ARCS
Encyclopedia
ARCS is a firmware
bootloader (also known as a PROM
console
) used in most computer
s produced by SGI
since the beginning of the 1990s.
The ARCS system is loosely compliant with the Advanced RISC Computing
(ARC) standard, promulgated by the Advanced Computing Environment
consortium in the early 1990s. In another sense, the ARC standard is based on SGI's ARCS, which was used as a basis for generating the ARC standard itself, although ARC calls for a little-endian system while ARCS system is big-endian on all MIPS
-based systems. Despite various inconsistencies between the two, both SGI's ARCS implementations and the ARC standard share many commonalities (such as device naming, calling conventions, etc.).
Most of the computers which use the ARCS firmware are based on the MIPS line of microprocessor
s. But, the SGI Visual Workstation
series, which is based on the Intel
Pentium III
, also uses ARCS. The Visual Workstation series is the only commercially produced Intel 80386
-compatible system which used an ARCS firmware, rather than the traditional PC BIOS
used in most Intel 386-lineage machines.
A list of product lines which use the ARCS console includes:
Firmware
In electronic systems and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices...
bootloader (also known as a PROM
PROM
PROM may refer to:*Phosphate rich organic manure*Premature rupture of membranes, an obstetric term*PROM-1 land mine*Programmable read-only memory, related to electronics...
console
Console
- Computing and video games :* System console, a physical device to operate a computer** Virtual console, a user interface for multiple computer consoles on one device** Command-line interface, the typical use of the computer console...
) used in most computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s produced by SGI
Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics, Inc. was a manufacturer of high-performance computing solutions, including computer hardware and software, founded in 1981 by Jim Clark...
since the beginning of the 1990s.
The ARCS system is loosely compliant with the Advanced RISC Computing
Advanced RISC Computing
Advanced RISC Computing is a specification promulgated by a defunct consortium of computer manufacturers , setting forth a standard MIPS RISC-based computer hardware and firmware environment....
(ARC) standard, promulgated by the Advanced Computing Environment
Advanced Computing Environment
The Advanced Computing Environment was defined by an industry consortium in the early 1990s to be the next generation commodity computing platform, the successor to personal computers based on Intel's 32-bit instruction set architecture...
consortium in the early 1990s. In another sense, the ARC standard is based on SGI's ARCS, which was used as a basis for generating the ARC standard itself, although ARC calls for a little-endian system while ARCS system is big-endian on all MIPS
MIPS architecture
MIPS is a reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies . The early MIPS architectures were 32-bit, and later versions were 64-bit...
-based systems. Despite various inconsistencies between the two, both SGI's ARCS implementations and the ARC standard share many commonalities (such as device naming, calling conventions, etc.).
Most of the computers which use the ARCS firmware are based on the MIPS line of microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
s. But, the SGI Visual Workstation
SGI Visual Workstation
The SGI Visual Workstation was a series workstation computers manufactured by Silicon Graphics, Inc. designed to run Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Linux. The Visual Workstations are notable for their use of Intel Pentium II and Pentium III processors...
series, which is based on the Intel
Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...
Pentium III
Pentium III
The Pentium III brand refers to Intel's 32-bit x86 desktop and mobile microprocessors based on the sixth-generation P6 microarchitecture introduced on February 26, 1999. The brand's initial processors were very similar to the earlier Pentium II-branded microprocessors...
, also uses ARCS. The Visual Workstation series is the only commercially produced Intel 80386
Intel 80386
The Intel 80386, also known as the i386, or just 386, was a 32-bit microprocessor introduced by Intel in 1985. The first versions had 275,000 transistors and were used as the central processing unit of many workstations and high-end personal computers of the time...
-compatible system which used an ARCS firmware, rather than the traditional PC BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
used in most Intel 386-lineage machines.
A list of product lines which use the ARCS console includes:
- SGI CrimsonSGI CrimsonThe IRIS Crimson, code named Diehard2, is a Silicon Graphics computer released in the early 1990s. It was the world's first 64-bit workstation....
(IP17) - SGI IndigoSGI IndigoThe Indigo, introduced as the IRIS Indigo, was a line of workstation computers developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics, Inc. . The first Indigo, code-named "Hollywood", was introduced on 22 July 1991...
(R4000R4000The R4000 is a microprocessor developed by MIPS Computer Systems that implemented the MIPS III instruction set architecture . Officially announced on 1 October 1991, it was one of the first 64-bit microprocessors and the first MIPS III implementation...
/R4400) (IP20) - SGI Indigo2 (and Challenge M) (IP22)
- SGI IndySGI IndyThe Indy, code-named "Guinness", is a low-end workstation introduced on 12 July 1993. Developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics Incorporated , it was the result of their attempt to obtain a share of the low-end computer-aided design market, which was dominated at the time by other workstation...
(and Challenge S) (IP24) - SGI OnyxSGI OnyxThe SGI Onyx, code named Eveready and Terminator , is a series of visualization systems designed and manufactured by SGI, introduced in 1993 and offered in two models, deskside and rackmount. The Onyx's basic system architecture is based on the SGI Challenge servers, but with the notable inclusion...
(IP19/IP21/IP25) - SGI Indigo2 R8000R8000The R8000 is a microprocessor chipset developed by MIPS Technologies, Inc. , Toshiba, and Weitek. It was the first implementation of the MIPS IV instruction set architecture. The R8000 is also known as the TFP, for Tremendous Floating-Point, its name during development.-History:Development of the...
(IP26) - SGI Indigo2 R10000R10000The R10000, code-named "T5", is a RISC microprocessor implementation of the MIPS IV instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies, Inc. , then a division of Silicon Graphics, Inc. . The chief designers were Chris Rowen and Kenneth C. Yeager...
(IP28) - SGI O2SGI O2The O2 is an entry-level Unix workstation introduced in 1996 by Silicon Graphics, Inc. to replace their earlier Indy series. Like the Indy, the O2 used a single MIPS microprocessor and was intended to be used mainly for multimedia. Its larger counterpart was the SGI Octane...
(IP32) - SGI OctaneSGI OctaneThe Octane and the similar Octane2 are UNIX workstations marketed by SGI. Both are 2-way SMP-capable workstations, originally based on the MIPS R10000 microprocessor. Newer Octanes are based on MIPS R12000 and R14000. The Octane2 has four improvements compared to Octane, a revised power supply,...
(IP30) - SGI Origin 200SGI Origin 200The SGI Origin 200, code named Speedo, is an entry-level server computer developed and manufactured by SGI, introduced in October 1996 to accompany their mid-range and high-end Origin 2000. It is based on the same architecture as the Origin 2000 but has an unrelated hardware implementation...
(IP27) - SGI Origin 2000SGI Origin 2000The SGI Origin 2000, code named Lego, is a family of mid-range and high-end servers developed and manufactured by SGI and introduced in 1996 to succeed the SGI Challenge and POWER Challenge. At the time of introduction, these systems ran IRIX 6.4 and later, IRIX 6.5. A variant of the Origin 2000...
(IP27/IP31) - SGI Onyx2SGI Onyx2The SGI Onyx2, code name Kego, is a family of visualization systems developed and manufactured by SGI, introduced in 1996 to succeed the Onyx. The Onyx2's basic system architecture is based on the Origin 2000 servers, but with the notable inclusion of graphics hardware. In 2000, the Onyx2 was...
(IP27/IP31) - SGI FuelSGI FuelThe SGI Fuel is a mid-range workstation developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics, Inc. . It was introduced in January 2002, with a list price of US$11,495. Together with the entire MIPS platform, general availability for the Fuel ended on 29 December 2006...
(IP35) - SGI TezroSGI TezroThe SGI Tezro was a series of high-end computer workstations sold by SGI from 2003 until 2006. It was the immediate successor to the SGI Octane line. The systems were available in both rack-mount and tower versions, and the series was released in June 2003 with a list price of $20,500...
(IP35) - SGI Origin 300 (IP35)
- SGI Origin 350SGI Origin 350The SGI Origin 350 is a mid-range server computer developed and manufactured by SGI introduced in 2003. Their discontinuation in December 2006 brought to a close almost two decades of MIPS and IRIX computing.- Hardware :...
(IP35) - SGI Origin 3000 (IP27/IP35)
- SGI Onyx 300 (IP35)
- SGI Onyx 350 (IP35)
- SGI Onyx 3000 (IP27/IP35)
- SGI Onyx4 (IP35)
- SGI Visual WorkstationSGI Visual WorkstationThe SGI Visual Workstation was a series workstation computers manufactured by Silicon Graphics, Inc. designed to run Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Linux. The Visual Workstations are notable for their use of Intel Pentium II and Pentium III processors...