AlphaServer
Encyclopedia
AlphaServer was the name given to a series of server computers, produced from 1994 onwards by Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation was a major American company in the computer industry and a leading vendor of computer systems, software and peripherals from the 1960s to the 1990s...

, and latterly by Compaq
Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation is a personal computer company founded in 1982. Once the largest supplier of personal computing systems in the world, Compaq existed as an independent corporation until 2002, when it was acquired for US$25 billion by Hewlett-Packard....

 and HP
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...

. As the name suggests, the AlphaServers were based on the DEC Alpha
DEC Alpha
Alpha, originally known as Alpha AXP, is a 64-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation , designed to replace the 32-bit VAX complex instruction set computer ISA and its implementations. Alpha was implemented in microprocessors...

 64-bit
64-bit
64-bit is a word size that defines certain classes of computer architecture, buses, memory and CPUs, and by extension the software that runs on them. 64-bit CPUs have existed in supercomputers since the 1970s and in RISC-based workstations and servers since the early 1990s...

 microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...

. Supported operating systems for AlphaServers are Tru64 UNIX
Tru64 UNIX
Tru64 UNIX is a 64-bit UNIX operating system for the Alpha instruction set architecture , currently owned by Hewlett-Packard . Previously, Tru64 UNIX was a product of Compaq, and before that, Digital Equipment Corporation , where it was known as Digital UNIX .As its original name suggests, Tru64...

 (formerly Digital UNIX), OpenVMS
OpenVMS
OpenVMS , previously known as VAX-11/VMS, VAX/VMS or VMS, is a computer server operating system that runs on VAX, Alpha and Itanium-based families of computers. Contrary to what its name suggests, OpenVMS is not open source software; however, the source listings are available for purchase...

 and Windows NT
Windows NT
Windows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...

 (on earlier systems, with AlphaBIOS ARC
Advanced RISC Computing
Advanced RISC Computing is a specification promulgated by a defunct consortium of computer manufacturers , setting forth a standard MIPS RISC-based computer hardware and firmware environment....

 firmware), while enthusiasts have provided alternative operating systems such as Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...

, NetBSD
NetBSD
NetBSD is a freely available open source version of the Berkeley Software Distribution Unix operating system. It was the second open source BSD descendant to be formally released, after 386BSD, and continues to be actively developed. The NetBSD project is primarily focused on high quality design,...

, OpenBSD
OpenBSD
OpenBSD is a Unix-like computer operating system descended from Berkeley Software Distribution , a Unix derivative developed at the University of California, Berkeley. It was forked from NetBSD by project leader Theo de Raadt in late 1995...

 and FreeBSD
FreeBSD
FreeBSD is a free Unix-like operating system descended from AT&T UNIX via BSD UNIX. Although for legal reasons FreeBSD cannot be called “UNIX”, as the direct descendant of BSD UNIX , FreeBSD’s internals and system APIs are UNIX-compliant...

.

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
MIPS architecture
MIPS is a reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies . The early MIPS architectures were 32-bit, and later versions were 64-bit...

- and PA-RISC
PA-RISC
PA-RISC is an instruction set architecture developed by Hewlett-Packard. As the name implies, it is a reduced instruction set computer architecture, where the PA stands for Precision Architecture...

-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.

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
Alpha 21064
The Alpha 21064 is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the Alpha instruction set architecture . It was introduced as the DECchip 21064 before it was renamed in 1994. The 21064 is also known by its code name, EV4...

 (EV4)
200 2 MB ? 512 MB 2 PCI,
1 PCI/EISA,
7 EISA
Pedestal
or
rackmount
? ?
4/233 Mikasa+ 21064A
Alpha 21064
The Alpha 21064 is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the Alpha instruction set architecture . It was introduced as the DECchip 21064 before it was renamed in 1994. The 21064 is also known by its code name, EV4...

 
(EV45)
233 ? ? 1995 ?
4/266 266 ? 1 GB
(20x 72-pin SIMMs, 4 banks)
? ?
5/300 Mikasa-Pinnacle 21164
Alpha 21164
The Alpha 21164, also known by its code name, EV5, is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the Alpha instruction set architecture . It was introduced in January 1995, succeeding the Alpha 21064A as Digital's flagship microprocessor...

 
(EV5)
300 ? ? ?

Each bank contained of 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
Alpha 21064
The Alpha 21064 is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the Alpha instruction set architecture . It was introduced as the DECchip 21064 before it was renamed in 1994. The 21064 is also known by its code name, EV4...

 
(EV45)
233 2 MB ? 1 GB
(20x 72-pin SIMMs, 4 banks)
7 PCI
2 ISA
Pedestal
or
rackmount
? ?
4/266 266 ? ? ?
5/300 Noritake-Pinnacle 21164
Alpha 21164
The Alpha 21164, also known by its code name, EV5, is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the Alpha instruction set architecture . It was introduced in January 1995, succeeding the Alpha 21064A as Digital's flagship microprocessor...

 (EV5)
300 ? ? ?
5/333 333 ? ? ?
5/400 Noritake-Primo 21164A
Alpha 21164
The Alpha 21164, also known by its code name, EV5, is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the Alpha instruction set architecture . It was introduced in January 1995, succeeding the Alpha 21064A as Digital's flagship microprocessor...

 
(EV56)
400 ? ? ?
5/500 500 8 MB ? 1997-04-14 ?
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 ?
5/400 400 ? ?
5/500 500 ? 1997-10-27 ?

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
Alpha 21164
The Alpha 21164, also known by its code name, EV5, is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the Alpha instruction set architecture . It was introduced in January 1995, succeeding the Alpha 21064A as Digital's flagship microprocessor...

 
(EV5)
300 2 MB ? 4 GB 8-16 PCI
(including 3 shared PCI/EISA)
Pedestal/rackmount 1996-09-04 ?
5/400 21164A
(EV56)
400 4 MB ? ?
5/466 466 4 MB ? ? ?
5/533 533 4 MB ? 1997-10-27 ?
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 ?
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 ?
6/700 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 ?
6/700 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 Up to 2 EV68AL 833 4 MB ? 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 ? 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 2002-08-04 ?
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 ?

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
Alpha 21264
The Alpha 21264 was a Digital Equipment Corporation RISC microprocessor introduced in October, 1996. The 21264 implemented the Alpha instruction set architecture .- Description :...

 
(EV67)
731 4 MB Custom Up to 64 GB 33 MHz PCI-X
PCI-X
PCI-X, short for PCI-eXtended, is a computer bus and expansion card standard that enhances the 32-bit PCI Local Bus for higher bandwidth demanded by servers. It is a double-wide version of PCI, running at up to four times the clock speed, but is otherwise similar in electrical implementation and...

:
Up to 16 buses,
56 slots
Rack ? ?
21264C
Alpha 21264
The Alpha 21264 was a Digital Equipment Corporation RISC microprocessor introduced in October, 1996. The 21264 implemented the Alpha instruction set architecture .- Description :...

 
(EV68CB)
1001 4, 8 MB ? ?
1224 4, 8, 16 MB 2002-08-04 ?
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 ?
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 ?

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
Supercomputer
A supercomputer is a computer at the frontline of current processing capacity, particularly speed of calculation.Supercomputers are used for highly calculation-intensive tasks such as problems including quantum physics, weather forecasting, climate research, molecular modeling A supercomputer is a...

 constructed from a set of individual DS20, ES40 or ES45 servers (called "nodes") mounted in racks. Every node was connected to every other node using a Quadrics
Quadrics
Quadrics was a supercomputer company formed in 1996 as a joint venture between Alenia Spazio and the technical team from Meiko Scientific. They produced hardware and software for clustering commodity computer systems into massively parallel systems. Their highpoint was in June 2003 when six out of...

 elan3 interconnect and the systems were designed and used primarily for high-performance technical computing
High-performance technical computing
High Performance Technical Computing refers to the application of high performance computing to technical, as opposed to business or scientific, problems...

. An AlphaServer SC45 supercomputer was still ranked #6 in the world as late as November 2004.

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
PCI-X
PCI-X, short for PCI-eXtended, is a computer bus and expansion card standard that enhances the 32-bit PCI Local Bus for higher bandwidth demanded by servers. It is a double-wide version of PCI, running at up to four times the clock speed, but is otherwise similar in electrical implementation and...

 
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.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK