific needs. To install the standard start-up
file, login as yourself, copy the start-up file to your home directory
and then run it:
% cp /$PARALLAX_HOME/bin/start_ow3 <your home directory>/start_ow3
% chmod +x start_ow3
% ./<your home directory>/start_ow3
NOTE: You may modify this start-up file to meet your special environment
requirements.
2.2 Modifying the start-up script: 24-bit or 8-bit color. You can run
OpenWindows in default 8-bit pseudocolor mode, 24-bit TrueColor
mode,or Direct Color visual mode (available for Solaris 2.5 only).
8-bit pseudocolor is the default mode in the start_ow3 script.
To change the default mode to 24-bit TrueColor mode edit the script to:
openwin -dev $FRAMEBUFFER defdepth 24
If you are using Solaris 2.5, you can use Direct Color visual mode.
To change default mode to DirectColor visual mode edit the script to:
openwin -dev $FRAMEBUFFER defdepth 24 defclass DirectColor
To change default mode back to 8-bit pseudocolor mode edit it to:
openwin -dev $FRAMEBUFFER
2.3 Solaris2.5 users: setting up Common Desktop Environment (CDE).
The default windowing system for Solaris 2.5 users is OpenWindows,
but CDE is also available. If you prefer CDE, you will need to
change your /usr/dt/config/Xservers file to explicitly identify
the video card. Comment out this text:
# :0 Local local_uid@console root /usr/openwin/bin/Xsun :0 -nobanner
And insert this text with -dev /dev/fbs/tvtwo0 added:
:0 Local local_uid@console root /usr/openwin/bin/Xsun :0 -dev /dev/fbs/tvtwo0 -nobanner
For additional information and options, see the Xsun.1 and Xserver.1
man pages.
2.4 Modifying your .cshrc or .profile file. Before you can use video, you
need to set up your environment so it will run Parallax Graphics server
and driver modules. The best place to set this environment is in your
.cshrc or .profile file.
Shown here are sample lines thatare recommended for users of the C Shell,
Bourne Shell and Korn Shell. <parallax base directory> is the location of
the Parallax Graphics software that you determined at installation; the
default is /opt/parallax.
C Shell users: Use your preferred editor to add the following to the
end of your .cshrc file:
setenv PARALLAX_HOME <parallax base directory>
setenv OPENWINHOME /usr/openwin
set path=($PARALLAX_HOME/bin $OPENWINHOME/bin $path)
setenv LD_LIBRARY_PATH $PARALLAX_HOME/lib:/$OPENWINHOME/lib:/usr/lib
NOTE: The $PARALLAX_HOME/bin directory must appear in the search path before
the $OPENWINHOME/bin directory.
NOTE: Solaris 2.4 and 2.3 Software Essentials users do not need to include
"$PARALLAX_HOME/lib" in the LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
Bourne Shell and Korn Shell users: Use your preferred editor to add
the following to the end of your .profile file:
NOTE: Solaris 2.4 and 2.3 Software Essentials users do not need to include
"$PARALLAX_HOME/lib:" in the LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
Sourcing the changes. When you are finished, source the newly
compiled changes to reset your environment.
For C Shell users:
% source .cshrc
For Bourne Shell and Korn Shell users:
% . .profile
3.0 Reboot Your System
3.1 Since the Parallax Graphics software includes server and driver
modules, you need to reboot your system before using video.
NOTE: Please make sure you have used the command "boot -r" after
hardware installation to configure the Parallax Graphics
video card into the kernel. For information, see the
Hardware Installation Guide.
3.2 Congratulations! You are now ready to use video.
1.1 Login as root and insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive.
1.2 If you haven't removed any previous version of Parallax Graphics
software, do so now. See page 8.
1.3 Verify that the directory /cdrom exists. Then execute the command:
# mount -r -t hsfs /dev/sr0 /cdrom
1.4 Start the installation by loading the software from the CD_ROM
onto your hard drive:
# cd /cdrom/solaris1
# ./cd_install
NOTE: We use /usr/parallax as the default <parallax base directory>
for Solaris 1.x users.
1.5 Follow the prompts to finish the installation. To load the drivers:
#cd <parallax base directory>
# ./<install_307 or install_X11>
Then follow the interactive instructions to complete the installation.
2.0 Setting User Environment
2.1 Setting up the start-up script. You will want to put your start-up
script into your home directory for easy customization. A sample
start-upfile is provided for you in the directory
$PARALLAX_HOME/<start_307 or start_x11>. This start-up file includes
example scripts in the C Shell that you can modify to the Bourne or
Korn Shell, and that you can customize for your environment and needs.
To install the standard start-up file, login as yourself, copy the
start-up file to your home directory and then run it:
% cp $PARALLAX_HOME/<start_307 or start_X11> \
<your home directory>/<start_307 or start_X11>
% chmod +x <start_307 or start_X11>
% ./<your home directory>/<start_307 or start_X11>
NOTE: You may modify this start-up file to meet any special
environment requirements.
2.2 Modifying the start-up script: 24-bit or 8-bit color. You can
choose to run OpenWindows or X Windows in default 8-bit pseudocolor
mode or 24-bit TrueColor mode. 8-bit pseudocolor is the default mode
in the start_307 or start_X11 script. To change the default mode on
your workstation:
OpenWindows 3.07 users:
To change default mode to 24-bit TrueColor change the start-up script
in start_307 to:
$PARALLAX_HOME/openwin/bin/openwin -dev $FRAMEBUFFER defdepth 24
To change default mode back to 8-bit pseudocolor change it to:
$PARALLAX_HOME/openwin/bin/openwin -dev $FRAMEBUFFER
X11R5 users:
To change default mode 24-bit TrueColor change the start-up script in
start_X11 to:
xinit -- $PARALLAX_HOME/X11/bin/Xplxv -dev $FRAMEBUFFER -I <-24 or -32>
NOTE: For X11R5 1.2 use -24 above. For X11R5 1.1 use -32 above.
To change default mode back to 8-bit pseudocolor change it to:
xinit -- $PARALLAX_HOME/X11/bin/Xplxv -dev $FRAMEBUFFER
NOTE: TabWindow Manager (twm) users: If you plan to use twm
with our server started in 8-bit mode, you must either use the
patched twm located in $PARALLAX_HOME/X11/bin/twm or modify and
recompile the twm source in your own environment. To modify and
recompile the twm source, in the events.c file, comment out the
following text:
# for ( ; n> 0; maxcwin--)
# n--;
and add this text:
for ( ; n >0; maxcwin--, n--)
2.3 Modifying the start-up script: X11R5 xinit or startx. If youare using
X11R5, the default setting specifies xinit, but if you prefer to use
startx to invoke your server, you can add an .xserverrc file to your
home directory. The following sample .xserverrc can start the Parallax
X11R5 server with a startx command:
$PARALLAX_HOME/X11/bin/Xplxv -dev /dev/tvtwo0
Refer to the xinit man page from your MIT distribution for details on
how to create and use an .xserverrc file with a startx command.
2.4 Modifying your .cshrc or .profile file. Before you can use video, you
need to set up your environment so it will run Parallax Graphics server
and driver modules. The best place to set this environment is in your
.cshrc or .profile file.
Shown here are sample lines that are recommended for users of the C Shell,
Bourne Shell and Korn Shell. <parallax base directory> is the location of
the Parallax Graphics software that you determined at installation; the
default is /usr/parallax.
C Shell/OpenWindows users: Use your preferred editor to add the
following to the end of your .cshrc file:
setenv PARALLAX_HOME <parallax base directory>
setenv OPENWINHOME /usr/openwin
set path=($PARALLAX_HOME/bin $OPENWINHOME/bin $path)
setenv LD_LIBRARY_PATH $PARALLAX_HOME/openwin/lib:/$OPENWINHOME/lib:/usr/lib
NOTE: The $PARALLAX_HOME/openwin/bin directory must appear in the search path
before the $OPENWINHOME/bin directory.
NOTE: Only Video Development Environment users need to include
"$PARALLAX_HOME/openwin/lib:" in the LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
C Shell/X11R5 users: Use your preferred editor to add the
following to the end of your .cshrc file:
setenv PARALLAX_HOME <parallax base directory>
setenv LD_LIBRARY_PATH $PARALLAX_HOME/X11/lib:/usr/lib/X11:/usr/lib
set path=($PARALLAX_HOME/X11/bin /usr/bin/X11 $path)
NOTE: Only Video Development Environment users need to include
"$PARALLAX_HOME/X11/lib:" in the LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
Bourne and Korn Shell/OpenWindows users: Use your preferred
editor to add the following to the end of your .profile file:
PARALLAX_HOME=<parallax base directory>
OPENWINHOME=/usr/openwin
PATH=$PARALLAX_HOME/openwin/bin:$OPENWINHOME/bin:$PATH)
LD_LIBRARY_PATH $PARALLAX_HOME/openwin/lib:/$OPENWINHOME/lib:/usr/lib
export PARALLAX_HOME OPENWINHOME PATH LD_LIBRARY_PATH
NOTE: The $PARALLAX_HOME/openwin/bin directory must appear in the search path
before the $OPENWINHOME/bin directory.
NOTE: Only Video Development Environment users need to include
"$PARALLAX_HOME/openwin/lib:" in the LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
Bourne and Korn Shell/X11R5 users: Use your preferred editor to add
the following to the end of your .profile file:
PARALLAX_HOME=<parallax base directory>
PATH=$PARALLAX_HOME/X11/bin:/usr/bin/X11:$PATH)
LD_LIBRARY_PATH $PARALLAX_HOME/X11/lib:/usr/lib/X11:/usr/lib
export PARALLAX_HOME PATH LD_LIBRARY_PATH
NOTE: Only Video Development Environment users need to include
"$PARALLAX_HOME/X11/lib:" in the LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
2.5 Sourcing the changes. When you are finished, source the newly
compiled changes to reset your environment.
For C Shell users:
% source .cshrc
For Bourne Shell and Korn Shell users:
. .profile
2.6 X11R5 users: setting up .xinitrc. If you are using X11R5, you will
need to modify your .xinitrc file to prevent system crashes when
you exit the X11R5 server while a window manager is running. To avoid
system crashes, set up your .xinitrc to start the window manager of
your choice last and as the foreground client, as in this example:
# !/bin/sh
# $XConsortium: xinitrc.cpp . . . rws Exp $
userresources=$HOME/.Xresources
usermodmap=$HOME/.Xmodmap
sysresources=/usr/lib/X11/xinit/.Xresources
sysmodmap=/usr/lib/X11/xinit/.Xmodmap
# merge in defaults and keymaps
.
.
.
# start programs such as videotool, movietool, xterm:
videotool &
movietool &
xterm -C -geometry 80x40+494+50 &
# last of all (end of file), start the window manager:
exec twm
Refer to the man pages that came with your window manager
distribution for start-up details and command line options for .xinitrc.
3.0 Reboot Your System
3.1 Since the Parallax Graphics software includes server and driver
modules, you need to reboot your system before using video.
3.2 Congratulations! You are now ready to use video.
If your system does not have a local CD-ROM drive, you can install the
software from a remote system with a CD-ROM drive:
1. From the remote system, export the CD-ROM using share on Solaris 2.x
or exportfs on Solaris 1.x. For further information, see the man
pages for share or exportfs.
2. From your system, mount the CD-ROM file system on your machine and
install the software.
Workstations with more than one Sbus slot can support multiple (two or more)
displays. With n Sbus slots, you can use up to n framebuffers (including
Parallax Graphics video cards) to run an equal number of monitors.
Parallax Graphics Video boards can work with standard Sun framebuffers, such
as the cgfour and cgsix. To use two displays concurrently change the openwin
line in your start-up file (start_ow3, start_307 or start_X11) to:
Solaris 2.x users:
openwin -dev $FRAMEBUFFER -dev /dev/fbs/<Sun Framebuffer>
NOTE: Under Solaris 2.4, the Parallax Graphics video card must be the device invoked
first: tvtwo0.
Solaris 1.x/OpenWindows 3.07 users:
openwin -dev $FRAMEBUFFER -dev /dev/<Sun Framebuffer>
NOTE: If you are interested in using multiple displays with Solaris 1.x/X11R5,
please contact Parallax Graphics technical support for more information.
Please read the Release Notes after the installation is complete. These notes
provide a list of known bugs and other useful information.
If you need to remove the Parallax Graphics software, see here.
Here are a few tips to help you solve common installation problems. If you need
further technical assistance, please contact Parallax Graphics technical support.
Problem:
The Openwin server doesn't start when I type <start_ow3, start_307 or
start_X11>; I get error messages on my screen instead.
Solution:
1. Check to see if the tvtwo driver is installed.
Solaris 2.x users: Use the modinfo command:
% /usr/sbin/modinfo | grep tvtwo
33 fc126000 90f4 101 1 tvtwo (numbers may vary)
Solaris 1.x users: Use the modstat command:
% modstat
Id Type Loadadr Size B-major C-major Sysnum Mod Name
2 Drv ff022000 e000 60 tvtwo
If tvtwo is not installed on your system, attempt to install
the software again as described in Installation.
If reinstalling the software is not successful, check to make sure
your video board is installed properly (see your Parallax Graphics
Hardware Installation Guide).
2. If tvtwo shows as installed above, but you continue to receive error
messages, check to see that the start_ow3, start_307 or start_X11
script is pointing to the correct tvtwo device:
% cat <start_ow3, start_307 or start_X11> | grep tvtwo
You should see a line definingthe framebuffer similar to
setenv FRAMEBUFFER /dev/<fbs/>tvtwoX.
Check in the device directory to be sure the device has been created
and the permissions are set up correctly:
% ls -l /dev</fbs>/tvtwo*
NOTE: Only Solaris 2.x users must include </fbs> in the location.
The proper output and permissions are similar to:
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root other 54 April 3 10:08 /dev</fbs>/tvtwo0 -> ../../devices
Does the /dev</fbs>/tvtwoX device match the FRAMEBUFFER
line in the start_ow3, start_307 or start_X11 script? If not,
edit the start-up script to reflect the proper tvtwo device number.
3. If you have tried the previous troubleshooting suggestions and still
have problems,verify that the start-up script has the following
environment variables set correctly:
PARALLAX_HOME should refer to the location where the Parallax Graphics
software is installed (/<opt or usr>/parallax by default).
LD_LIBRARY_PATH should contain at least the following:
/usr/openwin/lib, /usr/lib and $PARALLAX_HOME/lib.
PATH should contain at least the following:
$PARALLAX_HOME/bin, /usr/openwin/bin and /usr/bin.
NOTE: $PARALLAX_HOME/bin must always precede /usr/openwin/bin.
You have finished the installation of the Parallax Graphics software. We invite
you to explore the capabilities of XVideo, PowerVideo and MultiVideo through
our sample applications, VideoTool, MovieTool and Real-Time MovieTool:
VideoTool supports live video display and still image capture.
MovieTool supports motion video capture and playback. MovieTool requires
XVideo or PowerVideo's hardware compression.
Real-Time MovieTool supports capture and playback of near-broadcast-quality
video for Solaris 2.5 users with a SPARCstation 5 or above. It requires
XVideo or PowerVideo's hardware compression.
VideoTool, MovieTool and Real-Time MovieTool are fully described in your
Multimedia User's Guide.
If you have a need for application software such as desktop videoconferencing
or multimedia authoring, please consult the Software Applications Overview for
a list of independent software vendors.
Thank you for choosing Parallax Graphics video.