MIPS/Hardware Requirements

This document provides an overview of the status of various MIPS-based systems for installing Gentoo Linux. If you find errors or omissions please email the maintainer or an editor.

Silicon Graphics Systems - Stable
The following systems are known to be very stable overall. Just about all the core hardware is supported in these systems, and there are very few outstanding stability issues at this time.

IP22: Indy, Indigo 2 and Challenge S

 * Processor Options (Stable):
 * (on Indy and Challenge S) R4000, R4400, R4600, R5000
 * (on Indigo 2) R4000, R4400


 * Kernel Architecture Support:
 * 32-bit: Stable
 * 64-bit: Experimental


 * Notes:
 * At present, only the Newport (XL) graphics framebuffer is supported in Linux. Therefore on systems with other framebuffers, you will need to use serial console.
 * The Challenge S has its RJ-45 connector on a daughter board (Mezz) linked with an unsupported SCSI adapter, a WD33C95A. In order for this network connector to function, this SCSI bus needs to be activated, however it is not yet supported by Linux. As a result of this, the Challenge S can only get network connectivity via its AUI connector.
 * Indigo2 EISA Support isn't very well tested and may not work with all hardware. Hardware that it is known to function with is listed, and as more compatible hardware is discovered, it will be added. Please note that hardware requiring DMA support is currently not functional. This includes EISA/ISA-based soundcards. EISA Video cards requiring an x86-compatible BIOS are also not functional.

IP27: Origin 200/2000 and Onyx2

 * Processor Options:
 * Stable: R10000, R12000
 * Experimental: R14000
 * Kernel Architecture Support:
 * 32-bit: Unsupported in Kernel
 * 64-bit: Experimental

IP32: O2

 * Processor Options:
 * Stable: R5000, RM5200, RM7000
 * Unsupported: R10000


 * Kernel Architecture Support:
 * 32-bit: Unsupported in Kernel
 * 64-bit: Stable


 * Notes:
 * InfiniteReality (Kona) graphics boards in Onyx2 systems are not currently supported. Patches welcome!

Silicon Graphics Systems - Experimental/Unstable
The systems listed here are known to run Linux, however in many cases, there are known stability issues and major gaps in the hardware support. In short, it will be a rough and bumpy ride.

IP28: Indigo 2 Impact (a.k.a Indigo 2 R10k)

 * Processor Options (Experimental) : R10000
 * Kernel Architecture Support:
 * 32-bit: Unsupported in Kernel
 * 64-bit: Experimental


 * Notes:
 * IP28 Indigo2 Impact support (classified as an Indigo2 system w/ an R10000 Processor) is very experimental . Most of the work was done by Peter Fuerst. The Indigo2 IP28 system suffers from an issue known as Speculative Execution, a feature of the R10000 Processor that is problematic on machines that are Non-Cache Coherent, such as the IP28 Indigo2 and on R10000/R12000-based IP32 O2 systems. Details on the nature of Speculative Execution, and the issues it poses to the Indigo2 can be found at the following URLs:
 * MIPS R10000 Microprocessor User's Manual (See PDF Pages 51-55 ) http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/manuals/2000/007-2490-001/pdf/007-2490-001.pdf
 * Post to NetBSD sgimips Mailing List on 29 Jun 2000 http://mail-index.netbsd.org/port-sgimips/2000/06/29/0006.html

IP30: Octane

 * Processor Options (Experimental): R10000, R12000, R14000A
 * Kernel Architecture Support:
 * 32-bit: Unsupported in Kernel
 * 64-bit: Experimental


 * Notes:
 * Octane support is back as-of >=sys-kernel/mips-sources-3.18.3.
 * The serial ports on the Octane default to 9600 8N1 in the ARCS PROM. Booted into Linux, the kernel is using a rudimentary driver that relies on constant polling of the serial port to send or receive data at a maximum rate of 38400 8N1.  To fully support DMA and interrupt-signaled serial ports, the in-kernel SGI Altix driver needs work, as it can currently detect the serial ports, but not send/receive data.
 * SMP support is broken and not included in the available patchset. Help welcome in getting this working again.
 * CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE and an R14000 processor module do not play well together. R12000/R10000 may also be affected, but apparently do not trigger the problem (SIGSEGV or SIGBUS) as often as an R14000.  Possibly a problem with the MIPS TLB code or the Octane's memory setup.  Avoid enabling this kernel config option for now on this system.

Silicon Graphics Systems - Need LOTS of work
The following systems have some basic code in place in a separate upstream git branch, but otherwise are not functional or have unknown degrees of success/failure in booting Linux. Those interested would be advised to join the linux-mips mailing list or join the #mipslinux IRC channel on Freenode to learn more about this class of systems.
 * SGI IP35 Hardware:
 * Fuel/IP34 (R14000A/R16000 CPU)
 * Origin 3000/IP35 (R14000[A]/R16000[A] CPU)
 * Origin 300/IP45 (R14000A CPU)
 * Origin 350 & Tezro/IP53 (R16000A CPU)

Upstream IP35 Branch

Silicon Graphics Systems - Unsupported
Just about all of these systems are totally unsupported at the kernel level making a full Linux system totally impossible. Little is known about a lot of the systems listed here therefore any support in the near future is highly unlikely. You may wish to keep an eye on the Linux/MIPS website for any news of ports either that, or start your own. :-)


 * IP12: Iris Indigo (R3000 CPU)
 * IP20: Iris Indigo (R4000 or R4400 CPU)
 * IP26: Indigo 2 Power (R8000 CPU)

Silicon Graphics Accessories
As with most systems, there is quite wide array of peripherals that one can obtain for Silicon Graphics systems. While a lot of these work in IRIX, Linux support is a bit touch-and-go on some of these items. The following table lists the support for each device.

Cobalt Servers - Stable
The Cobalt servers are a set of machines all based around the QED RM523[01] CPU. They came in two varieties, the RaQ a rackmounted model, and the Qube, a small desktop model (1ft. cube). The big difference between these systems and the SGI systems above, is that these systems are little endian as opposed to big endian.

These were also sold under an OEM arragement to other companies, examples of this are the Gateway Microserver (Qube 2) and the Seagate NasRaQ (RaQ 2).

Qube/Raq 2800 (a.k.a Qube/Raq 2)

 * Processor: QED RM5231 @ 250MHz
 * Kernel Architecture Support:
 * 32-bit: Stable
 * 64-bit: Highly Experimental

Raq 2700 (a.k.a Raq 1)

 * Processor: QED RM5230 @ 150MHz
 * Kernel Architecture Support:
 * 32-bit: Experimental
 * 64-bit: Untested In Gentoo

Qube 2700 (a.k.a Qube 1)
The Qube 2700 was the first of this whole subarchitecture. Unfortunately, it lacks a serial port, making installation at present, damn near impossible. You may wish to have a look at Jan Metzner's page for more information.


 * Processor: QED RM5230 @ 150MHz
 * Kernel Architecture Support:
 * 32-bit: Untested In Gentoo
 * 64-bit: Untested In Gentoo