Learn about the features, requirements, installation notes,
and troubleshooting tips for the POWER® GXT145 PCI Express Graphics Accelerator.
Overview
The POWER GXT145
graphics adapter is a PCI Express (PCIe) adapter that accelerates
and enhances the system unit video. The adapter has no hardware switches
to set. Mode selection is made through the software. Figure 1 shows the adapter and its connectors.
Figure 1. POWER GXT145
PCI Express Graphics Accelerator
- 1
- Primary DVI connector, 28 pin, analog or digital
- 2
- Secondary DVI connector, 28 pin, analog or digital
Connect the primary monitor to connector 1. If you
are using an optional, secondary monitor, connect the secondary monitor
to connector 2. For AIX®, the video that is displayed
on the secondary monitor is the same as the video displayed the primary
monitor, and at the same resolution and refresh rate.
The
following table shows the feature code, custom card identification
number and field-replaceable unit part number for the adapter.
feature code (FC) |
custom card identification number (CCIN) |
field-replaceable unit (FRU) part number |
5748 |
5748 |
10N7756* |
*Designed to comply with RoHS requirement |
This adapter provides the following features:
- 8-bit indexed or 24-bit true color.
- 32 MB SDRAM frame buffer.
- x1 PCIe bus interface.
- Two DVI-I analog or digital connectors.
- One monitor connected, analog, up to 2048 x 1536 resolution.
- One monitor connected, digital, up to 1280 x 1024 resolution.
- A second monitor supported on secondary connector at up to 1600
x 1200 analog or 1280 x 1024 digital.
- For Linux, a second monitor is supported on the secondary connector
at resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 analog or 1280 x 1024 digital.
- For AIX, when running with two monitors, both monitors must have
an analog connection with the same resolution, up to 1600 x 1200.
The image on the primary monitor will also be displayed on the secondary
monitor.
- Display power management: Video Electronics Standards Association
(VESA), Display Power Management Signaling (DPMS)
Operating system or partition requirements
The adapter is supported under the following
operating systems:
- AIX 5L™ Version 5.3 with the 5300-06 Technology
Level or later
- AIX 5L Version 5.2 with the 5200-10 Technology
Level or later
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 4.5
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP1
If you require support on another AIX release,
ensure that the adapter is supported on that release before you install
the adapter. Contact service and support for assistance.
If
you are installing a new feature, ensure that you have the software
required to support the new feature and that you determine if there
are any existing prerequisites. To do this, use
the IBM® Prerequisite Web site
at http://www-912.ibm.com/e_dir/eServerPrereq.nsf .
Preparing for installation
If
you are installing the operating system at this time, install the
adapter before you install the operating system. See Installing the adapter for instructions. If you are
installing only the device driver for this adapter, install the device
driver software before you install the adapter. See Installing the device driver software for instructions.
Gathering
tools and documentation
To install the adapter,
make sure you have access to the following items:
- The adapter
- The operating system documentation
- The system service guide for removing and replacing features
- The PCI adapter placement for machine type 94xx or PCI adapter placement for machine types 82xx and 91xx
- A flat-blade screwdriver
- The media containing the device driver software
Installing the device driver software
This
section explains how to install device driver software for the adapter.
The device driver is provided for the AIX 5L operating system.
To
install device driver software, do the following steps:
- Log in to the system unit as root user.
- Insert the media containing the device driver software
(for example, the CD) into the media device.
If your system does
not have a CD-ROM drive, refer to your system documentation for performing
a Network Installation Management (NIM) installation.
- Type the following System Management Interface Tool
(SMIT) fast path command: smit devinst
- Press Enter. The Install Additional Device Software
window highlights the INPUT device / directory for software option.
- Type the name of the input device that you are using,
or press F4 to select the input device from a list.
- Press Enter. The Install Additional Device Software
window highlights the SOFTWARE to install option.
- Press F4 to select List.
- Type / to display the Find
window.
- Type the device package name devices.pci.2b102725.
- Press Enter. The system finds and highlights this
device driver software.
- Press F7 to select the highlighted device driver
software.
- Press Enter. The INSTALL ADDITIONAL DEVICE SOFTWARE
window displays. The entry fields are automatically updated.
- Press Enter to accept the information. The ARE YOU
SURE window displays.
- Press Enter to accept the information. The COMMAND
STATUS window displays.
- The message RUNNING is highlighted to indicate that the installation
and configuration command is in progress.
- When RUNNING changes to OK, scroll to the bottom of the page and
locate the installation summary.
- After a successful installation, SUCCESS displays in the Result
column of the installation summary at the bottom of the page.
- Remove the installation media from the drive.
- Press F10 to exit SMIT.
Installing the adapter
This
section explains how to install the adapter. If you are installing
your operating system at this time, install your adapter before you
install the operating system. If the operating system is already installed
and you need to install the device driver for this adapter, install
the device driver software before you install the adapter. See Installing the device driver software for instructions.
To
install the adapter, follow these steps:
- Determine the PCIe slot in which to place the adapter.
The POWER GXT145
graphics adapter has an x1 PCIe connector and can be placed in a PCIe
x1, x4, x8 or x16 slot. See the PCI adapter placement for machine type 94xx or PCI adapter placement for machine types 82xx and 91xx for
information about the PCIe slots on your system unit.
- Shut down the system unit and install the adapter using the instructions
in the system unit documentation.
- Connect the monitor cable to the adapter.
If necessary, you
can use a DVI-A dongle (feature code 4276) for connecting a VGA 15-pin
connector on a monitor cable to the DVI connector on the adapter.
For example, a DVI-A dongle is needed to connect to a TF3 console
or a KVM switch.
- Start the system unit and the monitor.
- When prompted, configure the adapter by following the online configuration
instructions.
- When Select Display (console) appears,
press the number key on your keyboard for the monitor that is to be
the default.
Troubleshooting
If you have video problems
after the initial installation, follow these procedures to troubleshoot
the problem:
- Check the cables.
- Check the device driver software installation.
- Check the console.
- Check the adapter installation.
Checking the cables- Ensure the monitor cables are connected to the correct adapter.
- If you have more than one video adapter, be sure that each adapter
is connected to a monitor.
- Verify that the connections are secure.
- If no log-in prompt appears, restart the system unit.
Checking the device driver
software installation
Verify that the device driver
for the POWER GXT145 is installed by typing the following
command and then pressing Enter:
lslpp -l all | grep
GXT145
If the GXT145 device driver is installed, the
following table is an example of the data that appears if you are
running AIX Version 5.2:
devices.pci.2b102725.X11 5.2.0.105 COMMITTED AIXwindows GXT145 Graphics
devices.pci.2b102725.diag 5.2.0.105 COMMITTED GXT145 Graphics Adapter
devices.pci.2b102725.rte 5.2.0.105 COMMITTED GXT145 Graphics Adapter
If
the POWER GXT145 device driver did not fully install,
reinstall the driver.
See Installing the device driver software.
Checking the console- If you continue to experience problems, you can redirect the monitor
to the new adapter using the chdisp command.
- If you continue to experience problems after you have checked
your cables and tried the chdisp command, run
diagnostics.
Checking the adapter installation
Verify
that the system unit recognizes the POWER GXT145
adapter. At the AIX command line type lsdev -Cs pci.
If the POWER GXT145 adapter is correctly installed,
the following is an example of the data that appears:
cor0 Available 0K-00 GXT145 Graphics Adapter
If
the message indicates the adapter is DEFINED instead of AVAILABLE,
shut down the system unit and check the GXT145 adapter to ensure it
is installed correctly.
If you continue to experience problems
after following the steps in this section, contact service and support
for assistance.