AlphaServer

AlphaServer was the name given to a series of server computers, produced from 1994 onwards by Digital Equipment Corporation, and later by Compaq and HP. As the name suggests, the AlphaServers were based on the DEC Alpha 64-bit microprocessor. Supported operating systems for AlphaServers are Tru64 UNIX (formerly Digital UNIX), OpenVMS, MEDITECH MAGIC^[1] and Windows NT (on earlier systems, with AlphaBIOS ARC firmware), while enthusiasts have provided alternative operating systems such as Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD and FreeBSD.

Some AlphaServer models were rebadged in white enclosures as Digital Servers for the Windows NT server market. These so-called "white box" models comprised the following:

• Digital Server 3300/3305: rebadged AlphaServer 800
• Digital Server 5300/5305: rebadged AlphaServer 1200
• Digital Server 7300/7305/7310: rebadged AlphaServer 4100

As part of the roadmap to phase out Alpha-, MIPS- and PA-RISC-based systems in favor of Itanium-based systems at HP, the most recent AlphaServer systems reached their end of general availability on 27 April 2007. The availability of upgrades and options was discontinued on 25 April 2008, approximately one year after the systems were discontinued. Support for the most recent AlphaServer systems, the DS15A, DS25, ES45, ES47, ES80 and GS1280 is being provided by HP Services as of 2008. These systems are scheduled to reach end of support sometime during 2012, although HP has stated that this event may be delayed.^[2]

Models

In approximate chronological order, the following AlphaServer models were produced:

Avanti Family

Model		Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	B-cache	Chipset	Max. Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
200	4/100	Mustang	1	21064 (EV4)	100	512 KB	21071	8 to 384 MB	1 PCI 1 or 2 PCI/ISA 1 ISA	Desktop	?	?
	4/166				166						?	?
	4/233			21064A (EV45)	233						?	?
400	4/166	Mustang S	1	21064 (EV4)	166	512 KB	21071	8 to 384 MB (6x 72-pin SIMMs, 3 banks)	2 PCI 1 PCI/ISA 3 ISA	Mini-tower	?	?
	4/233			21064A (EV45)	233						?	?
300	4/266	Melmac	1	21064A (EV45)	266	2 MB	?	512 MB (8x 72-pin SIMMs, 2 banks)	1 PCI 1 PCI/ISA 1 ISA	Desktop or rackmount	?	?

Sable Family

Model		Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	B-cache	Chipset	Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
2100	4/200	Sable	1, 2, 3 or 4	21064 (EV4)	200	1 MB / CPU	?	2 GB (1 GB if 4 CPU)	3 PCI, 8 EISA	Pedestal or rack	?	?
	4/233	Sable45		21064A (EV45)	233	1 MB / CPU	?				?	?
	4/275				275	4 MB / CPU	?				?	?
	5/250	Gamma-Sable		21164 (EV5)	250	4 MB / CPU	?				?	?
	5/300				291		?				?	?
	5/375			21164A (EV56)	375		?				?	?
2000	4/200	Demi-Sable	1 or 2	21064 EV4	190	1 MB / CPU	?	640 MB	3 PCI, 7 EISA, 1 PCI/EISA	Pedestal	?	?
	4/233	Demi-Sable45		21064A (EV45)	233	1 MB / CPU	?	1 GB	3 PCI, 7 EISA		?	?
	4/275				275	4 MB / CPU	?				?	?
	5/250	Demi-Gamma		21164 (EV5)	250	4 MB / CPU	?				?	?
	5/300				291		?				?	?
	5/375			21164A (EV56)	375	4 or 8 MB / CPU	?				?	?

The AlphaServer 2100 was briefly sold as the Digital 2100 before the AlphaServer brand was introduced.

Mikasa Family

Model		Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	B-cache	Chipset	Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
1000	4/200	Mikasa	1	21064 (EV4)	200	2 MB	?	512 MB	2 PCI, 1 PCI/EISA, 7 EISA	Pedestal or rackmount	?	?
	4/233	Mikasa+		21064A (EV45)	233		?	?			1995	?
	4/266				266		?	1 GB (20× 72-pin SIMMs, 4 banks)1			?	?
	5/300	Mikasa-Pinnacle		21164 (EV5)	300		?				?	?
^1 Each bank contained five SIMMs. The initial four SIMMs were used for data; the fifth SIMM was used for ECC.

Noritake Family

Model		Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	B-cache	Chipset	Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
1000A	4/233	Noritake	1	21064A (EV45)	233	2 MB	?	1 GB (20x 72-pin SIMMs, 4 banks)1	7 PCI 2 ISA	Pedestal or rackmount	?	?
	4/266				266		?				?	?
	5/300	Noritake-Pinnacle		21164 (EV5)	300		?				?	?
	5/333				333		?				?	?
	5/400	Noritake-Primo		21164A (EV56)	400		?				?	?
	5/500				500	8 MB	?				1997-04-14[3]	?
800	5/333	Corelle	1	21164A (EV56)	333	2 MB	?	2 GB (8x ECC EDO DIMMs, 2 banks)	3 PCI 2 EISA 1 PCI-X/EISA	Mini-tower (can be converted to rackmount)	1997-04-14[3]	?
	5/400				400		?					?
	5/500				500		?				1997-10-27[4]	?
^1 5 modules per bank, 5th module used for ECC, later 1000A 5/500 systems have 16 slots, 4 modules with ECC per bank

Rawhide Family

Model		Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	B-cache / CPU	Chipset	Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
4000	5/300	Wrangler/Durango	Up to two	21164 (EV5)	300	2 MB	?	4 GB	8-16 PCI (including 3 shared PCI/EISA)	Pedestal/rackmount	1996-09-04[5]	?
	5/400			21164A (EV56)	400	4 MB	?					?
	5/466				466	4 MB	?				?	?
	5/533				533	4 MB	?				1997-10-27[4]	?
	5/600				600	8 MB	?				?	?
4100	5/300E	Dodge	Up to four	21164 (EV5)	300	None	Custom	32 MB to 8 GB	5 PCI, 3 PCI/EISA	Pedestal/rackmount	?	?
	5/300				300	2 MB					?	?
	5/400			21164A (EV56)	400	4 MB					?	?
	5/466				466						?	?
	5/533				533						?	?
	5/600				600	8 MB					?	?
1200	5/400	Tincup	Up to two	21164A (EV56)	400	4 MB / proc.	?	4 GB	4 PCI-X, 1 PCI, 1PCI-X/EISA	Pedestal	1997-10-27[4]	?
	5/533				533		?					?

Turbolaser Family

Model		Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	B-cache / CPU	Chipset	Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
8200	5/300	TurboLaser	2 to 6	EV5	300	4 MB	Custom ASICs	12 GB	132 PCI slots, 8 EISA slots	19" rack	1995-04-11	?
	5/350				350						?	?
	5/440			EV56	437	4 MB					?	?
	5/625				612						?	?
8400	5/300	TurboLaser	Up to 14	EV5	300	4 MB	Custom ASICs	28 GB	144 PCI, 8 EISA, XMI	Cabinet	1995-04-11	?
	5/350				350						?	?
	5/440			EV56	437	4 MB					?	?
	5/625				612						?	?
GS60	6/525	TL6	2 to 8	EV6	525	4 MB	?	12 GB	132 PCI, 8 EISA	19" rack	1998-10-19[6]	?
	6/700			EV67	700	8 MB	?				1999-11-11	?
GS60E	6/525	TL6	2 to 6 (later 8)	EV6	525	4 MB	?	12 GB	132 PCI, 8 EISA	19" rack	1999-07-19	?
	6/700			EV67	700	8 MB	?				1999-11-11	?
GS140	6/525	TL6	2 to 14	EV6	525	4 MB	?	28 GB	144 PCI, 8 EISA, 24 XMI	Cabinet	1998-10-19[6]	?
	6/700			EV67	700	8 MB	?				1999-11-11	?

Lynx Family

Model		Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	B-cache	Chipset	Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
2000A		Demi-Lynx (EV45), Demi-Gamma-Lynx (EV5)	Up to two	EV45, EV5 or EV56	233, 250, 275, 300, 375, 400	?	?	?	?	Pedestal	?	?
2100A	4/275	Lynx	Up to 4	21064A (EV45)	275	4 MB	?	2 GB, 1 GB for 4 CPU	8 PCI, 3 EISA	Pedestal	?	?
	5/250	Gamma-Lynx		21164 (EV5)	250	4 MB	?				?	?
	5/300				300		?				?	?
	5/375				375	8 MB	?				?	?

Tsunami Family

Model		Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	B-cache	Chipset	Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
DS10	6/466	WebBrick	1	EV6	466	2 MB	?	2 GB	3 PCI-X, 1 PCI	desktop	1999-05-10	?
	67/600			EV67	600	2 MB	?				?	?
DS10L	6/466	Slate	1	EV6	466	2 MB	?	1 GB	1 PCI-X	rackmount (1U)	?	?
	6/600			EV67	600	2 MB	?				?	?
DS20	6/500	Goldrush	Up to 2	21264 (EV6)	500	4 MB	?	4 GB	5PCI-X, 1 PCI-X/ISA	pedestal/rackmount	?	?
DS20E	6/500	Goldrack	Up to 2	EV6	500	4 MB	?	4 GB	5PCI-X, 1 PCI-X/ISA	pedestal/rackmount	?	?
	6/667			EV67	667	8 MB	?				?	?
	68/833			EV68AL	833	8 MB	?				2001-07-16	?
DS20L	68/833	Shark	2	EV68AL	833	4 MB	21271(Tsunami)	2 GB	2 PCI-X	Rackmount (1U)	2001-07-16	?
ES40	6/500	Clipper	Up to 4	EV6	500	4 MB	?	Model 1: 16 GB Model 2: 32 GB	Model 1: 6 PCI-X Model 2: 10 PCI-X	pedestal/rackmount	?	?
	6/667			EV67	667	8 MB	?				?	?
	68/833			EV68AL	833	8 MB	?				2001-02-12	?

Titan Family

Model		Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	B-cache	Chipset	Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
DS15	68/1000	HyperBrick	1	EV68CB	1000	2 MB	?	4 GB	4 PCI-X 33 MHz or 2 PCI-X 66 MHz	Tower	2003-10-20	2007-04-27
DS25	68/1000	Granite	Up to 2	EV68CB	1000	8 MB	?	16 GB	6 PCI-X	Tower/5U Rackmount	2002-08-04[7]	?
ES45	68/1000	Privateer	Up to 4	EV68CB	1000	8 MB	?	1: Up to 16 GB 2: Up to 32 GB	1: AGP 4x, 6 PCI-X 2: 10 PCI-X	Pedestal/8U rackmount, tower	?	?
	68/1250				1250	16 MB	?				2002-08-04[7]	?

Wildfire Family

Model	Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	B-cache	Chipset	Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
GS80	Wildfire	Model 4: 2 to 4 Model 8: 2 to 8	21264A (EV67)	731	4 MB	Custom	Up to 64 GB	33 MHz PCI-X: Up to 16 buses, 56 slots	Rack	?	?
			21264C (EV68CB)	1001	4, 8 MB					?	?
				1224	4, 8, 16 MB					2002-08-04[7]	?
GS160	Wildfire	Model 8: 2 to 8 Model 16: 2 to 16	21264A (EV67)	731	4 MB	Custom	Up to 128 GB	33 MHz PCI-X: Up to 32 buses, 112 slots	Rack(s)	?	?
			21264C (EV68CB)	1001	4, 8 MB					?	?
				1224	4, 8, 16 MB					2002-08-04[7]	?
GS320	Wildfire	Model 24: 2 to 24 Model 32: 2 to 32	21264A (EV67)	731	4 MB	Custom	Up to 256 GB	33 MHz PCI-X: Up to 64 buses, 224 slots	Rack(s)	?	?
			21264C (EV68CB)	1001	4, 8 MB					?	?
				1224	4, 8, 16 MB					2002-08-04[7]	?

AlphaServer SC

Model	Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	B-cache	Chipset	Max. Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
SC20 68/833	?	8 to 256	21264B EV68AL	833	2 MB	?	2 GB/node	2 PCI-X	Rack(s)	?	?
SC40 67/667	Sierra	16 to 512	21264A EV67	667	8 MB	?	24 GB/node	10 PCI-X	Rack(s)	?	?
SC40 68/833			21264B EV68AL	833		?				?	?
SC45 68/1250	Sierra	16 to 4096	21264C EV68CB	1250	16 MB	?	32 GB/node	10 PCI-X	Rack(s)	?	?

The AlphaServer SC was a supercomputer constructed from a set of individual DS20L, ES40 or ES45 servers (called "nodes") mounted in racks. Every node was connected to every other node using a Quadrics elan3 interconnect and the systems were designed and used primarily for high-performance technical computing. An AlphaServer SC45 supercomputer was still ranked #6 in the world as late as November 2004.^[8]

Marvel Family

Model	Code name	# of CPUs	CPU	CPU MHz	Scache	Chipset	Memory	Expansion	Enclosure	Introduced	Discontinued
ES47 Tower	?	2	21364 (EV7)	1000	1.75 MB	On-die	Up to 16 GB	1 4× AGP 1 133 MHz PCI-X 4 66 MHz PCI-X	Tower	2003-01-20	2007-04-27
				1150						2004-08-16
ES47	Marvel 2P	2 to 4	21364 (EV7)	1000	1.75 MB	On-die	Up to 32 GB	Up to 4 4× AGP 32 PCI-X	4U or 8U rackmount	2003-01-20	2007-04-27
				1150						2004-08-16
ES80	Marvel 4x2P	2 to 8	21364 (EV7)	1000	1.75 MB	On-die	Up to 64 GB	Up to 8 4× AGP 64 PCI-X	Rack	2003-01-20	2007-04-27
				1150						2004-08-16
GS1280	Marvel 8P	2 to 64	21364 (EV7)	1150	1.75 MB	On-die	Up to 512 GB	Up to 64 4× AGP 512 PCI-X 192 PCI	Rack(s)	2003-01-20	2007-04-27
			21364 (EV7z)	1300						2004-08-16

The AlphaServer GS1280 originally supported a maximum of 16 microprocessors. In October 2003, the number of microprocessors supported was increased to 64 and the supported memory capacity was doubled to 8 GB per microprocessor.

References

1. ↑ ftp://www.hp.com/pub/alphaserver/archive/DECinfo/info_3/infosheet/MEDITECH_MAGIC_on_the_Compaq_06may1999LIW0LIPF.pdf "Compaq MEDITECH MAGIC Brochure 06 may 1999"
2. ↑ Ann McQuaid. "Dear Valued AlphaServer Customer", April 28, 2007. Hewlett-Packard Company.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Davis, Jim (1997-04-14). "Digital makes servers available". CNET News".
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Davis, Jim (1997-10-27). "Digital has new Alpha, Intel servers". CNET News.
5. ↑ Davis, Jim (1996-09-04). "DEC: more power, less money". CNET News.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Shankland, Stephen (1998-10-19). "Compaq rolls out Alpha server". CNET News.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 ComputerWire (2002-08-04). "HP refreshes midrange PA, Alpha servers". The Register.
8. ↑ www.top500.org Top 10 Supercomputing Sites, November 2004

• AlphaServer GS80, GS160, and GS320 Systems Technical Summary. Hewlett-Packard Company.

See also

• CHARON-AXP: AlphaServer virtualization solution in the Stromasys Charon (software) family, available for Windows, Linux, and Barebone
• AlphaVM: an emulator of a full DEC Alpha system running on Windows or Linux

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to DEC.

• HP AlphaServer range
• DIGITAL Product Catalogue Winter 1997, Digital Equipment International, 1997.
• Compaq Alpha System and Model Code Names (at archive.org)
• FreeBSD/alpha 6.1 Hardware Notes
• About NetBSD/alpha
• The OpenBSD/alpha port
• Debian Alpha system types

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