[KLUG Members] Linux-compatible video cards for SPARCs

[Dan Sikorski]

Adam Bultman wrote:
> I've got a Sunblade 2000 machine at work that is currently running
> solaris, and sucking a lot of wind. 
>   
Out of curiousity, what version of Solaris?  There isn't much that 
should be slow on a sunblade 2000.  If you decide it's just too slow for 
your use, let me know, i'd be happy to take it off your hands. ;)
> The only issue is with the Video Card, which is an XVR-500. 
> Incompatible with linux!
>   
I believe the XVR-500 is a rebadged 3DLabs Wildcat II, have you tried 
using drivers for that?  A quick google search indicated that your only 
option might be buying an X server...
> For those of you running linux on SPARC machines, what video cards do
> you use?  I haven't found much about linux compatible video cards for
> SPARCs.  I have a couple of Sun-Branded video cards from other machines
> in the office, but Xorg complains about no Int13 domain.
>   
I run my sparcs headless.  But then again, the sparcs that i have and 
don't run far outnumber the ones that i do run.  You can be sure that if 
i had something like a blade2k that i'd be running more sparc's. :)  
That said, i believe Sun's newer video cards are all nvidia based, so 
you should have some better luck with that.  Your biggest problem is 
that i'm pretty sure you need the sun firmware on the card to get Open 
Boot to recognize it.  Have you looked for other cards on ebay?
> Anyway, if you have any info, I'd appreciate it. I'm going to keep
> looking in my spare time.   Last time Itested linux on this thing, it
> screamed compared to solaris (and solaris' gnome packages have serious
> bugs.)
>   
I've never used a Sun machine as a personal workstation myself, so i 
can't really comment.  Oddly enough, i'm just getting ready to give 
solaris x86 a shot.  I haven't ever really used solaris on x86 in the past.


    -Dan Sikorski