Origin 200

Origin 200

[Lukas Hejtmanek]

Is someone here who succesfully booted up an 1 processor Origin 200? I've tried
to boot some kernels -- result freeze without oops or oops result. Kernel 2.4.10
is configured with defconfig-ip27, with or without SMP support. Everything seems
to get the same result.

Is there any remote gdb howto? Especially for origin where serial port is used
as serial console. (I think gdb must connect to kernel before oops or freeze)

-- 
Lukáš Hejtmánek

Re: Origin 200

[nick]

I had very similar problems, where does it oops?  I lost access to the
origin that was haveing problems before tracking it down :(.
	Nick

On Wed, 24 Oct 2001, Lukas Hejtmanek wrote:

> 
> Is someone here who succesfully booted up an 1 processor Origin 200? I've tried
> to boot some kernels -- result freeze without oops or oops result. Kernel 2.4.10
> is configured with defconfig-ip27, with or without SMP support. Everything seems
> to get the same result.
> 
> Is there any remote gdb howto? Especially for origin where serial port is used
> as serial console. (I think gdb must connect to kernel before oops or freeze)
> 
> -- 
> Luká¹ Hejtmánek
> 

Re: Origin 200

[Lukas Hejtmanek]

On Wed, Oct 24, 2001 at 04:48:13PM -0400, nick@snowman.net wrote:
> I had very similar problems, where does it oops?  I lost access to the origin
> that was haveing problems before tracking it down :(.  Nick

It seems to be at random place. I don't know what correct boot mesages look
like. Few times it freezed after amount memmory message, few times after message
about RT Link socket (or somewhat), sometimes after serial driver initialized.
Once it freezed after scsi driver loaded. I think it has nothing to do with any
driver because the same kernel freez or oops at different place.

Do you have any idea how to track it down?

-- 
Lukáš Hejtmánek

Re: Origin 200

[nick]

That's exactly the issues I was running into.  Talk to Ralf.  Erm, is it a
company system?
	Nick

On Wed, 24 Oct 2001, Lukas Hejtmanek wrote:

> On Wed, Oct 24, 2001 at 04:48:13PM -0400, nick@snowman.net wrote:
> > I had very similar problems, where does it oops?  I lost access to the origin
> > that was haveing problems before tracking it down :(.  Nick
> 
> It seems to be at random place. I don't know what correct boot mesages look
> like. Few times it freezed after amount memmory message, few times after message
> about RT Link socket (or somewhat), sometimes after serial driver initialized.
> Once it freezed after scsi driver loaded. I think it has nothing to do with any
> driver because the same kernel freez or oops at different place.
> 
> Do you have any idea how to track it down?
> 
> -- 
> Luká¹ Hejtmánek
> 

Re: Origin 200

[Lukas Hejtmanek]

On Wed, Oct 24, 2001 at 06:49:17PM -0400, nick@snowman.net wrote:
> That's exactly the issues I was running into.  Talk to Ralf.  Erm, is it
> a company system?  

No, we have that box at school. Why? IRIX is normally running there but we have
forgotten root password ;-)

Also it is my diploma work to make it run in 64bit mode.

-- 
Lukáš Hejtmánek

Re: Origin 200

[nick]

Getting it running 64bit shouldn't be *too* bad, however there are some
revs of some chips on the MB which linux currently can't deal with, and
noone is quite sure 1. what revs, 2. why, or 3. anything
usefull. <Grin>.  Could you send a hinv -v from the prom?  Boot logs would
also be usefull (so I can tell if we are haveing the exact same problem,
or just similar ones)
	Thanks
		Nick

On Thu, 25 Oct 2001, Lukas Hejtmanek wrote:

> On Wed, Oct 24, 2001 at 06:49:17PM -0400, nick@snowman.net wrote:
> > That's exactly the issues I was running into.  Talk to Ralf.  Erm, is it
> > a company system?  
> 
> No, we have that box at school. Why? IRIX is normally running there but we have
> forgotten root password ;-)
> 
> Also it is my diploma work to make it run in 64bit mode.
> 
> -- 
> Luká¹ Hejtmánek
> 

Re: Origin 200

[Lukas Hejtmanek]

On Wed, Oct 24, 2001 at 08:23:00PM -0400, nick@snowman.net wrote:
> Getting it running 64bit shouldn't be *too* bad, however there are some
> revs of some chips on the MB which linux currently can't deal with, and
> noone is quite sure 1. what revs, 2. why, or 3. anything
> usefull. <Grin>.  Could you send a hinv -v from the prom?  Boot logs would
> also be usefull (so I can tell if we are haveing the exact same problem,
> or just similar ones)

>> hinv -v
IP27 Node Board, Module 1, Slot MotherBoard
    ASIC HUB Rev 3, 90 MHz, (nasid 0)
    Processor A: 180 MHz R10000, Rev 2.6, 1M  120MHz secondary cache, (cpu 0)
      R10000FPC  Rev 0
    Memory on board, 64 MBytes (Standard)
      Bank 0, 64 MBytes (Standard) <-- (Physical Bank 0)
BASEIO Origin 200 IO Board, Module 1, Slot MotherBoard
    ASIC BRIDGE Rev 3, (widget 8)
    adapter PCI-SCSI Rev 4, (pci id 0)
        peripheral SCSI DISK, ID 1, SGI IBM DORS-32160W
    adapter PCI-SCSI Rev 4, (pci id 1)
        peripheral SCSI CDROM, ID 6, TOSHIBA CD-ROM XM-5401TA
    adapter IOC3 Rev 1, (pci id 2)
        controller multi function SuperIO
        controller Ethernet Rev 1
    adapter PCI-SCSI Rev 5, (pci id 5)


-- 
Lukáš Hejtmánek

Re: Origin 200

[Ralf Baechle]

On Thu, Oct 25, 2001 at 10:33:33AM +0200, Lukas Hejtmanek wrote:

> On Wed, Oct 24, 2001 at 08:23:00PM -0400, nick@snowman.net wrote:
> > Getting it running 64bit shouldn't be *too* bad, however there are some
> > revs of some chips on the MB which linux currently can't deal with, and
> > noone is quite sure 1. what revs, 2. why, or 3. anything
> > usefull. <Grin>.  Could you send a hinv -v from the prom?  Boot logs would
> > also be usefull (so I can tell if we are haveing the exact same problem,
> > or just similar ones)
> 
> >> hinv -v
> IP27 Node Board, Module 1, Slot MotherBoard
>     ASIC HUB Rev 3, 90 MHz, (nasid 0)
[...]

Pretty much a standard Origin.  I suspect the problem might be related to
machines which only have a single physical CPU, that was the only common
thing between all the Origins on which Linux fails.  And indeed I don't
think we ever used such a small configuration for testing at SGI ...

Nick, did you observe any interesting differences to your failing Origin
configuration?

Btw, Origin UP kernel is definately broken ...

  Ralf

Re: Origin 200

[nick]

I didn't notice any huge differences.  My ASIC HUB ran at a different
speed, 120mhz IIRC.  I will try to aquire a single proc module for my
o200.  Lukas: Can I get a copy of your boot messages under linux?
	Thanks
		Nick

On Thu, 25 Oct 2001, Ralf Baechle wrote:

> On Thu, Oct 25, 2001 at 10:33:33AM +0200, Lukas Hejtmanek wrote:
> 
> > On Wed, Oct 24, 2001 at 08:23:00PM -0400, nick@snowman.net wrote:
> > > Getting it running 64bit shouldn't be *too* bad, however there are some
> > > revs of some chips on the MB which linux currently can't deal with, and
> > > noone is quite sure 1. what revs, 2. why, or 3. anything
> > > usefull. <Grin>.  Could you send a hinv -v from the prom?  Boot logs would
> > > also be usefull (so I can tell if we are haveing the exact same problem,
> > > or just similar ones)
> > 
> > >> hinv -v
> > IP27 Node Board, Module 1, Slot MotherBoard
> >     ASIC HUB Rev 3, 90 MHz, (nasid 0)
> [...]
> 
> Pretty much a standard Origin.  I suspect the problem might be related to
> machines which only have a single physical CPU, that was the only common
> thing between all the Origins on which Linux fails.  And indeed I don't
> think we ever used such a small configuration for testing at SGI ...
> 
> Nick, did you observe any interesting differences to your failing Origin
> configuration?
> 
> Btw, Origin UP kernel is definately broken ...
> 
>   Ralf
> 

Re: Origin 200

[Lukas Hejtmanek]

On Thu, Oct 25, 2001 at 02:59:41PM -0400, nick@snowman.net wrote:
> I didn't notice any huge differences.  My ASIC HUB ran at a different
> speed, 120mhz IIRC.  I will try to aquire a single proc module for my
> o200.  Lukas: Can I get a copy of your boot messages under linux?

Copy of boot messages are at www.fi.muni.cz/~xhejtman/mips

I've tried compile as small kernel as possible config is also at that web page
messages also. It seems it booted ok to the last message kernel panic no root
(that's ok nfsroot was not compiled in) But I tested it only once so mayby it is
just random behaviour.

-- 
Lukáš Hejtmánek

Re: Origin 200

[Lukas Hejtmanek]

On Thu, Oct 25, 2001 at 12:14:50PM +0200, Ralf Baechle wrote:
> Btw, Origin UP kernel is definately broken ...

I think I've tracked down what makes freeze. If I use default config but
network card driver and scsi driver (seems to be generic PCI device) kernel
boots up to message I have no root (any time and not freezes I've changed little
bit sources to print '... waiting ...' every 2 seconds in infinite loop before
it does panic -- no root).

So I think there is some deadlock after some PCI device driver init that does
not occur in SMP mode.

-- 
Lukáš Hejtmánek

Re: Origin 200

[nick]

That was the same "fix" I came across.  I'm still not sure why though.
	Nick

On Fri, 26 Oct 2001, Lukas Hejtmanek wrote:

> On Thu, Oct 25, 2001 at 12:14:50PM +0200, Ralf Baechle wrote:
> > Btw, Origin UP kernel is definately broken ...
> 
> I think I've tracked down what makes freeze. If I use default config but
> network card driver and scsi driver (seems to be generic PCI device) kernel
> boots up to message I have no root (any time and not freezes I've changed little
> bit sources to print '... waiting ...' every 2 seconds in infinite loop before
> it does panic -- no root).
> 
> So I think there is some deadlock after some PCI device driver init that does
> not occur in SMP mode.
> 
> -- 
> Luká¹ Hejtmánek
> 

Re: Origin 200

[Lukas Hejtmanek]

On Fri, Oct 26, 2001 at 06:13:24PM -0400, nick@snowman.net wrote:
> That was the same "fix" I came across.  I'm still not sure why though.

However it should be found with gdb but I don't know how to setup remote
debugging, gdb always writes that it is unable to connect.
Is there any remote gdb how-to?

-- 
Lukáš Hejtmánek

Origin 200

[Maitland Bottoms]

Hi,

I would like to bring up Linux on an Origin 200.

Has anyone netbooted one of these? Is there a bootable
CDROM image around?

I would prefer to netboot/nfsroot, but if I must I could
find a SCSI disk.

Thanks,
-Maitland

Re: Origin 200

[Phil Frost]

It can be netbooted. Simply configure a bootp (dhcp) and tftp server, then type
bootp() at the SGI maintenance prompt.

However, currently the kernel does not run on uniprocessor origins. Someone was
working on this though...

On Sat, Dec 27, 2003 at 12:16:20PM -0500, Maitland Bottoms wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I would like to bring up Linux on an Origin 200.
> 
> Has anyone netbooted one of these? Is there a bootable
> CDROM image around?
> 
> I would prefer to netboot/nfsroot, but if I must I could
> find a SCSI disk.
> 
> Thanks,
> -Maitland
> 

Origin 200

[Lukas Hejtmanek]

I've finally got our origin to load linux kernel via bootp/tftp (Btw, it _must_
be the same server for bootp and tftp?)
I have my cross cimpiled kernel 2.4.9. Kernel options are:
 root=/dev/nfs ip=... nfsroot=... init=/bin/bash
However it never boots up. At random place it freezes. Sometimes without any
oops genereated sometimes with. I've also tried kernel from ftp site
- kernel/test/origin - linux-2.4.2. same behaviour. Is there something I could
do?
Is that ok that cpu clock is 65535MHz?

kernel messages:
1457776 +451040  5448 entry: 0xa800000000184000
ARCH: SGI-IP27
PROMLIB: ARC firmware Version 64 Revision 0
Discovered 1 cpus on 1 nodes
Total memory probed : 0x4000 pages
Linux version 2.4.2 (ralf@cashcow) (gcc version egcs-2.91.66 19990314
(egcs-1.1.2 release)) #4 SMP Tue Mar 20 00:33:52 MET 2001
Loading R10000 MMU routines.
CPU revision is: 00000926
Primary instruction cache 32kb, linesize 64 bytes
Primary data cache 32kb, linesize 32 bytes
Secondary cache sized at 1024K, linesize 128
IP27: Running on node 0.
Node 0 has a primary CPU, CPU is running.
Node 0 has no secondary CPU.
Machine is in M mode.
Cpu 0, Nasid 0x0, pcibr_setup(): found partnum= 0xc002...is bridge
CPU 0 clock is 65535MHz.
On node 0 totalpages: 16384
zone(0): 16384 pages.
zone(1): 0 pages.
zone(2): 0 pages.
Kernel command line: root=/dev/nfs
ip=147.251.48.209:147.251.48.208:147.251.48.14:255.255.255.0 nfsr
Entering 64-bit mode.
Calibrating delay loop... 179.81 BogoMIPS
Memory: 60824k/65536k available (1423k kernel code, 4712k reserved, 184k data,
220k init)
Dentry-cache hash table entries: 8192 (order: 5, 131072 bytes)
Buffer-cache hash table entries: 4096 (order: 3, 32768 bytes)
Page-cache hash table entries: 16384 (order: 5, 131072 bytes)
Inode-cache hash table entries: 4096 (order: 4, 65536 bytes)
Checking for 'wait' instruction...  unavailable.
POSIX conformance testing by UNIFIX
REPLICATION: ON nasid 0, ktext from nasid 0, kdata from nasid 0
PCI: Probing PCI hardware hts.
PCI: Fixing isp1020 in [bus:lot.fn] 00:00.0
PCI: Fixing isp1020 in [bus:slot.fn] 00:01.0
PCI: Fixing base addresses for IOC3 device 00:02.0
PCI: Fixing isp1020 in [bus:slot.fn] 00:05.0
Linux NET4.0 for Linux 2.4
Based upon Swansea University Computer Society NET3.039
Starting kswapd v1.8
pty: 256 Unix98 ptys configured
block: queued sectors max/low 40114kB/13371kB, 128 slots per queue
Serial driver version 5.02 (2000-08-09) with MANY_PORTS SHARE_IRQ SERIAL_PCI
enabled
ttyS00 at iomem 0x9200000008620178 (irq = 0) is a 16550A
Got dbe at 0xffffffff80142fc8
Cpu 0
$0      : 0000000000000000 0000000014201ce0 9200000001000108 000000000022b6b8
$4      : 9200000001030100 9200000001000108 ffffffff802117e0 0000000000000000
$8      : 0000000000000001 0000000000000000 ffffffff802117e0 0000000000000008
$12     : 0000000014201ce0 000000001000001f 0000000000000008 ffffffff80177aa0
$16     : 0000000000000000 0000000000000790 a8000000012fbcc0 ffffffff801cfda8
$20     : ffffffff8020d498 a8000000012c0220 a8000000012c0000 a500000000000000
$24     : 0000000000000020 0000000000000000
$28     : a8000000012f8000 a8000000012fbc90 000000ffffffffff ffffffff801418e0
Hi      : 0000000000000000
Lo      : 0000000000000008
epc     : ffffffff80142fc8
badvaddr: ffffffff800ee714
badvaddr: ffffffff800ee714
Status  : 14201ce2
Cause   : 0000901c
Cause   : 0000901c
Index:  0 pgmask=00000000 va=c0000fff80000000 asid=00  [pa=000000 c=0 d=0 v=0
g=0]  [pa=000000 c=0 d=0 v=0 g=0]
.....
-- 
Lukáš Hejtmánek

Origin 200

[Brian]

I have an Origin 200 coming in for my use
configured as:

Origin 200 (rackmount)
4x10k MIPS
1GB mem
4x5GB SCSI
Craylink

Will I be able to run the MIPs linux on this?
What is the best most current and active
distribution to install?  Any vendor sponsoring
one (like redhat?).

Also, if anyone know the estimated current value
for my system, please advise.  Thanks,

Brian


-----------------------------------------------
Brian Feeny, CCIE #8036	email:signal@shreve.net
Network Engineer	phone:318.222.2638x109
ShreveNet Inc.		fax:  318.221.6612

Origin 200

[Brian]

I have an Origin 200 coming in for my use
configured as:

Origin 200 (rackmount)
4x10k MIPS
1GB mem
4x5GB SCSI
Craylink

Will I be able to run the MIPs linux on this?
What is the best most current and active
distribution to install?  Any vendor sponsoring
one (like redhat?).

Also, if anyone know the estimated current value
for my system, please advise.  Thanks,

Brian


-----------------------------------------------
Brian Feeny, CCIE #8036	email:signal@shreve.net
Network Engineer	phone:318.222.2638x109
ShreveNet Inc.		fax:  318.221.6612

Re: Origin 200

[nick]

MIPS linux will love that system.  I'd recommend one of the recent debian
root images mine is running one nicely, though I'm tracking a few
bugs.  Value is around 3-4k assumeing dual towers I'd guess.
	Nick

On Sat, 15 Sep 2001, Brian wrote:

> 
> I have an Origin 200 coming in for my use
> configured as:
> 
> Origin 200 (rackmount)
> 4x10k MIPS
> 1GB mem
> 4x5GB SCSI
> Craylink
> 
> Will I be able to run the MIPs linux on this?
> What is the best most current and active
> distribution to install?  Any vendor sponsoring
> one (like redhat?).
> 
> Also, if anyone know the estimated current value
> for my system, please advise.  Thanks,
> 
> Brian
> 
> 
> -----------------------------------------------
> Brian Feeny, CCIE #8036	email:signal@shreve.net
> Network Engineer	phone:318.222.2638x109
> ShreveNet Inc.		fax:  318.221.6612
> 
> 

Re: Origin 200

[Brian]

Its the rackmount version..............I will search for some
benchmarks to see how this system ranks compared to some
PIII and other systems.

Are there any graphics options available for these, or just console?

I realize the origin is more of a "server", used for serving files
and web pages, than a workstation.


On Sun, 16 Sep 2001 nick@snowman.net wrote:

> MIPS linux will love that system.  I'd recommend one of the recent debian
> root images mine is running one nicely, though I'm tracking a few
> bugs.  Value is around 3-4k assumeing dual towers I'd guess.
> 	Nick
>
> On Sat, 15 Sep 2001, Brian wrote:
>
> >
> > I have an Origin 200 coming in for my use
> > configured as:
> >
> > Origin 200 (rackmount)
> > 4x10k MIPS
> > 1GB mem
> > 4x5GB SCSI
> > Craylink
> >
> > Will I be able to run the MIPs linux on this?
> > What is the best most current and active
> > distribution to install?  Any vendor sponsoring
> > one (like redhat?).
> >
> > Also, if anyone know the estimated current value
> > for my system, please advise.  Thanks,
> >
> > Brian
> >
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------
> > Brian Feeny, CCIE #8036	email:signal@shreve.net
> > Network Engineer	phone:318.222.2638x109
> > ShreveNet Inc.		fax:  318.221.6612
> >
> >
>

-----------------------------------------------
Brian Feeny, CCIE #8036	email:signal@shreve.net
Network Engineer	phone:318.222.2638x109
ShreveNet Inc.		fax:  318.221.6612

Re: Origin 200

[Brian]

Its the rackmount version..............I will search for some
benchmarks to see how this system ranks compared to some
PIII and other systems.

Are there any graphics options available for these, or just console?

I realize the origin is more of a "server", used for serving files
and web pages, than a workstation.


On Sun, 16 Sep 2001 nick@snowman.net wrote:

> MIPS linux will love that system.  I'd recommend one of the recent debian
> root images mine is running one nicely, though I'm tracking a few
> bugs.  Value is around 3-4k assumeing dual towers I'd guess.
> 	Nick
>
> On Sat, 15 Sep 2001, Brian wrote:
>
> >
> > I have an Origin 200 coming in for my use
> > configured as:
> >
> > Origin 200 (rackmount)
> > 4x10k MIPS
> > 1GB mem
> > 4x5GB SCSI
> > Craylink
> >
> > Will I be able to run the MIPs linux on this?
> > What is the best most current and active
> > distribution to install?  Any vendor sponsoring
> > one (like redhat?).
> >
> > Also, if anyone know the estimated current value
> > for my system, please advise.  Thanks,
> >
> > Brian
> >
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------
> > Brian Feeny, CCIE #8036	email:signal@shreve.net
> > Network Engineer	phone:318.222.2638x109
> > ShreveNet Inc.		fax:  318.221.6612
> >
> >
>

-----------------------------------------------
Brian Feeny, CCIE #8036	email:signal@shreve.net
Network Engineer	phone:318.222.2638x109
ShreveNet Inc.		fax:  318.221.6612

Re: Origin 200

[Ralf Baechle]

On Sun, Sep 16, 2001 at 10:19:22AM -0500, Brian wrote:

> Its the rackmount version..............I will search for some
> benchmarks to see how this system ranks compared to some
> PIII and other systems.
> 
> Are there any graphics options available for these, or just console?
> 
> I realize the origin is more of a "server", used for serving files
> and web pages, than a workstation.

What's the difference anyway.  Origin 2000 with graphics option was sold
as Onyx 2; the basic architecture of both is identical.  SGI just never
built the planned graphics option for the Origin 200 which is why the
machine still comes with the keyboard and mouse connectors on the
backside which I'm not even sure of if any software is supportign them
at all.

  Ralf

Re: Origin 200

[Eugenio Diaz]

--- Brian <signal@shreve.net> wrote:
> 
> Its the rackmount version..............I will search for some
> benchmarks to see how this system ranks compared to some
> PIII and other systems.
> 
> Are there any graphics options available for these, or just console?
> 
> I realize the origin is more of a "server", used for serving files
> and web pages, than a workstation.

I used to work for an SGI VAR, and we sold expensive (he, he) but SGI approved
third party PCI video cards; I don't remember what manufacturer tough. I
remember one particular customer (an NT shop) who was not comfortable with
head-less servers, and required us to put a head on it :-)

However, I think that if Linux is currently handling the PCI Bus (I think it's
a 64-bit) on that architecture, you can use any PCI video card supported by
Linux ... am I right?

=====
________________________
Eugenio Diaz, BSEE/BSCE   
Linux Engineer
getnito@yahoo.com

__________________________________________________
Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help?
Donate cash, emergency relief information
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/

Re: Origin 200

[Eugenio Diaz]

--- Brian <signal@shreve.net> wrote:
> 
> Its the rackmount version..............I will search for some
> benchmarks to see how this system ranks compared to some
> PIII and other systems.
> 
> Are there any graphics options available for these, or just console?
> 
> I realize the origin is more of a "server", used for serving files
> and web pages, than a workstation.

I used to work for an SGI VAR, and we sold expensive (he, he) but SGI approved
third party PCI video cards; I don't remember what manufacturer tough. I
remember one particular customer (an NT shop) who was not comfortable with
head-less servers, and required us to put a head on it :-)

However, I think that if Linux is currently handling the PCI Bus (I think it's
a 64-bit) on that architecture, you can use any PCI video card supported by
Linux ... am I right?

=====
________________________
Eugenio Diaz, BSEE/BSCE   
Linux Engineer
getnito@yahoo.com

__________________________________________________
Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help?
Donate cash, emergency relief information
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/

Re: Origin 200

[Ralf Baechle]

On Mon, Sep 17, 2001 at 12:53:45AM -0700, Eugenio Diaz wrote:

> > Its the rackmount version..............I will search for some
> > benchmarks to see how this system ranks compared to some
> > PIII and other systems.
> > 
> > Are there any graphics options available for these, or just console?
> > 
> > I realize the origin is more of a "server", used for serving files
> > and web pages, than a workstation.
> 
> I used to work for an SGI VAR, and we sold expensive (he, he) but SGI approved
> third party PCI video cards; I don't remember what manufacturer tough. I
> remember one particular customer (an NT shop) who was not comfortable with
> head-less servers, and required us to put a head on it :-)

Head-less users ;-)

With the firmware not supporting video that is just a halfbreed headless
system anyway ...

> However, I think that if Linux is currently handling the PCI Bus (I think it's
> a 64-bit) on that architecture, you can use any PCI video card supported by
> Linux ... am I right?

Yes.  In theory.  The usual problem with video card initialization through
the BIOS applies.  Aside of this PCI video cards should work fine.

  Ralf