DECstation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The DECstation was a brand of computers used by DEC, and refers to three distinct lines of computer systems—the first released in 1978 as a word processing system, and the latter (more widely known) two both released in 1989. These comprised a range of computer workstations based on the MIPS architecture and a range of PC compatibles. The MIPS-based workstations ran Ultrix, a DEC-proprietary version of UNIX.
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[edit] DECstation 78
The first line of computer systems given the DECstation name were word processing systems based on the PDP-8. These systems, built into a VT52 terminal, were also known as the VT78.
[edit] DECstation RISC workstations
The second line of DECstations began with the DECstation 3100, released in 1989, which were the first commercially available RISC-based machines built by DEC. The 3100 was followed by a cost reduced 2100. At the time DEC was mostly known for their CISC systems including the successful PDP and VAX lines. The DECstation 3100 was claimed to be the world's fastest UNIX workstation at the time. When it was introduced it was about three times as fast as the VAXstation 3100 which was introduced at about the same time. In contrast to the VAX (and the later DEC Alpha architecture), no version of the VMS operating system was ever released for DECstations. Server configurations of DECstation models, distributed without a framebuffer, were called "DECsystem" but should not be confused with some PDP-10 machines of the same name.
The MIPS-based DECstations were used as the first target system and development platform for the Mach microkernel, as well as early development of the Windows NT operating system. Shortly prior to the release of the DEC Alpha systems, a port of OSF/1 to the DECstation was completed, but it was not commercially released. More recently, various free operating systems such as NetBSD and Linux/MIPS have been ported to the MIPS-based DECstations, extending their useful life by providing a modern operating system.
The first generation of commercially marketed DEC Alpha systems, the DEC 3000 AXP series, were very similar to contemporaneous MIPS-based DECstations, which were sold alongside the Alpha systems as the DECstation line was gradually phased out. Both used the TURBOchannel expansion bus for video and network cards, as well as being sold with the same mice, monitors, and keyboards.
Various DECstation models (which used a MIPS CPU) are emulated by the GXemul software project.
[edit] Models
- DECstation 2100 (codenamed PMIN)
- 12.5 MHz R2000 CPU
- up to 24 MB RAM (in 2 MB pairs)
- DECstation 3100 (codenamed PMAX)
- 16.67 MHz R2000 CPU
- up to 24 MB RAM (in 2 MB pairs)
- Personal DECstation 5000/20, 5000/25, 5000/33 and 5000/50 (codenamed MAXine)
- 20, 25 or 33 MHz R3000 CPU (for the /20, /25, or /33 respectively)
- 50 MHz R4000 CPU for the /50
- 8 MB RAM built-in (expandable to up to 40 MB RAM (in 8 MB pairs))
- DECstation 5000/120, 5000/125, 5000/133 and 5000/150 (codenamed 3MIN)
- 20, 25 or 33 MHz R3000 CPU (for the /120, /125, or /133 respectively)
- 50 MHz R4000 CPU for the /150
- up to 128 MB RAM (in 8 MB pairs)
- DECstation 5000/200 (codenamed 3MAX)
- 25 MHz R3000 CPU
- up to 480 MB RAM (in 32 MB pairs)
- DECstation 5000/240 and 5000/260 (codenamed 3MAX+)
- 40 MHz R3000 CPU for the /240 and 60 MHz R4400 CPU for the /260
- up to 480 MB RAM (in 32 MB pairs)
[edit] DECstation PCs
Confusingly, simultaneous with the launch of the DECstation workstation line, DEC also announced a range of DECstation-branded PC compatibles with Intel x86 processors. These were identified by three-digit model numbers; the DECstation 2xx, 3xx and 4xx series using Intel 286, 386 and 486 processors respectively.
