AlphaServer

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

AlphaServer

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 pioneering United States company in the computer industry. It is often referred to within the computing industry as DEC ....
, and latterly by Compaq

Compaq

Compaq Computer Corporation was an United States personal computer company founded in 1982, and is now a brand name of Hewlett-Packard Company....
and HP

Hewlett-Packard

The Hewlett-Packard Company , commonly referred to as HP, is a technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States....
. As the name suggests, the AlphaServers were based on the DEC Alpha

DEC Alpha

Alpha, originally known as Alpha AXP, was 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....
64-bit

64-bit

64-bit CPUs have existed in supercomputers since the 1960s and in RISC-based computer workstation and Server s since the early 1990s. In 2003 they were introduced to the mainstream personal computer arena, in the form of the x86-64 and 64-bit PowerPC processor architectures....
microprocessor

Microprocessor

A microprocessor incorporates most or all of the functions of a central processing unit on a single integrated circuit . The first microprocessors emerged in the early 1970s and were used for electronic calculators, using Binary-coded decimal arithmetic on 4-bit Word ....
. Supported operating systems for AlphaServers are Tru64 UNIX

Tru64 UNIX

Tru64 UNIX is a 64-bit UNIX operating system for the DEC 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 ....
(formerly Digital UNIX), OpenVMS

OpenVMS

OpenVMS , previously known as VAX-11/VMS, VAX/VMS or VMS, is the name of a high-end computer server operating system that runs on the VAX and DEC Alpha families of computers, developed by Digital Equipment Corporation of Maynard, Massachusetts, Massachusetts , and most recently on Hewlett-Packard systems built around the In...
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 originally designed to be a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix....
(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 Technologies RISC-based computer Computer hardware and firmware environment....
firmware), while enthusiasts have provided alternative operating systems such as Linux

Linux

Linux is a generic term referring to Unix-like computer operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Their development is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software collaboration; typically all the underlying source code can be used, freely modified, and redistributed by anyone under the terms of the GNU GPL license...
, NetBSD

NetBSD

NetBSD is a freely redistributable, open source version of the Unix-derivative Berkeley Software Distribution computer operating system. It was the second open source BSD descendant to be formally released, after 386BSD, and continues to be actively developed....
, 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....
and FreeBSD

FreeBSD

FreeBSD is a Unix-like free software operating system descended from AT&T Unix via the Berkeley Software Distribution branch through the 386BSD and Berkeley Software Distribution#4.4BSD and descendants operating systems....
.

Some AlphaServer models were rebadged in white enclosures as Digital Servers for the Windows NT server market.

Discussion

Ask a question about 'AlphaServer'

Start a new discussion about 'AlphaServer'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

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 pioneering United States company in the computer industry. It is often referred to within the computing industry as DEC ....
, and latterly by Compaq

Compaq

Compaq Computer Corporation was an United States personal computer company founded in 1982, and is now a brand name of Hewlett-Packard Company....
and HP

Hewlett-Packard

DEC Alpha

64-bit

Microprocessor

Tru64 UNIX

OpenVMS

Windows NT

Advanced RISC Computing

Linux

NetBSD

OpenBSD

OpenBSD is a Unix-like computer operating system descended from Berkeley Software Distribution , a Unix derivative developed at the University of California, Berkeley....
and FreeBSD

FreeBSD

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.

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			21064 (EV4)	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	?	?
400	4/233	Mustang S	1	21064A (EV45)	233	512 KB	21071	8 to 384 MB (6x 72-pin SIMMs, 3 banks)	2 PCI 1 PCI/ISA 3 ISA	Mini-tower	?	?
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	Sable45		21064A (EV45)	275	4 MB / CPU	?				?	?
	5/250	Gamma-Sable		21164 (EV5)	250	4 MB / CPU	?				?	?
	5/300			21164 (EV5)	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	Demi-Sable45		21064A (EV45)	275	4 MB / CPU	?				?	?
	5/250	Demi-Gamma		21164 (EV5)	250	4 MB / CPU	?				?	?
	5/300			21164 (EV5)	291	4 MB / CPU	?				?	?
	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

Each bank contained of five SIMMs. The initial four SIMMs were used for data, the fifth SIMM was used for ECC.

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, introduced as the DECchip 21064 and known also by its code name, EV4, is a microprocessor developed and Semiconductor device fabrication by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture .... (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, introduced as the DECchip 21064 and known also by its code name, EV4, is a microprocessor developed and Semiconductor device fabrication by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture .... (EV45)	233		?	?			1995	?
	4/266	Mikasa+			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 DEC Alpha instruction set architecture .... (EV5)	300		?	1 GB (20x 72-pin SIMMs, 4 banks)			?	?

Noritake Family

5 modules per bank, 5th module used for ECC, later 1000A 5/500 systems have 16 slots, 4 modules with ECC per bank

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, introduced as the DECchip 21064 and known also by its code name, EV4, is a microprocessor developed and Semiconductor device fabrication by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture .... (EV45)	233	2 MB	?	1 GB (20x 72-pin SIMMs, 4 banks)	7 PCI 2 ISA	Pedestal or rackmount	?	?
	4/266	Noritake			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 DEC Alpha instruction set architecture .... (EV5)	300		?				?	?
	5/333	Noritake-Pinnacle			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 DEC Alpha instruction set architecture .... (EV56)	400		?				?	?
	5/500	Noritake-Primo			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	1997-04-14	?
	5/400				400		?				1997-04-14	?
	5/500				500		?				1997-10-27	?

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 DEC Alpha instruction set architecture .... (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	?				1996-09-04	?
	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			21164 (EV5)	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	?
1200	5/533	Tincup	Up to two	21164A (EV56)	533	4 MB / proc.	?	4 GB	4 PCI-X, 1 PCI, 1PCI-X/EISA	Pedestal	1997-10-27	?

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			EV5	350	4 MB					?	?
	5/440			EV56	437	4 MB					?	?
	5/625			EV56	612	4 MB					?	?
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			EV5	350	4 MB					?	?
	5/440			EV56	437	4 MB					?	?
	5/625			EV56	612	4 MB					?	?
GS60	6/525	TL6	2 to 8	EV6	525	4 MB	?	12 GB	132 PCI, 8 EISA	19" rack	1998-10-19	?
GS60	6/700	TL6	2 to 8	EV67	700	8 MB	?	12 GB	132 PCI, 8 EISA	19" rack	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	?
GS60E	6/700	TL6	2 to 6 (later 8)	EV67	700	8 MB	?	12 GB	132 PCI, 8 EISA	19" rack	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	?
GS140	6/700	TL6	2 to 14	EV67	700	8 MB	?	28 GB	144 PCI, 8 EISA, 24 XMI	Cabinet	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	4 MB	?				?	?
	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	?
DS10	67/600	WebBrick	1	EV67	600	2 MB	?	2 GB	3 PCI-X, 1 PCI	desktop	?	?
DS10L	6/466	Slate	1	EV6	466	2 MB	?	1 GB	1 PCI-X	rackmount (1U)	?	?
DS10L	6/600	Slate	1	EV67	600	2 MB	?	1 GB	1 PCI-X	rackmount (1U)	?	?
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	?	?
	67/667			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	?	?
	67/667			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	16 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	?	?
ES45	68/1250	Privateer	Up to 4	EV68CB	1250	16 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	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 is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture .... (EV67)	731	4 MB	Custom	Up to 64 GB	33 MHz PCI-X PCI-X PCI-X is a computer bus and expansion card standard that enhanced the PCI Local Bus for higher bandwidth demanded by Server . 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 uses the same protocol.... : Up to 16 buses, 56 slots	Rack	?	?
			21264C Alpha 21264 The Alpha 21264 is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture .... (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					?	?
			21264C (EV68CB)	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					?	?
			21264C (EV68CB)	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	Sierra	16 to 512	21264B EV68AL	833	8 MB	?	24 GB/node	10 PCI-X	Rack(s)	?	?
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 that is at the frontline of current processing capacity, particularly speed of calculation. Supercomputers introduced in the 1960s were designed primarily by Seymour Cray at Control Data Corporation , and led the market into the 1970s until Cray left to form his own company, Cray Research....
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 is a supercomputer company formed in 1996 as a joint venture between Alenia Spazio and the technical team from Meiko Scientific. They produce hardware and software for Computer cluster commodity computer systems into massively parallel systems....
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 is a computer bus and expansion card standard that enhanced the PCI Local Bus for higher bandwidth demanded by Server . 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 uses the same protocol.... 4 66 MHz PCI-X	Tower	2003-01-20	2007-04-27
ES47 Tower	?	2	21364 (EV7)	1150	1.75 MB	On-die	Up to 16 GB		Tower	2004-08-16	2007-04-27
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
ES47	Marvel 2P	2 to 4	21364 (EV7)	1150	1.75 MB	On-die	Up to 32 GB	Up to 4 4× AGP 32 PCI-X	4U or 8U rackmount	2004-08-16	2007-04-27
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
ES80	Marvel 4x2P	2 to 8	21364 (EV7)	1150	1.75 MB	On-die	Up to 64 GB	Up to 8 4× AGP 64 PCI-X	Rack	2004-08-16	2007-04-27
GS1280	Marvel 8P	2 to 64	21364 (EV7)	1000	1.75 MB	On-die	Up to 512 GB	Up to 64 4× AGP 512 PCI-X 192 PCI	Rack(s)	2003-01-20	?
			21364 (EV7)	1150						2004-08-16	2007-04-27
			21364 (EV7z)	1300						2004-08-16	2007-04-27

The AlphaServer GS1280 originally supported a maximum of 16 microprocessors, later increased to 64 in October 2003. Memory capacity was also doubled in October 2003, with 8 GB supported per microprocessor.

External links

DIGITAL Product Catalogue Winter 1997, Digital Equipment International, 1997.