×
How Did AlphaServer Models Go Through Evolution as They Upgraded?Deep-dive into nine major AlphaServer models, including the compact AlphaServer 400 and AlphaServer 800, commonly used by small businesses. You will also explore the versatile mid-range AlphaServer 1000, AlphaServer 1200, AlphaServer 2000, and AlphaServer 2100 series used for departmental computing, and the AlphaServer 4000 and AlphaServer 4100 known for high performance and designed specifically for mission-critical enterprise workloads. This guide also examines the AlphaServer ES45, one of the final and most advanced systems in the Alpha lineup.
Through a detailed comparative analysis, you'll understand the key similarities and differences, capabilities, and use cases for each model. It is important to note that HP later acquired AlphaServers through its purchase of Compaq, which had earlier taken over DEC in the 1990s. Hence, we will simply refer to them as ‘AlphaServers’ instead of assigning them to any company.
ArticleDigital Equipment Corporation (DEC) created and started producing AlphaServers when it needed to move from CISC to RISC computing. Then, Compaq took over DEC in 1998; finally, HP acquired Compaq in 2002 and ended AlphaServer production in 2004.
The HP AlphaServer, 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-based servers could also run Tru64 UNIX, giving users flexibility.
Initially, HP continued to support Alpha hardware along with Tru64 and OpenVMS around 2012. However, they eventually 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 most of the AlphaServer models in detail to give you a clear understanding of their capabilities.
Explore how Charon-AXP transforms AlphaServer operations so many years after EOL.
The AlphaServer series consisted of server computers produced first by DEC, then by Compaq and HP when they acquired the company. They used the 64-bit RISC microprocessor that DEC developed and called Alpha AXP, which replaced the 32-bit microprocessor VAX.
While Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS were its main operating systems, AlphaServers also worked with Windows NT, Linux, and different BSD variants. There are various versions of these servers, which you will read below.
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. It was considered a suitable option for the office environment due to its featured single Alpha processor and a compact tower form factor. AlphaServer 400 offers enterprise-grade capabilities in a smaller package and serves as an affordable entry point into the Alpha ecosystem that was often used for file serving, light database work, and application development.
Did you know?
The AlphaServer 400 competed with entry-level RISC servers from HP and Sun Microsystems during the mid-1990s.
The AlphaServer 1200 supports multiple operating systems like OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX, and Windows NT.
Offering larger-server performance was something that people remembered the AlphaServer 800 for. Launched in October 1997, it was equipped with a second-generation Alpha processor, known as the EV5.
AlphaServer 800 served as a compact, cost-effective solution for the Alpha ecosystem. It was built around a single Alpha 21164 processor and offered enterprise-class Unix/VMS capabilities. The AlphaServer 800 was considered ideal for small businesses that looked for reliable file servers, departmental application hosts, and development platforms.
AlphaServer 800 ran OpenVMS, starting from version 6.21h3, and Tru64 UNIX from version 3.2C.
The AlphaServer 1000 system low-cost, single-processor server based on PCI/EISA. It was part of a strategy by DEC to deliver robust server solutions. It was the only member of the Mikasa family in the long line of AlphaServer evolution. The AlphaServer 1000 consisted of one CPU among the 21064, 21064A, and 21164 options.
AlphaServer 1000 was designed to support OpenVMS.
The AlphaServer 1200 replaced the AlphaServer 1000A. It has the same enclosure as the 1000A, but its logic is based on the AlphaServer 4000 design.
The AlphaServer 1200 brought Alpha computing to the data center in a professional rackmount package. It was designed for high-density server deployments. It offers enterprise-grade features like hot-swappable drives, redundant power supplies, and efficient cooling that elevated Alpha performance.
The AlphaServer 1200 is available in various configurations with Alpha 21164 or later 21264 processors. This server series scaled from a single CPU to multiple CPUs.
The AlphaServer 1200 supports multiple operating systems like OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX, and Windows NT.
The AlphaServer 2000 used the 21064, 21064A, 21164, and 21164A Alpha processors as needed, which increased variability greatly. The server also showed improved data transfer rates and enabled greater flexibility, which made it an important part of AlphaServer evolution.
AlphaServer 2000 is compatible with the OpenVMS OS starting from version 6.1 (for EV4 models).
Like the previous server, AlphaServer 2100 also showed the same processor variations. It was launched in 1994 and was initially sold as the Digital 2100 before the AlphaServer brand was established.
AlphaServer 2100 is compatible with OpenVMS (from version 6.1), Tru64 UNIX, and Windows NT.
Launched in 1996, the AlphaServer 4000 had improved speed and power, which made them capable of supporting heavy applications with ease. It was part of the Rawhide family. AlphaServer 4000 used the second generation of Alpha processors known for optimized performance.
AlphaServer 4000 was supported by OpenVMS and Tru64 UNIX.
The AlphaServer 4100 was also introduced in 1996 along with the previous 4000 version. It was a mid-range server designed for high-performance computing, supporting up to four processors. The interconnected multiprocessor design of the server guaranteed the lowest memory latency achievable while ensuring a high bandwidth.
AlphaServer 4100 used OpenVMS and Tru64 UNIX.
The AlphaServer ES45 was launched in 2002 with the aim of catering to applications in business, technical, scientific and others.
Here is a full comparative look at all the AlphaServer models we examined:
| Model | Processor | Memory | Expansion Slots | Operating Systems | Industries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlphaServer 400 | 21064/EV4 (166 MHz) 21064A/EV45 (233 MHz) | 8 – 384 MB | 2 PCI, 3 ISA | OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX | Small businesses, research labs |
| AlphaServer 800 | EV5 | ECC memory | 2 PCI, hotswap disk drives, RMC | OpenVMS 6.21h3, Tru64 UNIX 3.2C, Windows NT | SMBs, education, IT infrastructure |
| AlphaServer 1000 | 200 MHz | Up to 512 MB | 2 PCI, 7 EISA | OpenVMS | Finance, insurance, SMEs |
| AlphaServer 1200 | Based on AlphaServer 4000 design | Up to 4GB | 5 PCI, 1 PCI/EISA | Windows NT, OpenVMS, Digital UNIX | Healthcare, retail, large businesses |
| AlphaServer 2000 | EV4/EV45/EV5 (200–375 MHz) | 640 MB–1 GB | 3 PCI, 7 EISA | OpenVMS | Telecom, manufacturing, government |
| AlphaServer 2100 | Alpha 64-bit (200–375 MHz) | 1–2 GB | 3 PCI, 8 EISA | OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX, Windows NT, Linux, FreeBSD | High-tech, scientific research, engineering |
| AlphaServer 4000 | 21164 (300–600 MHz) | Up to 4GB | SMP, multi-cache levels | OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX | Aerospace, energy, large-scale enterprises |
| AlphaServer 4100 | Up to 4 Processors (5/300, 5/400, 5/466, 5/533 and 5/600 MHz speeds) | 32 MB to 8 GB | 5 PCI, 3 PCI/EISA | OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX | High-performance database servers, business application servers, LAN consolidation, and communication applications |
| AlphaServer ES45 | 1-4 CPUs EV68CB, 1000MHz or 1250MHz 8MB Cache | Model 1: Up to 16GB RAM, Models 2 and 3: Up | 6 to 10 PCI-X slots | OpenVMS (starting from version 7.3-1) | Business, technical, and scientific applications |
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.
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.
Wheeler Manufacturing were running their critical applications on the outdated AlphaServer system. They face critical situation in 2014 when due to a drive failure during business hours resulted in a full day of production loss. Also, the 3-4 days wait for HP support led to productivity loss. They have been operating on the AlphaServer for more than 15 years and were comfortable using it, but hardware failures occurred every year or two. This created unacceptable downtime risks and the business-critical DEC applications (evolving from PDP to MicroVAX to VAX to Alpha) that were highly customized for their manufacturing processes. They wanted to preserve these applications while eliminating the vulnerability of aging hardware.
When Wheeler Manufacturing contacted Pyramid Technology Services to purchase a spare drive, Pyramid identified the problem and offered a better solution. They suggested virtualizing the AlphaServer using Stromasys Charon-AXP. This solution allowed Wheeler to migrate their classic Alpha system to modern hardware while preserving all existing applications and configurations. Charon-AXP eliminates the aging hardware dependency while removing geographic support limitations and offers the reliability of current technology. All this while maintaining the business-critical software without any modifications.
Wheeler Manufacturing successfully transitioned from vulnerable legacy hardware to a virtualized environment. They reduced risk and improved performance. The company eliminated any challenges regarding outdated hardware failures along with support issues. They gained peace of mind knowing their manufacturing operations would continue uninterrupted. By preserving their proven applications on modern infrastructure, Wheeler achieved the best of both worlds, i.e., operational continuity with enhanced reliability.
“We wanted to continue using these applications, but we needed to find a way to reduce risk and eliminate unwanted downtime.”
— Tony Waller, CIO, Wheeler Manufacturing
AlphaServers were well known for their high performance. It used DEC’s 64-bit Alpha microprocessor.
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) promise business growth and market expansion, but their core value derives...
Read More
OpenVMS, or Open Virtual Memory System, is a secure and reliable multi-user OS initially developed...
Read More
OpenVMS or (VMS Virtual Memory System) was formerly known as VAX VMS (Virtual Address eXtension/Virtual...
Read More