avr@cs.purdue.EDU (Andrew V. Royappa) (02/21/90)
Here is a list of responses I've received about 3D facilities
for Sun workstations, specifically Sun4/Sparc series. I thank
all who responded -- your suggestions were very helpful. I'm
evaluating the various options now, and will get in touch with
you when I decide on something.
Again, if anyone has information on 3D graphics products (software
hardware, or vaporware), for Sun workstations, please let me know.
Thanks much,
Andrew Royappa
{ihnp4, decvax, ucbvax, pur-ee}!purdue!avr
avr@purdue.edu
(responses are separated by lines of "=")
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X11-3D
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apE
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Facts About the apE Release:
Here are some details about the availability of the apE software:
What is It?
The apE is a software toolkit for visualizing scientific data. It is designed
to provide the flexibility to examine data in several ways. Release 1.1 of
the apE is designed primarily for visualizing data in two graphical
dimensions. (this does not mean just for visualizing two-dimensional data).
The apE system places an emphasis on animation and the integration of the
visualization process into the scientific process.
The apE is extendable, and will grow with the addition of more tools and
filters. The apE is a software product resulting from leading research in
computer graphics and scientific visualization conducted by The Ohio
Supercomputer Graphics Project and the Advanced Computing Center for the
Arts and Design. The apE 2.0, available in winter 1989/90, will address
general visualization problems in both two and three dimensions.
What Computers is it For?
The software package is designed so that there are two types of programs:
interactive tools, and computational filters. The tools allow for interactive
manipulation and examination of data. The filters perform all the computations.
The filters are usable without the tools, although the user may need to
provide some programming support to create data flows and view rendered images.
The complete apE toolkit, including the tools (running under SunView),
filters, and documentation, is available for the following workstations:
- Sun series 4 workstations.
- Sun series 3 workstations, running SunOS version 4.0 or greater.
- Sun series 386i workstations.
In addition, the filters are available for the following
computers/workstations running UNIX:
- Silicon Graphics 4D series workstation.
- Cray X-MP supercomputer.
- Hewlett-Packard workstations
- the NeXT workstation
- the Convex C-1 superminicomputer.
How Do I Get it?
The apE is available via anonymous ftp from oscsuna.osc.edu (128.146.1.4) in
the directory pub/apE. Send electronic mail to michelle@rhett.osgp.osc.edu,
for more information.
What Does the Release Include?
- Executable versions of all the programs
(tools and filters) for Sun-4, Sun-3, and Sun 386i.
- Complete user documentation for each program.
- Examples and tutorial.
Source code for the apE version 1.1 is not available; however, future
releases will include source code at a nominal fee (<$100).
apE Version 2.0
The apE 2.0 represents a significant release of graphics software and tools
to the research community. Built upon the experience of staff members from
the Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Projects and the Advanced Computing Center
for the Arts and Design, the apE 2.0 includes software that addresses the
full range of applications, from science to art.
The apE 2.0 is projected for release in January, 1990, and will be available
in binary form via anonymous ftp much like the apE 1.1. However, full
source code and printed documentation (both user and programmer) will be
available as well for a nominal fee. The apE 2.0 will include libraries,
filters, tools, and applications.
The apE 2.0 will include basis libraries, libraries for manipulating data flow
structures, and higher level libraries for window system objects (browsers,
etc.). In addition to the two dimensional tools for scientific data included
in the 1.1 release, the apE 2.0 will also include a complete polygonal system,
with data generation, animation, and rendering; several mapping systems from
scientific data to surface data; a volumetric rendering system; full image
manipulation and post processing software; a primitive based rendering system
(sticks, ball, vectors, etc.), ray tracing software, and a full toolset for
scientific and artistic image creation and manipulation.
Welcome to the apE ftp directory.
All the files needed to install a binary version of the apE software
are contained here.
The file FACTS is general information about apE.
The CONDITIONS file contains copyright information, please read.
The file install_apE.doc is documentation for the install script 'install_apE'.
The rest of the files are compressed tar files containing the apE release.
apE.tar.Z - documentation, examples, other files
bin.sun3.tar.Z - executables for sun3
bin.sun4.tar.Z - executables for sun4
bin.sun386.tar.Z - executables for sun386
lib.sun3.tar.Z - libraries for sun3
lib.sun4.tar.Z - libraries for sun4
lib.sun386.tar.Z - libraries for sun386
Copy the 2 install files (install_apE and install_apE.doc), apE.tar.Z,
and the bin and lib compressed tar files for the type(s) of
systems you have.
To install apE, go to the directory containing the apE files, and
follow the instructions in install_apE.doc
When the release is correctly installed, remove the compressed tar files (.Z)
Hints:
(1) Use binary mode in FTP
(2) Do the installation for each type of system.
Please send questions to michelle@osgp.osc.edu
apE (tm)
the animation production Environment
Copyright (c) 1989 The Ohio State University
Release 1.1
Conditions of Release
The Ohio State University holds copyright in this software, including
documentation and screen designs. Any person may download a copy of
apE Software Release 1.1 which will be deemed acknowledged by the act of
downloading all or any portion of such software:
1. The downloaded software, and any copies or derivatives thereof, will
be used solely for research and evaluation, but will not be decompiled,
commercialized,or made available to anyone not acknowledging acceptance
of these conditions.
2. Acknowledgment of the source of this software will be included on
all copies of it and of any derivatives, including produced works such as
still images and films. The original copyright notice(s) will be retained
on all copies, including partial copies, and appropriate copyright
notice(s) will be placed on all copies of any derivatives.
3. This apE software and any subsequently released corrections,
improvements, or other modifications, is made available as is, without
warranty of any kind. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIMED. Neither the Ohio State University nor anyone in privity
with it shall be liable for any loss or damages, including without
limitation special, indirect or consequential damages, arising from any
use, defect, omission, failure or the like of said software, nor shall
they have any obligation to make available any corrections, improvements,
or other modifications or to provide any assistance or service of any kind.
For terms under which source code, licenses for commercialization and/or
assistance in developing particular applications can be obtained, please
contact:
Michelle Messenger
The Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Project
1224 Kinnear Road
Columbus, Ohio 43212
(614) 292-3274
email: michelle@rhett.osgp.osc.edu
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PV-Wave
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You will probably want to consider PV-Wave. Call 303-530-9000 for
more info.
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Sun frame-buffer/bus possibilities
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4/110, 3/60, 3/80, 3/110 have the P4 bus
4/260, 3/260, 4/280, 3/280 have the VME bus
4/330, 3/430 have both P4 and VME buses
4/60, sparcstation 1, has the S4 bus
CG6, 8 bit accellerated color fb, is P4 and S4 available
CG2/3/5, 8 bit unaccellerated color fb, is VME
CG4, 10 bit unaccellerated color and mono fb is P4
CG3, 8 bit unaccellerated color fb is sun386i and S4
CG8, 24 bit + overlay unaccellerated is P4
CG9, 24 bit + GP2 accellerator is VME
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SunPhigs
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SunPhigs works really well on the sparc -- talk to your local Sun rep.
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RenderMan/RasterOps
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Pixar offers it's PhotoRealistic RenderMan product for Sun4/SparcStation.
The emphasis is on image quality, not on speed.
A company call RasterOps Has recently announced a 24-bit framebuffer
for the SparcStation 1. I have tried Pixar's software on it and it worked
without problems. The framebuffer is software compatible with Sun's
own CG8 and CG9 24-bit framebuffers.
This is a quality improvement, it will not improve speed.
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Alliant GX4000
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From: rutgers!market.alliant.com!dud (W.A."Dudley" Gaman)
Alliant makes a PHIGS-based parallel-processor add-on graphics board set
for the Sun3 and Sun4. We are currently modifying the board set for the
SparcStation. The board set is known as the GX4000. The GX4000 provides
the ability to render 1,000,000 vectors and 225,000 shaded polygons per
second with dedicated graphics processors and memory, thus freeing the Sun
CPU for other computational tasks. The GX4000 uses the ISO/ANSI standard
PHIGS+ 3-D graphics library as its native instruction set (all PHIGS commands
are processed using Alliant's parallel hardware and firmware).
If you would like more information, please send your address and phone number
and I'll pass along some product brochures.
dud@alliant.com
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And Finally, from a pessimist...
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The bottom line is "don't bother". If you spend the money to put graphics
hardware (VME-style) into a Sun you could probably have bought an SGI.
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