IRIX... what is it?

[pelle]

Please excuse the newbie-ness of these questions....
I've always wondered about the 'computers' they use to do Hollywood movie effects and I just heard a guy mention something about their Irix system.

Am I correct in thinking that Irix is similar to Unix/Linux?

Is the GUI based on X11 or something else?

Will Irix install on an x86 machine or just an SGI machine -- what are the SGI machines?

Where can I find some more information besides at SGI?

 

[LocutusX]

SGI's UNIX.

 

[xyyz]

It's SGI's version of Unix... right now SGI is moving away from Irix and going towards Linux and NT/2000.

The OS has a nicely designed GUI... the only problem is that it's very expensive... I have Irix 6.2 installed on my SGI Indy Webforce and i'm trying to get a copy of 6.5, but i've been told it will cost me a few grand. :\

I guess I outta' wait until they have a decent Linux port for the Indy.

 

[xyyz]

oh yeah, as far as i know Irix will not install on an x86.

SGI machines were based entirely on MIPS architecture... but that's changing now.

 

[LocutusX]

As fas as vendor-specific unices go, I like Solaris and HP-UX best. Anyways, it seems as if SGI is really trying to transform themselves into something other than a 3D graphics/UNIX vendor.

 

[pelle]

Thank you all.

So, since this is a unix OS, is the GUI a X11 or something else?

 

[LocutusX]

The GUI is most likely X11R5/6, or a deviant of it.

 

[doug]

IRIX is a version of Unix produced by Silicon Graphics Inc (SGI) http://www.sgi.com/. To my knowledge it only runs on SGI machines although SGI machines can often run Linux now.

Computer graphics and computer animation have often been popular on SGI machines although many of the computer graphics for the movie Titanic and others were produced on Linux (A linux cluster actually).

http://www2.linuxjournal.com/cgi-bin/frames.pl/lj-issues/issue46/2494.html
http://www.idg.net/new_docids/acade...ated/computer/grossing/new_docid_9-62173.html

 

[Dreadogg]

check this site out www.sgi.com it has info on that system

 

[Dreadogg]

double post sorry

 

[bubba]

The GUI is X11 and the window manager is 4DWM.

 

[pelle]

Does anyone know what the 3d Effects houses are using for apps? Are they writing their own software, modifying/porting apps or buying commercial apps?

I know about your typical 3d apps like 3D Studio Max, Lightwave and Maya... and a couple smaller ones like Truespace and Bryce... and shareware/freeware/OSS apps like POVRay, Blender and Nurbana... and I just learned that Pixar developed their own software RenderMan.

Can anyone open my eyes to other softwares that can be used for 3d effects and animation?

I'm not looking to buy, so price isn't a factor... any OS... I'm just trying to gather as much information as possible.