The SGI graphics hardware is designed to output images as either normal high-resolution RGB or as video rate RGB. This lets you output video without using an auxiliary video frame buffer. Only RGB output is possible and the graphics console is disabled during the recording process.
The basic video signal connections to a recording system might look like the figure below.
Figure 4 Basic video signal connections
Once recording begins, the SGI high-resolution monitor is disabled and the video signal is valid for the encoder. After recording, normal operation is restored and the signal downstream of the SGI high-resolution monitor is not valid for video equipment. Therefore, you cannot record and use the graphics console simultaneously.
device frame buffer name
server_name server
server_id socket
server_host host
defn
format format
position x y
video_on command
video_off command
window window
enddefn
enddevice
device frame buffer name
The name is the name you want to assign to this device.
server_name server
The server is the name of the executable that controls the SGI video console frame buffer. It resides in the product_bin. The server should be fbdnewcon for the SGI video console. (If you relocate the server executable, you must specify the server as a full UNIX pathname.)
server_id socket
The socket is the socket number through which your application communicates with the console server process. This number must be unique to your UNIX system for each defined device and (Alias|Wavefront and non-Alias|Wavefront) server process.
server_host host
The host is the name of your workstation.
format format
The format indicates whether your SGI video console is operating in NTSC or PAL video. If this line is omitted, NTSC is used by default.
position x y
The x y indicates where the lower-left corner of the window displaying each image should be placed. This is a pixel location on the console, with 0 0 being the lower-left corner. The default value is 1 1.
video_on command
The command specifies the UNIX command that initializes the workstation prior to recording. If you specify default, the command /usr/gfx/setmon NTSC is used, if format is set to NTSC. If format is set to PAL, then /usr/gfx/setmon PAL is used.
You can also specify an explicit command. For example, Elan Graphics boards support genlock (synchronized to an external sync source), so you might want to specify /usr/gfx/setmon -g NTSC instead of specifying default.
video_off command
The video_off parameter specifies the UNIX command that restores the workstation to normal operation. If you specify default, the command /usr/gfx/setmon 60HZ is used. You can also specify an explicit command.
window window
The window indicates whether the SGI window borders are to be drawn around the displayed image. A value of 1 indicates that the window border is to be drawn; a value of 0 indicates that no window border is to be drawn.