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SGI Octane2 General Maintenance

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SGI Octane2 front
An Octane2. The case and modules are those of the Octane, with blue covers (Raion, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Routine care and module procedures for the SGI Octane2, from SGI's Octane2 Workstation Owner's Guide (007-4207-002) and its 2002 system module replacement sheet.[1][2] The Octane2 uses the Octane's chassis and modules, so most procedures are those on SGI Octane General Maintenance: the air intake vents, compression connector care and cleaning, the power supply, the fans, the light module, and the real-time clock and identification module.[3] Where the Octane2 differs is in its VPro graphics on the XIO Tri-Module, its 1 GB memory and shipping bracket, and its CPU module fixings.

Environment

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SGI's Octane2 guide gives the same limits as the Octane's: 13 to 35 °C and 10% to 80% relative humidity in use, −10 to 65 °C and 10% to 95% in storage, 3,049 m maximum operating altitude, and 700 W (2,400 Btu/h) of heat.[4] The honeycomb vents on top need the inspection and vacuuming that SGI's Octane flier describes; see SGI Octane General Maintenance#Air intake vents.[5]

System module, CPU and memory

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SGI's replacement sheet for the system module is written for both the Octane and the Octane2, and the steps are on the Octane page. The same warnings apply: unplug the cord before refitting the module, because inserting it with the cord connected damages the workstation, and wait five minutes for the heat sinks to cool.[2][6]

DIMM bracket

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SGI fitted a DIMM bracket over the memory to protect it during shipping. If one is fitted, remove it before touching the memory: push it towards the heat sink, bow it upwards to free it from its rail, and slide it off the heat sink. SGI says the bracket is not needed in use; keep it and refit it before shipping the machine.[7]

Memory

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The Octane2 has four banks of two DIMM sockets and takes DIMMs from 32 MB to 1 GB, for 64 MB to 8 GB in all.[8]

  • Bank 1 (sockets 1 and 2) must always be filled.
  • Put the highest-density DIMMs in bank 1 and fill the other banks in descending order of size.
  • Fill banks in order without skipping one, and give each bank two DIMMs of the same capacity and type, or none.
  • A bank holds 64 MB to 2 GB.[8]

One owner's memory errors came from dusty DIMMs and sockets; see SGI Octane2 Troubleshooting Guide.[9]

CPU module

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The Octane2 guide describes the CPU module as held by four captive slotted screws, six on a dual module. Leave the four inner screws, which are not slotted, in place; they hold the heat sink to the processor. Lift a single module by sliding your fingers under the edge nearest the back of the system module; it may take both hands.[10]

XIO Tri-Module

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The Tri-Module carries the VPro graphics board in slot A/B and up to three option boards. Its compression connectors are on the side opposite the handles, so never grip the back of the module.[11][12]

  1. Power off, unplug the cord and wait five minutes; the XIO heat sinks get very hot.
  2. Disconnect every cable from the Tri-Module and put on the wrist strap.
  3. Loosen the two captive screws in the sliding handles with the Phillips screwdriver supplied with the machine.
  4. Pull the sliding handles until the sliding part of the module stands out about 25 mm (1 inch). The handles move this far before the I/O panels move.
  5. Hold the fixed handle, support the base of the module and draw it out of the chassis.
  6. Lay it on an antistatic surface with the sliding handles still out, and do not push them in. Cap the VPro board's compression connector.[13]

To refit:[14]

  1. Remove the cap from the compression connector.
  2. Check that the sliding handles stand out in their locked position. If they are flush with the I/O panels, the module stops part-way in.
  3. With the VPro I/O panel at the top, slide the module into the guides at the top and bottom of the bay. Fitted the other way up, the board can overheat.
  4. Push the module home by its fixed handle until the I/O panels are nearly flush with the chassis, then push the sliding handles until the sliding part is flush.
  5. Start a few threads on each captive screw before tightening either fully, then reconnect the cables.

Empty slots need blank panels. A lost screw holding a single-layer board or blank panel is an M3 × 8 mm.[11]

Power supply

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The supply is removed and refitted as on the Octane, after removing the PCI module if one is fitted; SGI's Octane2 guide gives the same steps and warns not to pull the power cable from the supply until the supply is out of the chassis.[15] See SGI Octane General Maintenance#Power supply. A replacement must be the VPro-rated supply, which hinv -m reports as PWR.SPPLY.ER 060-0035-001 or later.[16]

Real-time clock

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The Octane2's system board has the same Dallas DS1687-5 real-time clock module, with its sealed lithium cell, as the Octane. One owner runs a GlitchWorks replacement module in his Octane2.[9] See SGI Octane General Maintenance#Real-time clock and identification module.

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References

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  1. ↑ Silicon Graphics, Octane2 Workstation Owner's Guide, 007-4207-002, 2000-2002 (File:SGI Octane2 Workstation Owner's Guide (007-4207-002).pdf).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Silicon Graphics, System Module Replacement for Octane and Octane2 Workstations, 007-4560-001, 2002 (File:SGI Octane and Octane2 System Module Replacement (007-4560-001).pdf).
  3. ↑ "Octane", TechPubs Wiki, tech-pubs.net/wiki/index.php/Octane, retrieved 21 October 2026. The Octane2 chassis is identical to the Octane's and the plastics interchange. Community source.
  4. ↑ SGI, 007-4207-002, appendix B, Table B-20, p. 242.
  5. ↑ Silicon Graphics, OCTANE Air Intake Vent Maintenance Instructions, 007-3583-001, 1998 (File:SGI Octane Air Intake Vent Maintenance (007-3583-001).pdf).
  6. ↑ SGI, 007-4207-002, p. 32. Preparing the workstation; heat sink warning.
  7. ↑ SGI, 007-4207-002, p. 50. Removing the DIMM bracket.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 SGI, 007-4207-002, pp. 47-49. Memory banks and population rules.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 JannieVanZyl and CB_HK, "Octane2 (R14000/600, Odyssey): bad DIMM errors over serial, then completely dead", IRIXNet forum thread 5048, October 2026, forums.irixnet.org/thread-5048.html. Dusty DIMMs; GlitchWorks DS1687 module in an Octane2.
  10. ↑ SGI, 007-4207-002, pp. 41-42. Removing the CPU module.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 SGI, 007-4207-002, p. 108. XIO Tri-Module slots, blank panels, screw size, orientation.
  12. ↑ SGI, 007-4207-002, pp. 110-113. Preparing the workstation; compression connector caution.
  13. ↑ SGI, 007-4207-002, pp. 114-117. Removing the XIO Tri-Module.
  14. ↑ SGI, 007-4207-002, pp. 124-126. Reinstalling the XIO Tri-Module.
  15. ↑ SGI, 007-4207-002, pp. 61-68. Removing and installing the power supply.
  16. ↑ Silicon Graphics, Octane Workstation VPro Graphics Power Supply Upgrade Instructions, 007-4208-001, 2000, p. 14 (File:SGI Octane VPro Graphics Power Supply Upgrade Instructions (007-4208-001).pdf).


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