This chapter details the steps required to install a Silicon Graphics 550 Visual Workstation. It describes how to prepare the system for installation and how to connect it to its peripheral devices. It also provides a general description of the external and internal structure of the Silicon Graphics 550 Visual Workstation.
This section describes the external features of the system housing (the front bezel and the rear panel).
Front Bezel
As illustrated in Figure 1-1, the floppy drive and up to three 5.25-inch devices are accessible from the front panel. The top 5.25-inch drive bay is occupied by a CD-ROM drive. The power switch, the reset button, and the floppy disk eject button are also located on the front bezel.
Rear Panel
As shown in Figure 1-2, the rear panel includes the AC power input socket, the rear system fans, six expansion slots, and the I/O panel. Figure 1-3 shows a detailed view of the I/O panel.
Note: The DVI-D port is optional, depending on your graphics card.
This section describes the location of the main components inside the Silicon Graphics 550 Visual Workstation chassis as illustrated in Figure 1-4.
The Silicon Graphics 550 Visual Workstation has three 5.25-inch and four 3.5-inch drive bays, as shown in Figure 1-5. All three 5.25-inch drive bays are externally accessible from the front panel. Two of the 3.25-inch drive bays are located on the front panel (behind the bezel)—the other two are housed and accessible inside the chassis.
The Silicon Graphics 550 Visual Workstation is cooled by three fans—one front system fan and two rear system fans (see Figure 1-4). The front fan pulls the cool air into the chassis, while the two rear fans pull the warm air out of the chassis. One rear fan is located on the rear panel; the other rear fan is located in the power supply.
The power supply is auto-switching for 110V or 220V AC power. The power supply converts AC power to DC voltages which are used by the system board, the fans, and the 3.5-inch and 5.25-inch drives. It is located above the system board on the rear panel.
The system board is mounted parallel to the right side panel. For an overview of the system board and its components, see Chapter 3, “System Board”.
Before proceeding with the installation, select a suitable site that will allow for continued maximum performance of the unit, and for easy access to its components.
Consider the following questions before selecting a site for the system:
Will the intended location allow for convenient access to areas of routine procedures, such as the power switch, the drive bays, and the rear panel connectors?
Is the intended location free of dust, spills, or any other condition inappropriate for a high-performance computing system?
Will the system be stable and free from vibration?
Is the intended location well-ventilated and away from any source of heat? For the cooling system to perform properly, it is essential that the system be located in an area where airflow is unrestricted. Refer to Appendix B, “Physical Environment Specifications” for physical environment specifications.
Follow the instructions in this section to connect the system to the power source and to its external peripheral devices.
Connect the AC power cable to the system as shown in Figure 1-6.
Caution: Always use a grounded electrical outlet. Connect the keyboard and mouse to the system as shown in Figure 1-7.
Connect the Ethernet cable to the system as shown in Figure 1-7. The built-in Ethernet port is designed for use with 10-Base-T or 100-Base-TX Ethernet networks and will automatically switch to the proper speed.
Connect a DB15 HD video cable to the system as shown in Figure 1-8.
Connect the monitor to the power source as shown in Figure 1-8.
Follow these directions to connect speakers to the system. Figure 1-9 illustrates the procedure:
Note: Speakers on your Silicon Graphics 550 Visual Workstation may be an optional feature. Connect the power cable to the right speaker (the speaker with control buttons and four ports).
Connect the right speaker to the system by plugging the cable into the system line-out port and the speaker input signal port. Refer to Figure 1-10 for the location of the line-out port.
Connect the right speaker to the left speaker, as shown in Figure 1-9.
Plug the speaker power supply into an AC power outlet.
Connect other external devices to their respective ports. Refer to Figure 1-10 for a detailed view of the I/O panel.
To turn on the system, press the power switch on the front panel (see Figure 1-1).
