From: kraemerf@franvm3.VNET.IBM.COM (Frank Kraemer)
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 12:31:09 CET
Newsgroups: comp.unix.aix
Subject: CATIA support for GT4 and GT4x adapters
Reply-To: kraemerf@franvm3.VNET.IBM.COM
Organization: IBM Germany, BO-89 ACIS South
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not those of IBM
News-Software: Usenet 3.0

 For those of you dealing with the CAD system CATIA from Dassault
 Systemes, Paris - the attached note may be usefull.

.----------------------------------------------------------------------.
| E-Mail: FRANVM3(KRAEMERF)                 - IBM VNET  "Yes, I'm one  |
| ======  IBMMAIL(DEIBM27S)                 - IBM-Mail   of those      |
|         DE.IBMX400.IBMMAIL.KRAEMER.KRAEME - X.400      stupid IBM    |
|         kraemerf@franvm3.vnet.ibm.com     - Internet   field SE's."  |
| Voice : +49-(0)611/776-364                                           |
| Mail  : Abraham-Lincoln Street 26, 6200 Wiesbaden, Germany           |
'----------------------------------------------------------------------'

  Subject: Gt4 and Gt4x CATIA support


  We are pleased to announce that CATIA323 and 324 support both Gt4 and
  Gt4X adapters.

  The required AIX code have been built into 3 AIX PTFs :
  U408473 (driver), U409058 (microcode) and U408406 (rms code).
  They have to be applied on top of AIX322.
  Those AIX PTFs will be distributed through the AIX emergency PTFs channel
  in the next few days.

  The performance tests made on pre-release code have confirmed the 6/92
  graPHIGs adapters usage recommendation for CATIA solutions :

  Advanced Capability workstation: GTO
  Integrated Capability workstation: Gt4X. Performance better than 5086
  Low Cost Capability: Gt4. Performance better than sabine (3D color
  graphic adapter)

  We recommend the 8 bits adapters (GTO, Gt4 or Gt4x) to be used with CATIA323
  and above releases when CATIA is the only graphic software installed on
  the RS/6k.

  Nota: The Gt4 adapter is upgradable to the Gt4X adapter.
  The Gt4X 8 bits adapter is upgradable to the Gt4X 24 bits adapter.

  **************************************************************************
  **************************************************************************
  Configuration guidance  Questions/Answers

  0.What are the results of the CATIA local transformation performance tests ?

  20 models have been tested.
  Gt4X performance level is :
        equal or better than 5086 on all models.
        lower than GTO.

  Gt4 performance level is :
       better than sabine on all models.
       equal or higher than 5086 on pure 2D drafting models.
       lower than 5086 on solid models.
       lower than gt4x.

  1.Why recommending 8 bits and no 24 bits adapters when CATIA is the only
  graphic software installed on the RS/6000 ?

  The 24 bits adapters are not currently exploited by CATIA323 and
  occupied 1 more slot in the RS/6k.
  (GT4X 24 bits occupied 3 slots and is not pluggable
  on a 320H on a network environment as the tokenring or ethernet card
  occupies 1 slot.)
  It is Dassault Systemes intention to exploit advanced adapter
  features such as 24 bits shading processor.
  Both Gt4 and Gt4X 8 bits adapters have the double buffer feature.

  2. Are the 24 bits adapters supported by CATIA323 ?

  Both Gt4 and Gt4X 24 bits adapters are supported.

  3.Gt4 8 bits - Sabine 8/24 bits comparison
  (3D color graphic adapter)

  The Gt4 8bits adapter simultaneously offers double buffer and usage
  of 125 colors in CATIA.  (5 standard CATIA colors + 120 user defined
  colors).
  Usage of double buffer in Sabine 8 bits restricts the number of colors to
  the 5 standard CATIA colors.
  the 5 standard CATIA colors are white,red,blue,green and yellow.

  The Gt4 performance level is higher than that of sabine.

  4.Gt4X - 5086 comparison

  Gt4X is an integrated adapter, 5086 is not.
  Gt4X is supported by graPHIGS which means support by Xwindows,
  allowing concurrent multi-windowing applications;
  5086 does not which means that no more than 1 local application may
  run on a 5086 at the same time.
  Gt4X graphics display list is not as limited as for 5086, so Gt4X is
  able to display CATIA models containing a great number of graphics
  elements.
  Gt4X overall performance is higher than that of 5086.

  Nota:
  Some graphics functionalities have not yet been included in graPHIGS
  and exploited by CATIA such as BP (CATIA buffer plot toggle), peeling
  mode, digitizer support, local transformation during CATIA NC VERIF
  or other CATIA computation/verification.
  It is IBM and Dassault Systemes intention to bring new graPHIGS functions
  in the CATIA graPHIGS RS/6k solution.

  5.Are Gt4 and/or Gt4X pluggable on a 220 ?
  Answer is no.

  6.Will the 3 AIX PTFs be included in AIX 323 ?
  Yes. When AIX323 becomes available, there is no more
  need to order those PTFs.

  7.Can we use CATIA323 with either a Gt4 or a Gt4X without the 3 AIX PTFs ?
  No, CATIA323 and CATIA324 require those PTFs which greatly improve
  the performance level and also solve some functionality problems.

  8.Are some CATIA PTFs required to run CATIA under either Gt4 or Gt4X
  adapter ?
  answer is no.

  9. Will above CATIA versions/release support both Gt4 and Gt4x?
  answer is yes.