Document Audience:INTERNAL
Document ID:I1161-1
Title:XVR-600 graphics card can cause rendering performance issue when performing simultaneous rendering update with OpenGL windows.
Copyright Notice:Copyright © 2005 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Update Date:2005-01-18

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                        FIELD INFORMATION NOTICE
               (For Authorized Distribution by Sun Services)
FIN #: I1161-1
Synopsis: XVR-600 graphics card can cause rendering performance issue when performing simultaneous rendering update with OpenGL windows.
Create Date: Jan/18/04
SunAlert: No
Top FIN/FCO Report: No
Products Reference: XVR-600 Graphics Card
Product Category: Display / Diag-Doc-Service
Product Affected: 
Systems Affected:
-----------------  
Mkt_ID   Platform   Model    Description           Serial Number
------   --------   -----    -----------           -------------
  -        A41       ALL     Sun Blade 150               -
  -        A43       ALL     Sun Blade 1500              -
  -        A39       ALL     Sun Blade 2500              -
  -        N25       ALL     Sun Fire  V120              -
  -        N32       ALL     Sun Fire  V240              -
  -        A42       ALL     Sun Fire  V440              -
  -        A37       ALL     Sun Fire  V480              -
  -        A52       ALL     Sun Fire  V490              -
  -        A30       ALL     Sun Fire  V880              -
  -        A53       ALL     Sun Fire  V890              -
  -        N54       ALL     Netra 240                   -


X-Options Affected:
-------------------
Mkt_ID    Platform   Model    Description                   Serial Number
------    --------   -----    -----------                   -------------
X3780A       -         -      XVR-600 Graphics Accelerator        -
Parts Affected: 
----------------------
Part Number    Description   	                              Model
-----------    -----------   	                              -----
375-3153-01    ASSY XVR-600 Graphics Accelerator                -
References: 
BugId:   5095048 - rendering performance caused by multiple overlapping 
                   windows.

PatchId: 113886-26: OpenGL 1.3: OpenGL Patch for Solaris (32-bit).
         113887-26: OpenGL 1.3: OpenGL Patch for Solaris (64-bit).
 
ESC:     549433
Issue Description: 
The user will experience OpenGL rendering performance far below
expectation under the usage described in the problem statement.  To
workaround the problem, the user will have to rewrite their application
to reduce the number of OpenGL windows or limit the usage of
overlapping windows in the application.

The user will experience OpenGL rendering performance issue with the
following configuration: 
   
   . XVR-600 graphics card
   . OpenGL library (all versions of 1.2.3 or 1.3)
   
To identify whether XVR-600 graphics card is installed in the system,
please perform the following procedure: 

    # fbconfig -list

	Look for /dev/fbs/jfbx, where x is a number: 
        For example,

    Device-Filename              Specific Config Program
    ---------------              -----------------------
    /dev/fbs/jfb0                SUNWjfb_config


    # fbconfig -dev jfb0 -prconf

        Look for the specific graphics card type using jfb driver:

          Type: XVR-600

To find out which version of OpenGL is installed in the system, please
adhere to the following steps:

    # pkginfo -l SUNWglrt
      
       Look for the description of the package:
	   For example,

       DESC:  Sun OpenGL 1.3 patch 113886-23 for Solaris Runtime Libraries

Please note that the affected graphics card has part# 375-3153.
   
XVR-600 rendering performance will be degraded when there are multiple
OpenGL windows doing simultaneous rendering updates while any of the
OpenGL windows is overlapped by more than two windows.

The objective way to verify the performance degradation is to measure
the number of rendering frame per seconds (fps).  The performance
degradation may be noticeable visually on the number of simultaneous
rendering OpenGL windows and number of windows overlapping the OpenGL
windows.    

This issue can occur when there are multiple OpenGL windows doing 
simultaneous rendering updates while any of the OpenGL windows are 
overlapped by more than two windows. This creates a complex clipping
scenario.  The XVR-600 hardware supports complex clipping effectively
for any OpenGL window for up to two overlapping windows. Any additional
overlapping window will cause the XVR-600 OpenGL pipeline to switch to
a slower rendering path which involves heavy overhead in setting up
clipping mask. This overhead is encountered each time OpenGL performs
context switching when there are multiple OpenGL windows doing
simultaneous rendering updates.
     
This software optimization is available with OpenGL 1.3 patch
113886-26 and 113887-26.  A patch for OpenGL 1.2.3 is not available
at this time.
Implementation: 
---
        |   |   MANDATORY (Fully Proactive)
         ---    
         
  
         ---
        |   |   CONTROLLED PROACTIVE (per Sun Geo Plan) 
         --- 
         
                                
         ---
        | X |   REACTIVE (As Required)
         ---
Corrective Action: 
The following recommendation is provided as a guideline for authorized
Sun Services Field Representatives who may encounter the above
mentioned issue.  

Apply OpenGL 1.3 patch 113886-26 and 113887-26 on the systems that
has the XVR-600 graphics card.   

    # patchadd 113886-26
    # patchadd 113887-26

And then exit window system and restart.
Comments: 
None.

============================================================================
Implementation Footnote: 
i)   In case of MANDATORY FINs, Sun Services will attempt to contact   
     all affected customers to recommend implementation of the FIN. 
   
ii)  For CONTROLLED PROACTIVE FINs, Sun Services mission critical    
     support teams will recommend implementation of the FIN  (to their  
     respective accounts), at the convenience of the customer. 

iii) For REACTIVE FINs, Sun Services will implement the FIN as the   
     need arises.
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