Introduction

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General Description

HP Alpha Hardware Virtualization allows users of HP Alpha (Previously known as DIGITAL Alpha) computers to move application software and user data to a modern Intel or AMD based x64 compatible platform without having to make changes to software and data. HP Alpha Hardware Virtualization is a software solution that replaces HP Alpha hardware. 

This approach is best understood when the HP Alpha Hardware Virtualization Software is viewed as a special interface between the old HP Alpha software and a new hardware platform.  Basically, the CHARON software presents a HP Alpha hardware interface to the original HP Alpha software, so that the existing software cannot detect a difference. This means no changes have to be made to the existing software. User programs and data can be copied to a new modern industry standard server (64-bit Intel or AMD) and continue to run for many more years.

The HP Alpha virtualization software is designed to replace single and multi-CPU HP Alpha computer systems, including:

• AlphaServer 400
• AlphaServer 800
• AlphaServer 1000
• AlphaServer 1000A
• AlphaServer 1200
• AlphaServer 2000
• AlphaServer 2100
• AlphaServer 4000
• AlphaServer 4100
• AlphaServer DS10
• AlphaServer DS15
• AlphaServer DS20
• AlphaServer DS25
• AlphaServer ES40
• AlphaServer ES45
• AlphaServer GS80
• AlphaServer GS160
• AlphaServer GS320

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The principles of HP Alpha Hardware Virtualization

Virtualized hardware 

CHARON-VAX and CHARON-PDP virtualize various HP Alpha architectures and meet or exceed the performance level of these HP Alpha systems when run on the recommended hardware platform. Our HP Alpha emulator product is currently available in the following variants:

CHARON-PDP includes:

• • PDP11/93
  • PDP11/94

CHARON-VAX/XM and CHARON-VAX/XM PLUS include:

• • MicroVAX II
  • MicroVAX 3600
  • MicroVAX 3900
  • VAXserver 3600 (includes both the standard version supporting 64 MB of RAM and a custom version supporting up to 128Mb of RAM)
  • VAXserver 3900 (both standard and special versions supporting up to 128Mb of RAM)
  • MicroVAX 3100 model 96
  • VAX 4000 model 106
  • VAXstation 4000 model 90

CHARON-VAX/XK PLUS, CHARON-VAX/XL, and CHARON-VAX/XL PLUS include:

• • MicroVAX 3100 model 98
  • VAX 4000 model 108
  • VAX 4000 model 700
  • VAX 4000 model 705
  • VAX 6310
  • VAXserver 3600 (custom version with maximum emulated memory size of 512 MB (XL and XL PLUS) and 256 MB (XK PLUS))
  • VAXserver 3900 (custom version with maximum emulated memory size of 512 MB (XL and XL PLUS) and 256 MB (XK PLUS))

CHARON-VAX/6610 includes:

• • VAX 6610

CHARON-VAX/6620 includes:

• • VAX 6620

CHARON-VAX/6630 includes:

• • VAX 6630

CHARON-VAX/6640 includes:

• • VAX 6640

CHARON-VAX/6650 includes:

• • VAX 6500

CHARON-VAX/6660 includes:

• • VAX 6660

The main difference between CHARON-VAX/XK PLUS and CHARON-VAX/XL (PLUS) products is in the amount of the maximum emulated memory: 512 MB for CHARON-VAX/XL (PLUS) and 256 MB for CHARON-VAX/XK PLUS.

"PLUS" in the name of the products refers to an ability to use the "Advanced CPU Emulation" (ACE) feature that significantly improves emulated VAX pereformance (approximately in 2.5 times).

The following table explains which hardware boards CHARON virtualizes:

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Host platform

The Virtualization Software presents standard HP Alpha devices to the HP Alpha operating system, allowing the OS to function as though it were still running on a HP Alpha computer. For example, virtual disk container files in a directory or physical devices of the host Windows platform are presented by the Virtualization Software to the HP Alpha OS as emulated SCSI disks attached to a SCSI adapter.

With the use of current storage technology, disks do not have to be physically attached to the Host platform, they can also reside on a SAN or iSCSI storage structure.

A similar translation process is also valid for other emulated hardware devices.

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