Third Party Software Support for Linux on SGIs?

Dan Christian asks: "I just got off the phone with SGI support. They tell me that they are no longer offering software support packs for their Linux boxes and my initial 90day support has run out. Where can I find good free information or third party support for my SGI 300L? This is really annoying, since the box is only 4 months old and there was no notice that it was becoming un-supported."

where to begin

[green pizza]

First of all,there was no "300L". SGI made a "1400L" server and a "230" workstation, among other models, but no "300L".

Have you checked out SGI's website? There are many good linux docs, faqs, and links:
http://support.sgi.com/linux [sgi.com]
http://techpubs.sgi.com [sgi.com]
http://oss.sgi.com [sgi.com]

Keep in mind that aside from the (NT/W2K only) 320 and 540, all of SGI's x86 PCs are based on OEM components. There is no need for SGI-specific software. SGI has offered ProPacks in the past, mostly a combination of kernel patches and other tweaks. The ProPacks are opensource, but keep in mind that the most recent update is only for Red Hat 6.2. You're best off with your favorite distro and the latest components.

(begin rant)
Why did you buy a linux system from SGI in the first place? At the time, VA and Penguin offered better deals and better support. My office owns several SGI systems, but we stick to what they know best - MIPS/IRIX. Our Origin 2000 fileserver, Origin 3000 compute/simulation machine, and the two Octane2 V12+DM2+FibreChannel workstatons (running Piranha HD for high def video editing) come from a long lineage of MIPS/IRIX systems SGI has offered over the years --- not some new wiz-bang technology they thought they'd try to capitalize on, then dump.
(end rant)

erm where doi you get support for x86 ?

[johnjones]

come on its just a standard x86 box your talking about (I think since you messed up the model no.)

lots of companies do it redhat for one (plus lots of consultants)

what would be intresting is if you mean a MIPS box

now I dont think linux-MIPS has even got a maintainer at the mo so I dont know

regards

john jones