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 "=")
X11-3D
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subscribe x11-3d@athena.mit.edu jae189@iss1.af.mil
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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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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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