MAME can emulate either SGI Indy or Indigo 2 running the IRIX Operating System. https://github.com/mamedev/mame/releases
0.207 Initial Support (slow)
0.213 has a graphics bug regression
0.232 Networking works
0.240 Non-Dynamic Recompiler
0.241 Dynamic Recompiler was added (faster)
Current MAME version at the time of last update is 0.250
Emulation supports installing IRIX, some demo and other applications have been tested.
If something doesn't work please submit an issue so it can be fixed.
First decide between Indy and Indigo 2
The biggest difference between these is the startup logo, in emulation neither has a performance or feature benefit over the other.
Then decide on the graphics option: serial terminal, xl8 or xl24
The serial terminal is the default, if you don't specify one of the other options on the MAME command line (covered later) then you will only be able to connect to the emulated serial terminal.
Between 8bit palette graphics and 24 bit frame buffer graphics I'm not sure if one emulates faster or not. So at this time I'll recommend xl24 which "intuitively" seems like it would be faster.
BIOS ROM Download Location: https://archive.org/download/mame-merged/mame-merged/
Do a Ctrl+F and search for indigo2_4415.zip OR indy_4610.zip
Also get both of the following
kb_ms_natural.zip AND ps2_keybc.zip
Download these files and place in the \MAME\ROMS folder
There are other SGI BIOS files available but they are minimally usable in MAME at this time and NOT covered on this page
Personal IRIS - 4D/20, 4D/25 - Bootable but some errors, Irix 4.0.5 working
Personal IRIS - 4D/30, 4D/35 - MACHINE_IS_SKELETON
IRIS 3130 68K - MACHINE_IS_SKELETON
Additional NOT Emulated PROM's: http://www.vdheijden-messerli.net/sgistuff/nekochan/prom/
Overview
The Indigo 2 was released before the Indy and could originally run IRIX 4.05. At this time IRIX 4.x is not known to complete the installation.
IRIX 5.x is supported by the Indigo 2 and Indy but most versions until 5.3 are considered buggy and should be avoided. IRIX 5.3 may perform a little better, than the 6.x versions but some software may not work on 5.3.
IRIX 6.0 was the first 64-bit release of IRIX, The last supported version for either Indigo 2 or Indy is 6.5.22. IRIX 6.5.x installation may use up to 5 CD's so keep an eye on your emulated hard drive size.
Notes:
IRIX 6.3 is for the O2 only
IRIX 6.4 is Origin 200/0 and Onyx 2 and Octane only.
IRIX 6.5.23 and up are not supported on the Indigo 2 or Indy workstations.
Other images can be found with a little searching but the more common choices are here.
IRIX 5.3 for Indy https://archive.org/details/sgi_IRIX_5.3_for_Indy_R4400_175MHz
IRIX 5.3 for Indigo 2 https://archive.org/details/irix53xfs
IRIX 6.5 for Indigo 2 and Indy https://archive.org/search.php?query=irix%206.5
IRIX 6.5 Installation Tools
IRIX 6.5 Foundation 1
IRIX 6.5 Foundation 2
IRIX 6.5 Applications (Optional)
IRIX 6.5 Base Documentation (Optional)
IRIX 6.5 Development Foundation (Optional needed for GCC installations as well)
IRIX 6.5 Development Libraries (Optional needed for GCC installations as well)
Alternate download location: https://jrra.zone/sgi/
Use the chdman utility included with MAME to create a hard disk to install to.
chdman createhd -ss 512 -s 11773255680 -o Indigo2_IRIX53.chd
https://www.seagate.com/support/disc/manuals/scsi/29030c.pdfchdman createhd -ss 512 -s 36771581952 -o Indigo2_IRIX65.chd
cdrom drive is hardcoded to 0,6 (X,Y)
Using the ISO files acquired above you are now ready to emulate an SGI workstation running IRIX. Use a shell or batch file to start your emulated system because the command line is a bit long otherwise.
The base command line is (needs additional parameters, see below):
mame64 <DRIVER> -window -ui_mouse -harddisk1 .\roms\Indigo2_IRIX53.chd -cdrom .\roms\irix5.3_indy_r4400.iso
This command will run MAME in a window which is usually more convenient, enables the mouse in the MAME UI, provides the path the harddrive and CD drives. Verify the path to the chd and iso file match their actual location, also make sure the keyboard and mouse BIOS files that were downloaded are still zipped and placed in the \MAME\roms folder.
The workstation DRIVER is indigo2_4415 OR indy_4610 (without the .zip extension)
Enable a Serial Console Terminal
-hpc3:ioc2:rs232b terminal
To Select a Graphics card (Default is Serial Terminal Only)
-gio_gfx xl8 OR -gio_gfx xl24
The final command line will look something like this:
mame64 indigo2_4415 -window -ui_mouse -gio_gfx xl24 -harddisk1 .\roms\Indy2g.chd -cdrom .\roms\irix5.3_indy_r4400.iso
Some additional parameters to experiment with:
Troubleshooting
-log -verbose
MIPS Assembly language Debugging
-debug
The following may (or may not) improve performance.
-autoframeskip
The following references were used for the installation steps below:
https://software.majix.org/irix/install-start.shtml
https://software.majix.org/irix/install-bootcd.shtml
https://software.majix.org/irix/install-fx.shtml
https://software.majix.org/irix/install-network.shtml
If you get an error message telling you that no swap-space is available, you first need to initalize your harddrive via fx.
The following steps will set the MAC address of the network adapter.
Create the folder \MAME\nvram\indigo2_4415
Download this 1KB file: eeprom
Place it in the folder \MAME\nvram\indigo2_4415
If you have already run MAME once the file and folder are probably already created so just overwrite the existing file.
When the system first boots you will probably see an error that there is no operating system installed.
"Press any key to continue:" <Enter> or click the continue button
It will now load a graphical interface with a few buttons,
Click the "Enter Command Monitor" button
It will help to type slowly (for example fully depress and release each keyboard key) maybe 5 wpm. Not quite hunt and peck speed but more like you are on a really bad keyboard.
There is a `help` command to show the list of available commands
The following steps will set the MAC address of the network adapter. When you start the emulated Indy, you'll want to go into the command monitor and first thing, do:
>printenv
The value eaddr defaults to ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff which could cause the installer to crash or hang, this can be fixed with the following command.
>setenv -f eaddr 08:00:69:12:34:56
The range 08:00:69 was assigned to SGI, the last 3 sections only matter for software licenses.The steps here are really standard, I'm including them here for completeness and since it's a single implementation of the hardware I can be more specific in the steps.
The 'hinv' command will describe the hardware that is being emulated.
>> hinv
System: IP22
Processor: 150 Mhz R4400, with FPU
Primary I-cache size: 16 Kbytes
Primary D-cache size: 16 Kbytes
Memory size: 128 Mbytes
Graphics: XL
SCSI Disk: scsi(0)disk(1)
SCSI CDROM: scsi(0)cdrom(6)
Audio: Iris Audio Processor: version A2 revision 4.1.0
>> hinv
System: IP22
Processor: 100 MHz R4600, with FPU
Primary I-cache size: 16 Kbytes
Primary D-cache size: 16 Kbytes
Memory size: 128 Mbytes
Graphics: Indy 24-bit
SCSI Disk: scsi(0)disk(1)
SCSI CDROM: scsi(0)cdrom(6)
Audio: Iris Audio Processor: version A2 revision 4.1.0
The CDROM is at 0,6 so type the following (Error? Troubleshooting below in Yellow)
>> ls dksc(0,6,8)
The results should include a file 'sashARCS' so enter the following
>> boot -f dksc(0,6,8)sashARCS
Now we are in a 'sash' prompt
sash: ls dksc(0,6,7)
Here we can see an object 'stand' which is a directory, it's not obvious but it is.
sash: ls dksc(0,6,7)stand
This shows the contents of the 'stand' directory, including fx.ARCS
sash: boot -f dksc(0,6,7)stand/fx.ARCS
The fx disk partitioning tool is actually really easy, review the defaults and hit <Enter>
It will then display a summary and available options, type 'exit' <Enter> then <Enter> again when prompted to save the changes.
When prompted for "device-name", ctrlr#, drive# just hit <Enter> the value in parens is the default.
boot -f dksc(0,6,7)stand/fx.ARCS --x
boot -f dksc(0,6,7)stand/fx.ARCS --x When prompted with multiple menu options (exit, debug, label, auto, badblock, exercise, repartition, format) choose 'exit' then <Enter>
When prompted for 'label info has changed for disk dksc(0,1,). write out changes? (yes)' type 'yes' then <Enter>
You will be returned to the main menu.
Choose "Install Software"
Select "Local CD-ROM" and "Local SCSI CD-ROM drive 6", then click the "Install" button and click the "Continue" button.
The initial copy progress takes just a couple of minutes.
The command prompt returns and confirms you want to overwrite the disk contents.
Repeat twice (System and User partition)
yes <Enter>
y <Enter>
To install all of the default software:
go <Enter>
After a while the installer will return to a prompt type 'quit' <Enter>
It will then run a final process and prompt for restart type 'y' <Enter>
Check the path the ISO file is correct
Use the ISO extension instead of IMG, etc. MAME may interpret files by extension and think that an IMG is a hard drive image.
IRIX software may be available at the following sites.
http://www.bitsavers.org/bits/SGI/mips/cd/
http://www.vdheijden-messerli.net/sgistuff/nekochan/
http://jupiterrise.com/tgcware/tgcware.irix.html
https://mega.nz/folder/CZsmkCJI#kY61C_1_a_kgPd7TFCA0VQ/folder/DA1V2SJR
Software List Only: https://wiki.preterhuman.net/Catalog_of_Free_and_Commercially_supported_IRIX_software
Slowing down the emulation speed actually improves responsiveness because the keyboard is checked for input more often.
[Scroll Lock] Enable partial keyboard emulation
[~] Open MAME Menu
Cursor Up/Down to find maincpu
Cursor Left/Right to set speed
[~] Close MAME Menu
[Scroll Lock] Enable full keyboard emulation
Change CD's
[Scroll Lock] Enable partial keyboard emulation
[tab] Open MAME Menu
Cursor Up/Down to 'File Manager'
Press[Enter]
Cursor Up/Down to 'cdrom (cdrm)'
Cursor [ESC], [Up], [Down] and [Enter] to find and select the desired ISO
[tab] Close MAME Menu
[Scroll Lock] Enable full keyboard emulation
Most systems will not be able to emulate an R4400 Indy @ 133 MHz at full speed using the default interpreter.
There is now a Dynamic ReCompiler which was implemented starting in MAME version 0.241
Example running on an AMD 3900X
No DRC emulation speed as high as 38% of a real SGI Indy
With DRC emulation speed as high as 90% of a real SGI Indy
Emulating these systems does work, but don't expect high performance.
Thanks: For many good questions and answers in the Silicon Graphics User Group and IRIX Network Discord
Including: Lady Serena Kitty