Table of Contents

General Description

VAX and PDP11 Hardware Virtualization allows users of HP VAX and PDP11 (Previously known as DIGITAL VAX and PDP11) computers to move application software and user data to a modern Intel or AMD based x86 compatible platform without having to make changes to software and data. VAX and PDP11 Hardware Virtualization is a software solution that replaces VAX and PDP11 hardware. 

This approach is best understood when the VAX and PDP11 Hardware Virtualization Software is viewed as a special interface between the old VAX and PDP11 software and a new hardware platform.  Basically, the CHARON software presents a VAX and PDP11 hardware interface to the original VAX and PDP11 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 or 32-bit Intel or AMD) and continue to run for many more years.

The VAX and PDP11 virtualization software is designed to replace single and multi-CPU VAX and PDP11 computer systems, including:

• PDP11/93
• PDP11/94
• MicroVAX II
• MicroVAX 3600, 3900
• MicroVAX 3100 models 96 and 98
• VAXserver 3600, 3900
• VAX 4000 models 106, 108, 700, and 705
• VAXstation 4000 model 90
• VAX 6310
• VAX 6610, 6620, 6630, 6640, 6650 and 6660

The principles of VAX and PDP11 Hardware Virtualization

Virtualized hardware

CHARON-VAX and CHARON-PDP virtualize various VAX and PDP11 architectures and meet or exceed the performance level of these VAX and PDP11 systems when run on the recommended hardware platform. Our VAX and PDP11 emulator product is currently available in the following variants:

CHARON-PDP includes:

• • PDP11/93
  • PDP11/94

CHARON-VAX includes:

• • MicroVAX II
  • MicroVAX 3600
  • MicroVAX 3900
  • VAXserver 3600 (depending on license supports up to 512 MB of emulated memory)
  • VAXserver 3900 (depending on license supports up to 512 MB of emulated memory)
  • MicroVAX 3100 models 96 and 98
  • VAX 4000 models 106, 108, 700 and 705
  • VAXstation 4000 model 90
  • VAX 6310
  • VAX 6610
  • VAX 6620
  • VAX 6630
  • VAX 6640
  • VAX 6500
  • VAX 6660

The following table explains which hardware boards CHARON virtualizes:

Host platform

The Virtualization Software presents standard VAX and PDP11 devices to the VAX and PDP11 operating system, allowing the OS to function as though it were still running on a VAX and PDP11 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 VAX and PDP11 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.