AlphaServer Versions: Evolution & Newer Capabilities

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HP acquired Alpha servers through its purchase of Compaq, which had earlier taken over DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) in the 1990s.

The HP Alpha Server, built on DEC’s Alpha processor, primarily ran the VMS operating system, known for its security and stability. It became the go-to choice for government agencies like the MOD. Alpha servers could also run Tru64 UNIX, giving users flexibility.

Initially, HP continued to support Alpha hardware and OpenVMS beyond 2010. But eventually, they shifted to the Integrity line, powered by Intel’s Itanium processors, and optimized OpenVMS for the new architecture.

From DEC AlphaServer to HP AlphaServer, several models were released under the AlphaServer brand during its evolution. In this article, we will explore each AlphaServer model in detail to give you a clear understanding of its capabilities.

But before we dive in, let’s take a quick look at the comparison table.

1. AlphaServer 400

The AlphaServer 400 was launched by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), and later acquired by Compaq and HP. They were high-end servers designed for DEC Alpha microprocessor architecture offering unparalleled computing power.

Development and Architecture

• It was released on March 1, 1995
• Among the first to use PCI bus architecture for faster data transfer and expansion
• Powered by a 64bit EV4 Alpha processor, replacing older 32bit VAX systems

Technical Specifications

• 166 MHz single processor
• Maximum memory capacity: 192 MB
• Two PCI and three ISA slots for additional hardware
• SCSI bus for storage, offering a transfer rate of 10 MB/s

Operating System Support

• Supported OpenVMS and Tru64 UNIX, optimized for Alpha architecture
• Also capable of running Linux and FreeBSD, increasing its versatility

2. AlphaServer 800

Offering larger-server performance was something that people still remember about AlphaServer 800. Launched in October 1997, it was equipped with second generation Alpha processor, known as the EV5.

Key Features

• Hotswap disk drives for easy maintenance and uninterrupted operation
• ECC memory for error correction and improved reliability
• Remote Management Console (RMC) for efficient remote server monitoring
• Robust server management software (ServerWORKS) for streamlined operations
• Cluster support for enhanced scalability and high availability

Supported Operating System

• OpenVMS, starting from version 6.21h3
• Tru64 UNIX from version 3.2C.

Market Position

• To showcase its ability to run under several operating environments, the AlphaServer 800 was rebranded as the Digital Server 3300/3305 under Windows NT
• It was one of the ‘white box’ models, designed to be customized as well as an affordable solution for businesses.

3. AlphaServer 1000

AlphaServer 1000 system is a low-cost, single processor server, based on PCI/EISA. It was part of DEC’s strategy to deliver robust server solutions.

Supported Operating System

It was designed to support OpenVMS which was a key OS in high-end computing.

Technical Specifications

• The AlphaServer 1000 4/200 model had a CPU clock speed of 200 MHz and supported up to 512 MB of memory
• It offered a maximum I/O throughput of 132 MB/s, with expandability options through two PCI slots and seven EISA slots
• Performance benchmarks showed a SPECint92 score of 135.8 and a SPECfp92 score of 177.0

(SPECint92 and SPECfp92 are performance benchmark scores set by Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC) to gauge the computing power of the processors.)

4. AlphaServer 1200

The AlphaServer 1200 did replace the AlphaServer 1000A. It has the same enclosure as the 1000A, but its logic is based on the AlphaServer 4000 design.

Supported Operating Systems

The AlphaServer 1200 supports multiple operating systems like Windows NT, OpenVMS, and Digital UNIX (Ultrix). This flexibility allows it to handle everything from large business data to specialized computing tasks.

Key Features

• Supports up to 4GB of RAM, with common configurations starting at 1GB
• Offers extensive storage with seven Fast SCSIII disks in removable StorageWorks cartridges, most disks being 2.1GB
• Optional disk expansion tower available for additional storage
• Includes five PCI slots and one PCI/EISA slot for adding hardware like SCSI controllers and Ethernet boards
• Powered by two 450W power supplies, weighing over 100 pounds

5. AlphaServer 2000

Did you know that AlphaServer 2000 was one of the first AlphaServers featuring a PCI bus? The inclusion improved data transfer rates and enabled greater flexibility in hardware expansion.

Specifications

• Chipset: Cbus, Sable family
• Demi-Sable model: EV4 processor, 200MHz, 640MB RAM
• Demi-Sable45 model: EV45 processor, 233MHz/275MHz, 1GB RAM
• Demi-Gamma model: EV5 250/300, EV56 375MHz, 1GB RAM
• Supports 1-2 CPUs, with up to 640MB or 1GB of memory
• Expansion: 3 PCI slots, 7 EISA slots
• Compatible with OpenVMS operating system starting from version 6.1 (for EV4 models)

6. AlphaServer 2100

Similar to the previous server, AlphaServer 2100 was among the first AlphaServers to have PCI bus. It was launched in 1994 and was initially sold as the Digital 2100 before the AlphaServer brand was established.

Key Highlight of AlphaServers 2100

• Features Alpha 64-bit processors, including Alpha 21064, 21164, and 21164A, with speeds from 200MHz to 375MHz
• Supports up to 4 processors and up to 2GB memory (1GB max for 4-CPU setups)
• Includes 3 PCI slots and 8 EISA slots for hardware expansion
• Compatible with OpenVMS (from version 6.1), Tru64 UNIX, Windows NT, and other systems like Linux and FreeBSD
• Launched in 1994, one of the first Alpha servers with PCI bus, initially branded as Digital 2100
• Offers models like AlphaServer 2100 4/200, 4/233, 4/275, 5/250, and 5/300 for varying needs

7. AlphaServer 4000

Launched in 1996, the AlphaServer 4000 was DEC’s first venture into the world of 64-bit Alpha architecture. This new architecture not only replaced the previous 32-bit VAX systems but also improved speed and power.

Key Features and Specifications

• Powered by the Alpha 21164 64-bit processor
• Supports up to two processors, with speeds from 300 MHz to 600 MHz
• Processor options: 300 MHz EV5 (2MB cache) and 533 MHz EV56 (8MB cache)
• Up to 4GB of memory, though some configurations support 2GB
• Standard storage includes two 2GB disks
• Part of the Rawhide family with the Rawhide core logic chipset
• Features symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) for efficient multi-processor management
• Includes multiple cache levels to enhance data processing speed

8. AlphaServer 4100

It was a mid-range server designed for high-performance computing, supporting multiple processors.

Stand Out Features:

• It supports up to four Alpha microprocessors
• AlphaServer 4100 can accommodate up to 8 GM of main memory
• Comes with flexibility – well equipped with 8 PCI I/O slots
• A system bus bandwidth of 1.1 Gbytes/sec clearly reflects its role in high performance computing
• The reliabity mechanism comes with error correction codes (ECC) for CPU cache

9. AlphaServer ES45

The AlphaServer ES45 was launched in 2002 with the aim of catering to applications in business, technical, scientific and others.

Feature Overview:

• Supports 1-4 EV68CB CPUs (1000MHz or 1250MHz) with 8MB cache.
• Memory: Up to 16GB (Model 1) or 32GB (Models 2 and 3)
• Includes 6-10 PCI-X expansion slots
• Runs OpenVMS (7.3-1+) and Tru64 UNIX (5.1A+)
• Available in cabinet, pedestal, and tower formats
• Features the Titan chipset, successor to Tsunami/Typhoon
• Suitable for database, application, NFS, and Internet servers
• Successor to the AlphaServer ES40
• Replaceable by AlphaVM-Pro for virtualization

Different Versions of Alpha HP Servers: Comparative Analysis

DEC AlphaServers introduced us to the amazing advancement of computers.

In 1995, the AlphaServer 400 was a new architecture with a PCI bus and native (64-bit) support. It marked the end of 32-bit systems and established new performance standards.

Further enhancing efficiency, the AlphaServer 800 and AlphaServer 1000 joined the line. They added EV5 processors, hot-swap drives, and ECC memory to make the server reliable and effective.

Its scalability would build upon the success of AlphaServer 1200 and AlphaServer 2000. They were multicore with large storage. Therefore, they could accomplish more complicated and multitasking jobs.

Finally, came the AlphaServer 2100 and Alphaserver 4000. These servers introduced multi-CPU setups and symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) support. They were best used for high-performance environments, thus becoming very popular.

HP launched extensive Alpha user education and a plan to move customers up to the HP Integrity platform. But there are many niche businesses that have never been ported to newer versions. It means these businesses are still dependent on Alpha hardware to run their business applications.

Still Using AlphaServers? Here’s How to Compete with Modern Businesses

In the past, Alpha HP Servers were highly reliable for handling critical workloads. However, as time has passed, the hardware has become decades old and is more prone to downtime. Thus, businesses that still rely on AlphaServers are facing increasing costs and efforts to maintain these aging systems.

These challenges make it extremely difficult for enterprises to compete with modern businesses. Enter Stromasys, which allows businesses to continue operating a legacy application without the ancient hardware.

By leveraging Charon-AXP emulator, businesses can move their AlphaServer environments to modern hardware or the cloud without sacrificing their existing applications. It means enterprises can continue running essential OpenVMS and Tru64 UNIX applications.

This migration improves performance, cuts costs, and extends the life of essential systems—without the hassle of major disruptions or downtime.

Curious about how it works?

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