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MicroVAX
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The MicroVAX is a family of low-end minicomputers developed and manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). The first model, the MicroVAX I, was introduced in 1984. The MicroVAX family used processors that implemented the VAX instruction set architecture (ISA) and was succeeded by the VAX 4000.
MicroVAX I
The MicroVAX I, code named "Seahorse", introduced in October 1984, was one of DEC's first VAX computers to use very-large-scale integration (VLSI) technology.
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Encyclopedia
The MicroVAX is a family of low-end minicomputers developed and manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). The first model, the MicroVAX I, was introduced in 1984. The MicroVAX family used processors that implemented the VAX instruction set architecture (ISA) and was succeeded by the VAX 4000.
MicroVAX I
The MicroVAX I, code named "Seahorse", introduced in October 1984, was one of DEC's first VAX computers to use very-large-scale integration (VLSI) technology. The KA610 CPU module (also known as the KD32) containing two custom chips which implemented the ALU and FPU while TTLs were used for everything else. Two variants of the floating point chips were supported, with the chips differing by the type of floating point instructions supported, F and G or F and D.
MicroVAX II
The MicroVAX II, code named "Mayflower", was a mid-range MicroVAX introduced in May 1985. It ran the MicroVMS (a variant of VMS) and ULTRIX operating systems.
It uses the KA630-AA CPU module, a quad-height Q22-Bus module, which featured a MicroVAX 78032 microprocessor and a MicroVAX 78132 floating-point coprocessor operating at 5 MHz (200 ns cycle time). Two gate arrays on the module implemented the external interface for the microprocessor, Q22-bus interface and the scatter-gather map for DMA transfers over the Q22-Bus. The module also contained 1 MB of memory, an interval timer, two ROMs for the boot and diagnostic facility, a DZ console serial line unit and a time-of-year clock. A 50-pin connector for a ribbon cable near the top left corner of the module provided the means by which more memory was added to the system.
The MicroVAX II supported 1 to 9 MB of memory through none, one or two memory expansion modules. The MS630 memory expansion module was used for expanding memory capacity. Three variants of the MS630 existed: the 1 MB MS630-AA, 2 MB MS630-BA and the 4 MB MS630-BB. The MS630-AA is a dual-height module, whereas the MS630-BA and MS630-BB are quad-height modules. These modules used 256 Kb DRAMs and are protected by byte-parity, with the parity logic located on the module. The modules connect to the CPU module via the backplane through the C and D rows and a 50-conductor ribbon cable. The backplane served as the address bus and the ribbon cable as the data bus.
The MicroVAX II came in three models of enclosures:
- BA23
- BA123
- 630QE - A deskside enclosure.
KA620
KA620 refers to a single-board MicroVAX II designed for automatic test equipment and manufacturing applications which only runs DEC's real-time VAXELN operating system. A KA620 with 1 MB of memory bundled with the VAXELN Run-Time Package 2.3 costs US$5,000.
Mira
Mira refers to a fault-tolerant configuration of the MicroVAX II developed by DEC's European Centre for Special Systems located in Annecy in France. The system consisted of two MicroVAX II microprocessors, an active and standby microprocessor in a single box, connected by Ethernet and controlled by a software switch. When a fault is detected in the active microprocessor, the workload is switched over to the standby microprocessor.
Industrial VAX 630
A MicroVAX II in BA213 enclosure.
MicroVAX III
BA23- or BA123-enclosure MicroVAX upgraded with KA650 CPU module containing a CVAX chip set.
MicroVAX III+
BA23- or BA123-enclosure MicroVAX upgraded with KA655 CPU module
VAX 4
BA23- or BA123-enclosure MicroVAX upgraded with KA660 CPU module
MicroVAX 2000
The MicroVAX 2000, code named "TeamMate", is a low-cost MicroVAX introduced on 10 February 1987. In January 1987 MicroVAX 2000 was the first VAX system targeted at both universities and VAX programmers who wanted to work from remote locations.
The MicroVAX 2000 uses the same microprocessor and floating-point coprocessor as the MicroVAX II, but is featured reduced in order to lower cost. Limitations are a reduced maximum memory capacity, 6 MB versus 16 MB in MicroVAX II systems and the lack of Q-Bus or any expansion bus. The system may have two Winchester drives and has a built in 5.25-inch floppy drive for software distribution and backup. Supported operating systems were VMS and ULTRIX. It was packaged in a desktop form factor.
MicroVAX 3100 Series
The MicroVAX 3100 Series was introduced in 1987. These systems were all packaged in a desktop enclosure.
MicroVAX 3100 Model 10
- Teammate II
- KA41-A, CVAX, 11.11 MHz (90 ns)
MicroVAX 3100 Model 10e
- Teammate II
- KA41-D, CVAX+, 16.67 MHz (60 ns)
- 32 MB of memory maximum
MicroVAX 3100 Model 20
- Teammate II
- KA41-A, CVAX, 11.11 MHz (90 ns)
- A Model 10 in larger enclosure
MicroVAX 3100 Model 20e
- Teammate II
- KA41-D, CVAX+, 16.67 MHz (60 ns)
- A Model 20 in larger enclosure
MicroVAX 3100 Model 30
- Waverley/S
- Entry-level model, developed in Ayr, Scotland
- Introduced: 12 October 1993
- KA45, SOC, 25 MHz (40 ns)
- 32 MB of memory maximum
MicroVAX 3100 Model 40
- Waverley/S
- Entry-level model, developed in Ayr, Scotland
- Introduced: 12 October 1993
- KA45, SOC, 25 MHz (40 ns)
- 8 to 32 MB of memory
- A Model 30 in larger enclosure
MicroVAX 3100 Model 80
- Waverley/M
- Entry-level model, developed in Ayr, Scotland
- Introduced: 12 October 1993
- KA47, Mariah, 50 MHz (20 ns), 256 KB external cache
- 72 MB of memory maximum
MicroVAX 3100 Model 85
- Waverley/M+
- Introduced: August 1994
- KA55, NVAX, 62.5 MHz (16 ns), 128 KB external cache
- 16 to 128 MB of memory
MicroVAX 3100 Model 88
- Waverley/M+
- Introduced: 8 October 1996
- Last order date: 30 September 2000
- Last ship date: 31 December 2000
- KA58, NVAX, 62.5 MHz (16 ns), 128 KB external cache
- 64 to 512 MB of memory
MicroVAX 3100 Model 90
- Cheetah
- Introduced: 12 October 1993
- Identical to the VAX 4000 Model 100, but uses SCSI instead of DSSI
- KA50, NVAX, 72 MHz (14 ns), 128 KB external cache
- 128 MB of memory maximum
MicroVAX 3100 Model 95
- Cheetah+
- Introduced: 12 April 1994
- Processor: KA51, NVAX, 83.34 MHz (12 ns), 512 KB external cache
MicroVAX 3100 Model 96
- Cheetah++
- KA56, NVAX, 100 MHz (10 ns)
- 16 to 128 MB of memory
MicroVAX 3100 Model 98
- Cheetah++
- Introduced: 8 October 1996
- Last order date: 30 September 2000
- Last ship date: 31 December 2000
- KA59, NVAX, 100 MHz (10 ns), 512 KB external cache
InfoServer 100/150/1000: General purpose storage server (disk, CD-ROM, tape and MOP boot server) related to MicroVAX 3100 Model 10, running custom firmware, KA41-C CPU.
Mayfair
MicroVAX 3500 and MicroVAX 3600
The MicroVAX 3500 and MicroVAX 3600, code named "Mayfair", were introduced in September 1987 and were meant to be the higher end complement of the MicroVAX family. These new machines featured more than three times the performance of the MicroVAX II and supported 32 MB of ECC main memory (twice that of the MicroVAX II). The performance improvements over the MicroVAX II resulted from the increased operating speed of the CVAX chip set, which operated at 11.11 MHz (90 ns cycle time) along with a two-level, write-through caching architecture. It used the KA650 CPU module.
MicroVAX 3300 and MicroVAX 3400
The MicroVAX 3300 and MicroVAX 3400, code named Mayfair II, are entry-level to mid-range server computers introduced on 19 October 1988 intended to compete with the IBM AS/400. It uses the KA640 CPU module.
MicroVAX 3800 and MicroVAX 3900
The MicroVAX 3800 and MicroVAX 3900, code-named "Mayfair III", were introduced in April 1989. They were high-end models in the MicroVAX family, replacing the MicroVAX 3500 and MicroVAX 3600, and were intended to compete with the IBM AS/400. At introduction, the starting price of the MicroVAX 3800 was US$81,000 and that of the MicroVAX 3900 was US$120,200. A variant of the MicroVAX 3800, the rtVAX 3800, was intended for real-time computing (RTC) applications such as computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). These systems used the KA655 CPU module, which contained a 16.67 MHz (60 ns cycle time) CVAX chip set. They supported up to 64 MB of memory.
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