Stromasys Launches Charon-PAR 4.0: A Future-Ready PA-RISC Emulator

We are excited to announce the launch of Charon-PAR version 4.0, bringing the next step forward in HP PA-RISC emulation technology. The new version introduces performance enhancements for certain workload profiles, aimed at organizations running mission-critical HP-UX and MPE/iX applications.

Version 4.0 Enhancements

1. Multi-Tier DIT2 Performance Architecture:

The most significant enhancement in version 4.0 is the implementation of DIT2 (Dynamic Instruction Translation, tier 2) as a second instruction translation layer. This architectural improvement delivers performance gains for suitable guest application workloads.

Implementation options include:

• Local configuration: DIT2 runs on the same system as the emulator.
• Dedicated DIT2 server: Optional deployment on a separate system for distributed processing; the dedicated server can serve multiple Charon-PAR instances.
• Flexible configuration: Multiple tunable parameters to optimize performance for specific workloads.

2. Simplified Licensing Model:

• Version 4.0 introduces a streamlined licensing approach that eases deployment and management.
• Important: Licenses from previous Charon-PAR 3.x versions are incompatible and must be updated to work with version 4.0 and later.

3. Enhanced E1000 Network Controller Support:

Significant improvements have been made to the emulated Intel E1000 Ethernet controller:

• Independent operation from checksum offloading settings in HP-UX
• Improved stability and reliability across all PCI expansion slots
• Better compatibility with various network configurations

4. Host System Sizing Tool:

A new charon-par-sizer.py script helps administrators determine optimal host system specifications for different deployment scenarios. The tool provides sizing recommendations based on:

• Required RAM for the emulated system
• Number of CPUs required
• DIT1-only vs. various DIT2 deployment options

Note: This tool provides sizing guidance. Contact Stromasys for a detailed performance analysis.

5. Configuration File Unification:

All configuration file templates have been standardized with consistent options and descriptions across all supported models. Existing configurations remain compatible thanks to backward compatibility support.

6. Additional Enhancements:

• Performance improvements throughout the emulation engine
• TLB optimization for improved memory management performance
• Network subsystem improvements for better reliability under various workloads

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported emulated models include the rp34xx and rp44xx series, B132L workstations, and 720 servers. Please refer to the SPD for the full list of models.

Charon-PAR 4.0 maintains support for the Guest operating systems:

• HP-UX 9.0.5, 9.0.7, 10.20, 11.00, 11.11, 11.23, and 11.31 (hardware model-dependent)
• MPE/iX

Supported Host Operating Systems:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, 9, and 10
• Rocky Linux 8, 9, and 10

Upgrade and Licensing

Due to the simplified licensing model, existing Charon-PAR 4.0 licenses must be updated. Please contact your Stromasys representative for license migration assistance.

For detailed technical information, installation instructions, and configuration guidance, please refer to the complete Charon-PAR 4.0 User’s Guide and Release Notes.

Ready to Upgrade?

Reach out to your Stromasys sales representative or visit the Stromasys support portal for complete documentation. The Software Product Description contains detailed system requirements and technical specifications.

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