From: nyne@hole19.csd.sgi.com () Subject: EPUB: October IRIS On-Line IRIS On-Line Vol 1 ISSUE 6 OCTOBER 1, 1993 TABLE OF CONTENTS PRESS RELEASES FROM SILICON GRAPHICS ==================================== 1. SILICON GRAPHICS' PRESIDENT NAMED CO-CHAIR OF JOINT VENTURE: SILICON VALLEY THIRD PARTY PRESS RELEASES ========================== 2. VXM TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES PAX-2 COOL STUFF - (FREE) =================== 3. FLEXFAX RELEASE VERSION 2.1.0 4. BATTLE ZONE GAME TECHNICAL ARTICLES AND REFERENCES ================================= 5. SILICON GRAPHICS TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS ADDRESS 6. IRIS PERFORMER MAILING LIST 7. HOT MIX PRESS RELEASES FROM SILICON GRAPHICS ==================================== 1. SILICON GRAPHICS' PRESIDENT AND CEO EDWARD R. McCRACKEN NAMED CO-CHAIR OF JOINT VENTURE: SILICON VALLEY Silicon Graphics announced today that its president and chief executive officer Edward R. McCracken has accepted the position of co-chair of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley, a broad coalition of business, education, government and community leaders brought together to revitalize Silicon Valley and create a strong partnership for economic vitality and quality of life. McCracken will work with former California State Senator Becky Morgan, Joint Venture: Silicon Valley's president and CEO, and San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer, who also serves as co-chair. "Silicon Graphics embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that will help to revitalize Silicon Valley," said Morgan. "In its ten year history, the company has demonstrated financial success, created an environment that readily adapts to change and provided a management style that defies traditional hierarchy. We hope to tap into and apply the leadership that McCracken has shown as we move forward to the implementation phase of our 'Blueprint for the 21st Century'. I look forward to working with him as Joint Venture leads the effort to accomplish our mission: to retain jobs, create jobs and prepare the work force for these jobs." "The rate of technological change-the driving force behind Silicon Valley-has never been more dramatic than in the 1990s. With a ten-fold increase in performance every 3 1/2 years, companies, industries and even people must constantly reinvent and re-engineer the way they work to remain competitive," said McCracken. "The joining of talent in Joint Venture will enable us to work toward reinventing Silicon Valley, serving as a collaborative example for businesses and the public sector throughout the United States." McCracken heads Silicon Graphics, the leading manufacturer of visual computing systems. Founded in 1982, Silicon Graphics is the eighth fastest growing company on the Fortune 500, employing more than 3800 people worldwide and 2700 people in the U.S. The company also served as the venue for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore's announcement of the administration's technology policy earlier this year. Prior to joining Silicon Graphics in 1984, McCracken spent 16 years with Hewlett-Packard Company, serving as a group general manager in the computer systems area. He received an M.B.A. from Stanford University and a B.S.E.E. from Iowa State University, where he now serves as a Governor of the Iowa State University Foundation. In addition to his new responsibilities as co-chair of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley, McCracken was a founding member of the group's CEO Advisory board and later joined the Smart Valley Board of Directors, a major Joint Venture initiative. He is also a member of the Executive Committee on the Computer Systems Policy Project. Joint Venture: Silicon Valley is a broad coalition of business, education, government and community leaders who have come together to develop a strategic road map for economic renewal in Silicon Valley. This revolutionary movement-which involves more than 1,000 people-has pursued an economic growth plan in three phases. Phase I diagnosed the current state of the economy; Phase II, which was completed on June 23, produced a Blueprint of the 21st Century Community and Phase III, launched on June 24, 1993, is the implementation phase of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley's initiatives. -end- THIRD PARTY PRESS RELEASES ========================== 2. VXM TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES PAX-2 VXM Technologies has announces PAX-2 for Silicon Graphics systems. PAX-2 is a multi-function, multi-purpose, dynamic network load balancing system. PAX-2 can:1) Do distributed parallel makes, 2) Create distributed batch clusters for applications downsizing, and 3) Facilitate distributed network parallel processing applications, such as ray tracing, Monte Carlo simulations, and parameter sensitivity analysis. Third party applications do not have to be modified to run under PAX-2. The software also has a well defined system's interface for closely coupling custom applications into PAX-2. PAX-2 also provides for user allocation fairness, so a single person cannot tie up all of the networked resources. Extensive reporting capabilities are also provided. The PAX-2 distribution includes the very popular GNU Make software. GNU Make was modified by VXM so users can now run GNU/PAX-2 as a parallel "distributed" make across multiple networked Silicon Graphics systems. The combination of GNU Make and PAX-2 significantly cuts down the time to build large applications. Working together, PAX-2 and GNU Make automatically seek out idle network machines and spread out a large application build across multiple nodes. GNU Make was changed in such a way that if PAX-2 is not present, Gnu Make runs as it normally would. PAX-2 uses a client/server architecture. The software also comes in a fault-tolerant version, called PAX-2ft. In the event the machine on which the primary PAX-2 server is running fails, a backup PAX-2 server on a separate machine automatically takes over. PAX-2ft is especially useful as it can save work or results that otherwise would have been lost in the event of a systems failure. A PAX-2 server license for SGI IRIX 5.0 costs $9,500. One server can handle upwards of 200 network nodes, depending upon network configuration. A license for a PAX-2ft replicated server costs $17900. An NT version that can also run on SGI MIPS-based systems is also being readied for release by VXM. For further information contact: FRANCO VITALIANO Tel 617 267 2286 Fax 617 267 8920 email: 512 9988@MCImail.com VXM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. P.O. BOX 41, Boston, MA 02199 -end- COOL STUFF - (FREE) =================== 3. FLEXFAX RELEASE VERSION 2.1.0 FlexFAX is a facsimile system for UNIX systems. It supports: o sending facsimile o receiving facsimile o polled retrieval of facsimile Facsimile can be any size (e.g. A4, B4), either 98 or 196 lpi, and transmitted/received as either 1D-encoded or 2D-encoded facsimile data (2D-encoded data is frequently more compact and hence takes a shorter time to communicate). Outgoing documents can be any format; the sendfax program uses a rule-based definition file similar to the System V /etc/magic file to deduce document types and to decide how to convert each document to a form suitable for transmission (either PostScript or TIFF/F). Automatic cover page generation is supported and users can easily tailor cover pages to their environment. A simple text-based phonebook database is supported by sendfax. Information is also provided on how to trivially setup an email to fax gateway service. Incoming facsimile are stored in a receiving area as TIFF/F files and may be automatically delivered by mail and/or printed. A fax server status program, faxstat, can be used to monitor the send and receive queues, as well as the state of facsimile servers. Fax modems may be shared with outgoing data communication applications that honor the "uucp locking protocol". These applications typically include: cu, tip, kermit, uucp, slip, and ppp. The system can also be configured so that incoming data calls cause the system to invoke the standard system getty program. The software is structured around a client-server architecture. One facsimile server process exists for each fax modem on a network. Clients may send facsimile from any machine that can communicate with the machine(s) on which the server(s) reside. Client software is designed to be lightweight and easy to port; imaging can be offloaded to the server or done on the client. (Imaging is, however, typically done on the server because it simplifies administration.) Multiple modems may be located on a single machine. An access control mechanism is included to control which users on which machines may submit documents for transmission. The system supports a wide variety of fax modems. Note however that some modems perform better than others. The file MODEMS included in the distribution provides information about each modem that has been tried. How to Obtain the Distribution by FTP ------------------------------------- The source code is available for public ftp on sgi.com sgi/fax/v2.1.src.tar.Z (192.48.153.1) You can also obtain inst'able images for Silicon Graphics machines from sgi.com sgi/fax/v2.1.inst.tar (192.48.153.1) For example, % ftp -n sgi.com .... ftp> user anonymous Password: ftp> cd sgi/fax ftp> binary ftp> get v2.1.src.tar.Z .... ftp> quit NOTE: Make sure to get the README file as it has further information and instructions. How to Obtain the Distribution by Mail -------------------------------------- Do not send me requests for the software; they will be ignored (without response). If you cannot use FTP at all, there is a service called "ftpmail" available from gatekeeper.dec.com: you can send e-mail to this machine and it will use FTP to retrieve files for you and send you the files back again via e-mail. To find out more about the ftpmail service, send a message to "ftpmail@gatekeeper.dec.com" whose body consists of the single line "help". -end- 4. BATTLE ZONE VERSION 1.01 - Iris 4D Entertainment Archive OVERVIEW: In BZONE you pilot a tank through a playing field littered with indestructable blocks and enemy tanks, missiles and landers. The object is simple: kill the enemy before he kills you. CONTROLS: Only the mouse is used in BZONE. The lower right hand corner of the game display contains a overhead view of a joystick which you control with the mouse. The joystick is labeled F, R, L and B for forward, right, left and backwards. To fire hit the lefthand mouse key, to stop moving instantly (return joystick to the upright position) hit the center key. The righthand key toggles the joy- stick's sensitivity, it is initially in the less sensitive mode. The current status of the toggle is displayed in the lower right corner of the display ('H' implies high, 'L' implies low). FEATURES: BZONE has a built-in color version with the capability to fade colors like the arcade original, this option works best in dim light. A list of the top top scores is maintained in each directory BZONE is played in. (Fading is mimiced in the IRIS version if you put any arguments on the command line.) BZONE runs in RGB mode and does not require a Zbuffer. HOW TO GET IT: For example, % ftp sgi.com .... ftp> user anonymous Password: ftp> cd sgi/bz ftp> binary ftp> get README .... ftp> quit Follow the instructions in the README file to get the software. -end- TECHNICAL ARTICLES AND REFERENCES ================================= 5. SILICON GRAPHICS TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS ADDRESS Greetings from Technical Publications at Silicon Graphics! We're writing to let you know about techpubs@sgi.com, an address that any SGI customer can use to contact the managers of SGI's technical publications departments. We're very interested in knowing what you think of our documentation, and we hope you'll use this method to tell us what you do and don't like about your online and printed manuals. We'll answer every message, and we'll use your input to help us improve the manuals for subsequent revisions. Feel free to spread the word about techpubs@sgi.com. We look forward to hearing from you! -end- 6. IRIS PERFORMER MAILING LIST Announcing the.. ------------------ IRIS Performer Mailing List ------------------ WHAT IS IRIS PERFORMER? IRIS Performer is a software development environment that supports programmers implementing high performance multi- processing graphics applications on Silicon Graphics products. It offers both high level facilities for visual simulation and virtual reality tasks and an application- neutral high-performance hardware-oriented graphics toolkit. WHAT IS THE IRIS PERFORMER MAILING LIST FOR? The list is intended to be an unmoderated, free-form discussion of IRIS Performer with issues both technical and non-technical; and to provide feedback to Silicon Graphics about the product. Much like the comp.sys.sgi.* newsgroups, it is not an official support channel but is monitored by several interested SGI employees familiar with the toolkit. We hope to share information, tips, and procedures, and to learn from each other how to make and use Performer better. HOW DO I JOIN? To become a subscriber to the IRIS Performer mailing list you must send email to: info-performer-request@sgi.com New subscribers are added "by hand". Once your request is processed you will receive submission/posting instructions, some guidelines, and a current copy of the Performer Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) list. -end- 7. HOT MIX Silicon Graphics is a company that thrives from cultivating the spirits of creativity and innovation. It is then wholly appropriate that Silicon Graphics would offer an extremely innovative and creative marketing program to its Developers and Partners. That program is the Hot Mix CD-ROM, which consists of software demonstrations and hardware presentations, all in an easy to use, entertaining, interactive multimedia format. The Developers, Partners and third party vendors provide their company logo, a product description and comprehensive contact information. These elements are then combined, utilizing the technology of Silicon Graphics, into visual, on-line presentations with colorful templates, graphical icons and interactive "hot buttons". The disc is designed to have a consistent look and feel in a "point and click" motif that compels the user to fully explore the product presentations and in many cases launch the actual capabilities of the featured products while heralding Silicon Graphics's strengths: interactivity, full color imaging, audio/visual and multimedia effects. Another distinct feature of Hot Mix is that, for many products, fully operational key-locked software invites users to "test drive" the application before making a purchasing decision. We have found this to be one of the most effective and cost efficient mediums for promoting and distributing software/hardware products to Silicon Graphics customers. Each quarter a new volume of Hot Mix is produced and shipped to sales offices worldwide, handed out at tradeshows and corporate events as well as bundled with every Indigo that leaves the Mountain View location. While Hot Mix was initially limited to Software Express vendors, it has expanded to include all those registered in the Silicon Graphics Developers Program on a "pay to play" basis. Those eligible to participate do so on a "first come first serve" basis with the cost of inclusion based upon the amount of space, per megabyte, required for their particular presentation. Each volume of Hot Mix fills up rapidly. Those interested in receiving the quarterly Vendor Participation Guide, and/or being added to the Hot Mix mailing list should contact Juli Banfe, Hot Mix's Producer. (email address: julib@corp.sgi.com) The Future for Hot Mix? One very promising aspect is the environmentally conscious manner in which Hot Mix will be produced and recycled. Ms. Banfe's sensibilities, mirroring Silicon Graphics's eco-friendly policies, have compelled her to see to it that beginning with Volume 7 of Hot Mix, the packaging, the CD booklet and the disc itself will be 100% recyclable. Even more impressive is that Ms. Banfe has implemented a mechanism which encourages the users to recycle their old copies of Hot Mix as the latest release arrives each quarter. Those users enterprising enough to collect 50 CD's and send them to Ms. Banfe for recycling will be rewarded with a Hot Mix T-shirt. On Silicon Graphics's Mountain View campus, CD recycling bins will join the glass, aluminum and paper bins already in use. Where else but at Silicon Graphics will you find a red hot marketing, sales and distribution tool that is not only environmentally friendly, but user friendly as well? -end- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Silicon Graphics, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of high-performance visual computing systems. The company delivers interactive three-dimensional graphics, digital media and multiprocessing supercomputing technologies to technical, scientific and creative professionals. Its subsidiary, MIPS Technologies, Inc., designs and licenses the industry's leading RISC processor technology for the computer systems and embedded control markets. Silicon Graphics has offices worldwide and headquarters in Mountain View, California. Silicon Graphics, IRIS, Geometry Engine and the Silicon Graphics logo are registered trademarks, and Indy, Indy Video, IRIS Indigo, Indigo, Indigo2, Indigo Magic, Onyx and Challenge are trademarks, of Silicon Graphics, Inc. Extreme is a trademark used under license by Silicon Graphics. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information regarding this publication, send mail to list-manager@sgi.com. The message should consist of the command "info iris-on-line". The subscribe, send mail to list-manager@sgi.com. The message should consist of the command "subscribe iris-on-line". Your return email address will be added to the subscription list. If you wish to receive this magazine at an address other than that from which you are sending your request, send email with the subject "subscribe" to iris-on-line-editor@sgi.com. Include your email address in the message. To include an article or announcement in this publication, send mail with the subject "submittal" to iris-on-line-editor@sgi.com. Please include contact information. All products, services, and other statements regarding Silicon Graphics or third parties are subject to local availability and policies. Please contact your local Silicon Graphics or third party sales representative for information and details in your location. IRIS On-Line is published as an information service to users of Silicon Graphics Computer Systems. Descriptions of, or references to, products or publications within this publication does not imply endorsement of that product or publication by Silicon Graphics. Silicon Graphics makes no warranty of any kind with respect to the subject matter included herein, the products listed herein, or the completeness or accuracy of this catalog. Silicon Graphics specifically disclaims all warranties, express, implied or otherwise, including without limitation, all warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.