Setting up Networking
in IRIX 5.3 to 6.5

 General Information

Introduction

One might think that getting an SGI machine into the network is an easy task. Actually when using IRIX 6.5, it really is easy using the GUI, but when you are still using 5.2, things are a bit more difficult, as the GUI only supports you in assigning a hostname and IP-adress. But there is no frontend for setting the domain-name, the dns-server or the gateway.

Fortunately things aren't that bad, you can get your SGI box into the internet by modifiying some files. Before you start, you will need the following information: (Examples are given in brackets)

  • The IP-address of the SGI machine. [192.168.1.22]
  • The IP-mask of your network [255.255.255.0]
  • The hostname of the SGI machine. [indy]
  • The domainname of your network. [majix.homeip.net]
  • The IP-address of at least one DNS server. [192.168.1.2, 192.168.10.1]
  • The IP-address of your default gateway. [192.168.1.1]

Having gathered these informations, you can use the GUI for setting your hostname, IP-adress and the IP-mask. But you have no chance to enter the other information.

1. Setting the hostname.

This can be done either using the GUI or by modifiying the file /etc/sys_id. Simply write the hostname (without domain!) into this file.

2. Changing the hosts-file.

Now you have to add your machine name and IP-address at the end of the /etc/hosts-file. Do not delete the line
127.0.0.1 localhost

Your /etc/hosts file then might look like 

# IP address-hostname database (see hosts(4) for more information).
# Default IP address for a new IRIS. It should be changed immediately 
# to the address appropriate for your network.
# (The '192.0.2' network number is the officially blessed 'test' network.)
# This entry must be present or the system will not work.
127.0.0.1       localhost

# Assigned multicast group addresses listed in RFC-1060 ("Assigned Numbers").
# These entries can be deleted if you don't want them.
# (They are also available via the Internet DNS name servers.)
224.0.0.1       all-systems.mcast.net
224.0.0.2       all-routers.mcast.net
224.0.0.4       dvmrp.mcast.net
224.0.0.5       ospf-all.mcast.net
224.0.0.6       ospf-dsig.mcast.net
224.0.1.1       ntp.mcast.net
224.0.1.2       sgi-dog.mcast.net
224.0.1.3       rwhod.mcast.net
224.0.2.1       rwho.mcast.net
224.0.2.2       sun-rpc.mcast.net

# Local address
192.168.1.22    indy.majix.homeip.net

3. Setting the domain-name and DNS-server.

Now edit the file /etc/resolv.conf. If it does not exist, create the file. Then write the following information into the file /etc/resolv.conf:

domain majix.homeip.net
nameserver 192.168.1.2
nameserver 192.168.10.1

In order to support some older software, you should create a link to the newly created resolv.conf by typing at a command-prompt:

> rm /usr/etc/resolv.conf
> ln -s /etc/resolv.conf /usr/etc/resolv.conf

4. Setting the default route.

This is definately the most complicated task, especially for older IRIX releases. Because different IRIX versions require different approaches, this item is split up into three subitems.

IRIX 5.3:

Edit the file /etc/rc2.d/S30network. Go to line 355 and put in the following line after the else:
$ROUTE add default 192.168.1.1 1

Of course you have to insert your gateway instead of 192.168.1.1. The region around line 355 should look like this: 

348   if test "$if1name" != ""; then
349       $IFCONFIG $if1name inet $if1addr 2>/dev/null
350       $IFCONFIG $if1name down          2>/dev/null
351   fi
352   $IFCONFIG lo0 $localhost
353   $ROUTE -q delete net $if1addr $if1addr >/dev/null 2>&1
354   $ROUTE -q add 224.0.0.0 $localhost 0   >/dev/null 2>&1
355      else
356      $ROUTE add default 192.168.1.1 1
357
358   # Initialize other boards if this host is a gateway (no harm if
359   # they are missing). Systems with more than 2 interfaces must
360   # update /etc/config/netif.options (see comments in the file).
361

IRIX 6.2 old Versions:

Edit the file /etc/rc2.d/S30network. Go to line 388 and put in the following line after the else:

route add -net default 192.168.1.1 -hopcount 1

Of course you have to insert your gateway instead of 192.168.1.1. The region around line 388 should look like this: 

379   $IFCONFIG lo0 $localhost
380   if1net=`$IFCONFIG $if1name \
381      | sed -n 's/^[    ]*inet  *\([^ ]*\).*/\1/p' 2>/dev/null`
382   if test -n "$if1net"; then
383       $ROUTE delete $if1net -net >/dev/null
384   fi
385   $ROUTE add 224.0.0.0 $localhost -interface >/dev/null
386          else
387
388          route add -net default 192.168.1.1 -hopcount 1
389
390   # Initialize other boards if this host is a gateway or multi-homed
391   # (no harm if they are missing). Systems with more than 2 interfaces
392   # must update /etc/config/netif.options (see comments in the file).
393

IRIX 6.2 - 6.5:

This is probabably the easiest system. If you have IRIX 6.2, first check if the file /etc/config/static-route.options. If it does not exist, you probably have an old IRIX 6.2, and you should refer to the section above. All newer IRIXes (6.3 and above) should have this file.

At the end of the file /etc/config/static-route.options simply add the line
$ROUTE $QUIET add -net default 130.60.XX.1

5. Start/Stop deamons.

There is one last important step, you probably want to disable the routing daemon. Enabling or disabling deamons is indeed very easy in IRIX. Simply type
> chkconfig routed off
to disable the routing daemon. You can see a list of all services and their state by simply typing chkconfig, and you can enable or disable all other services similarily.
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