IRIX 5.3

Introducing IRIX(tm) 5.3 is an upwardly compatible revision of IRIX 5 which incorporates substantial functionality from UNIX® System V, Release 4. IRIX 5.3 is available on all Silicon Graphics® computers which run IRIX 5.2. It also preserves your software investments by providing binary compatibility with applications developed under earlier versions of IRIX 4 or 5. With System V Release 4 (SVR4) as its base, IRIX 5.3 is firmly placed in the mainstream of the UNIX community. SVR4 has gained broad industry acceptance as the standard UNIX environment.

Benefits to End Users

Indigo Magic User Environment
The Indigo Magic(tm) User Environment not only replaces, but goes far beyond the capabilities of the previous graphical user environment. Indigo Magic is a complete family of tools available only for Silicon Graphics workstations. From desktop utilities to digital media applications to collaborative tools, Indigo Magic provides everything necessary for both the novice and the experienced user to take advantage of the power of visual computing.

Some of the Key Benefits of Indigo Magic

Intuitive Iconic Interface
Indigo Magic icons represent not only files and applications, but also peripherals (such as printers and CD players) and other computers on the network throughout your organization. Icons are intelligent; they change their appearance to indicate a change in state, such as whether the CD player has an audio or software CD inserted, or the printer is out of paper.

Indigo Magic also supports "drag and drop." For example, an application can be launched by clicking on its icon, or by dragging the icon of an appropriate data file and dropping it on the application. Icons can also be placed on the background for quick access.

Efficient File Management
The file manager provides an easy graphical way to navigate through the file system and view directories. Multiple viewing options are provided, including a thumbnail view for image files.
Customizable Desks
Indigo Magic desks are a mechanism for organizing tasks and adding space to crowded screens. Each desk represents a full screen with its own windows, active applications, and customizations. You can switch between multiple desks instantaneously, and move windows from one desk to another.
Superior Digital Media Tools
Showcase(tm) 3.3 is a greatly enhanced presentation authoring tool that enables users to create sophisticated visual presentations. You can create everything from basic text slides to interactive presentations with integrated audio, video, and 3D graphics. Other media tools include audio editor, digital movie editor, video capture, and image processing tools. In addition, Kodak Photo CD(tm) support is built into the desktop, so no additional software is needed for viewing or managing the files.
MediaMail
MediaMail(tm) is a full-fledged multimedia electronic mail package developed cooperatively by Silicon Graphics and Z-Code Software. MediaMail is MIME-compliant, and can send and receive text, graphics, Showcase, video, and audio files.
Network Search Capabilities
Indigo Magic provides tools to find not only files, but also systems, peripherals, and people on a network. For example, you can search for all color printers available on the network. When located, the item can then be dragged to other areas of the desktop for immediate accessibility.
Simplified Printing and Printer Management
Installing a local printer or mounting a remote one is accomplished through a simple graphic control panel. The Impressario(tm) client software is now included with Indigo Magic to provide support for many different printers. Printing is as easy as dragging the document's icon and dropping it onto the printer icon.
On-Line Help and Information
Indigo Magic has a context sensitive help system that is always available. IRIS InSight(tm) provides a complete set of on-line manuals and documentation, with quick access linking, cross-references, full text search, and integrated audio, video, and graphics.
Support for InPerson(tm)  Desktop Conferencing
InPerson is a low-cost desktop conferencing software product from Silicon Graphics that enables interactive collaboration. It features shared whiteboard and audio and video conferencing capabilities, and requires no additional hardware.
Internationalization and Localization
IRIX 5.3 supports internationalization (I18N) and localization (L10N). Through the use of language modules (available separately), users interact with applications in their local language.

Benefits to Systems Administrators

New Setup and System Administration Tools
A new set of system administration tools greatly simplifies a wide range of system setup and administration tasks. This includes swmgr, a graphical tool used to install, remove, and browse software distributed by Silicon Graphics.
System Monitor
The system now informs the user of critical system problems (such as file systems becoming full) via a notifier which appears on the users current desk. Whenever possible, solutions are suggested and hyperlinks into the InSight on-line library and system tools are provided.
System Security
IRIX 5.3 incorporates technology developed for Trusted IRIX/B1 to provide identification, authentication, and auditing. These features are designed to support the C2 level of trust, and include auditing, shadow passwords, expanded login options, and password aging. (Note: the U.S. Government no longer conducts C2-level certifications). IRIX 5.3 security was enhanced to ensure that xdm can be configured to enforce custom options in /etc/default/login, including the ability to prevent root login from the graphics console, and to escape to user-provided authentication programs.
Loadable Drivers
IRIX 5.3 supports loadable device drivers and STREAMS modules. Loadable device drivers and STREAMS modules can be linked into the kernel while it is running, and removed at a later time, without rebooting the system. Users can configure IRIX 5.3 to dynamically load and unload kernel modules to reduce system memory consumption.
Kernel Tuning
IRIX includes systune, a tool which customizes much of the kernel tuning process. Some kernel parameters can be changed on a running system. Changing others causes a new kernel to be created automatically.
Swap to Files in a Local or NFS Mounted File System
IRIX 5.3 has the ability to swap to a "regular" file in a file system in addition to the raw swap partition. This allows swap space to be added without shutting down the system or repartitioning your disk. The graphical tool cswap provides an easy method for adding, deleting, and monitoring the system swap areas used by the memory manager.
Processor Sets
IRIX 5.3 supports processor sets, allowing the partitioning of multiple processors on a single system. This enables enforcement of decisions about who and which applications may be run on a particular set.

Benefits to Programmers

OpenGL
OpenGL® is an industry-standard graphics software library that allows programmers to create interactive 3D applications.
The OpenGL Application Programmers Interface (API) is governed by the Architectural Review Board, an industry consortium which ensures multiplatform compatibility of OpenGL-based applications. Additional information can be found in the on-line OpenGL Reference Manual and OpenGL Programming Guide.
X11 Release 6 and IRIX IM 1.2
IRIX 5.3 includes the latest releases of the X11 Release 6 Window System clients and libraries and IRIX IM, the Silicon Graphics enhanced version of the OSF/Motif(tm) Release 1.2.4 Graphic User Interface. The X server itself is still based on X11R5 for compatibility. The new versions of these industry-standard packages include numerous enhancements, notably in the I18N/L10N support. Silicon Graphics has incorporated new technology for the management of fonts that reduces the font storage requirements for individual workstations.
Dynamic Shared Objects
With Dynamic Shared Objects (DSO) applications can occupy less space on disk. With more shared code, actual memory usage is reduced. DSOs also allow libraries to be updated without recompiling applications. DSOs replace the previous mechanism of static shared libraries.
Real-Time Programming
IRIX 5.3 kernel adds new, efficient, and easy-to-use methods for CPU scheduling. CPU time allocations within elapsed time segments can now be specified. Additional facilities permit processes to block waiting for the CPU time allocation, or to yield the CPU if the required work is completed before the allocation has been used.
Queued Signal Support
IRIX 5.3 provides the queued signal interface specified in POSIX 1003.1b-1993. This provides reliable queued signals with data passing between processes.
Asynchronous I/O
IRIX 5.3 supports asynchronous I/O in accordance with the specification in POSIX 1003.1b, allowing a user to queue read(2) and write(2) requests to a device, and optionally receive a queued signal when the request completes. A process can simultaneously queue a number of requests without waiting for any of them to complete.
Direct I/O
Allows an application to bypass the kernel buffer cache and gain I/O performance when reading and writing large files on a Silicon Graphics Extent File System (EFS), or optional 64-bit XFS(tm) file system. When used in conjunction with asynchronous I/O, an application can do its own buffer cache management.
Mutual Exclusion Primitives
The parallel programming primitives, detailed in section 3P of the programming manual, have been expanded to include support for the R4000®MP synchronization instructions. Other additions include recursive semaphores, more flexibility in configuring arenas, and more re-entrant or thread-safe routines in the standard libc. A new set of very low-level, lightweight, atomic operators has been added, including test_and_set(3P), test_then_add(3P), etc. The thread libraries are fully integrated into the main system libc so that no special library is required.
MIPS ABI and API Support
The standard IRIX 5.3 development environment supports the MIPS® ABI and API, including ANSI, XOPEN/XPG3, FIPS 151-2, POSIX90, SVID3, and most of the SVR4 API. Some of the standard interfaces are:

IRIX 4 and IRIX 5 Compatibility

Binary Compatibility Between IRIX 5.2 and IRIX 5.3
User-level binary and object code is compatible between IRIX 5.2 and IRIX 5.3, however, device drivers may require recompilation.
Binary Compatibility Between IRIX 4 and IRIX 5
Nearly all IRIX 4 binaries can run under IRIX 5. However, there may be rare cases in which application code must be recompiled, or even less likely, recoded to take advantage of IRIX 5 enhancements.
Object Compatibility Between IRIX 4 and IRIX 5
IRIX 5 objects are produced using the Extended Linkage Format (ELF), which replaces the ECOFF format used in IRIX 4. However, existing third-party ECOFF libraries and objects can be linked with ECOFF objects using the IRIX 4 compatibility Environment under IRIX 5.

Technical Specifications

Copyright © 1995, Silicon Graphics, Inc.