Virtual Alpha, Alpha Migration, and Alpha Replacement

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Virtual Alpha: Alpha Emulation, Alpha Migration and Alpha Replacement

An Alpha can be virtualized (emulated) on a modern computer, which allows the existing operating system (such as OpenVMS and Tru64 UNIX), its software, and all applications to be run without change. No reprogramming is required. Most customers report that the emulated system is faster than the original!

Alpha emulation offers the following advantages:

Host systems include Microsoft Windows. Other platforms, such as VMware and Linux, are in development.
Installation, configuration, and migration can be contracted on a turn-key basis from Quayle Consulting Inc..
Performance typically exceeds that of the AlphaServer being replaced.
Annual support contracts and periodic product updates are available.
DEC/Compaq/HP software licenses can be transferred to the emulated system -- your license investment is protected.
HP OpenVMS software support is available when running on HP hardware.
Oracle RDB licenses can be transferred to the emulated system. In most cases, licenses and service agreements can be transferred for free. Oracle does all its VAX development with CHARON-VAX, the sister product to CHARON-Alpha! (PowerPoint)
User training is available.
Many licenses from companies that are no longer in existence can be migrated with QCI's System Identification Change product.

Software successfully used with CHARON-AXP include: Oracle RDB, CONNX, Ross System's UserBase, MultiNet, TCPware, all DEC compilers (C, Fortran, Macro, etc.).

Want to try CHARON-Alpha right now? You can:

Download PersonalAlpha from the Stromasys web site. Emulates a DEC3000-400. Not for commercial use!
Download the Linux ES40 from the Stromasys web site. Not for commercial use!

For more information, please email or call 1-888-VAX-VMS-8 (1-888-829-8678) toll-free in US and Canada. For fastest service, please include information about your system in one of these forms.

OpenVMS Systems:

Inventory checklist, Rich Text format (can be opened in Microsoft Word and OpenOffice)
Inventory checklist, Adobe PDF format (fax to 1-614-868-1671)

Tru64 UNIX and OSF/1 UNIX Systems:

Run the "sys_check" tool, available from the HP web site. Version 145 is available here as a tar file.

Evaluation and migration support is available from Quayle Consulting. Even if you don't migrate, QCI offers VMS System Administration services.

US Government? Click here!

Need to replace a VAX? See the CHARON-VAX page! There's also a CHARON-TB product to replace PDP-11 systems.

Who the heck is CHARON? And why "AXP" instead of "Alpha"?

The Products

The CHARON-AXP family
The CHARON-AXPstation family.

CHARON licenses are available in both Permanent and Annually-Renewable forms.

References

The Stromasys website

For news about OpenVMS, click here

CHARON-AXP User Training

Training is available for customers who wish to perform their own migration, or who have to support CHARON-AXP systems on an ongoing basis. Current training opportunities include:

At your location. The course consists of one day of mixed lecture and lab, followed by a one day lab. During the lab session, the instructor will assist with migration of the students' systems, if desired. Minimum of 4 students. Customer to provide appropriate computers for each student and pay instructor's travel expenses.
Training opportunities arise at the Stromasys headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Email to request availability and pricing.

The CHARON-AXP Family

Requires a multi-core host with an available USB port. One core is required for network and disk emulation, plus one core for each emulated Alpha processor. Current supported host operating systems: Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition and Windows Vista 64-bit. Prior product versions supported Windows Server 2003 x64 Standard Edition and Windows XP 64-bit.

All product versions requires host memory of at least 2 GB plus the amount of Alpha memory to be emulated. Intel processors, such as the Core i7 or 5450 series, yield the best performance.

Comparable Hardware Model(s)	CHARON Product	Max Number of CPU's	Special Requirements / Notes
AlphaServer GS160	CHARON-AXP GS160	16 max
AlphaServer GS80	CHARON-AXP GS80	8 max
AlphaServer ES40	CHARON-AXP ES40	4 max
AlphaServer DS20	CHARON-AXP DS20	2 max
AlphaServer DS10 AlphaStation DS10	CHARON-AXP DS10	one	Emulates a maximum of 4 GB of Alpha RAM, Alpha EV6 (21264) processor. Minimum VMS version: V6.2-1H3 Minimum Tru64 UNIX version: 4.0
AlphaServer 4100 AlphaServer 4000 AlphaServer 800 AlphaStation XP 900 AlphaStation XP1000	CHARON-AXP/SMA Plus	one	Emulates an Alpha EV5 (21164) processor. Minimum VMS version: V6.2-1H3 Minimum Tru64 UNIX version: 4.0
AlphaServer 2100 AlphaStation 1200 AlphaStation 500 AlphaStation 600 AlphaServer 800 PersonalWorkStation	CHARON-AXP/SMA	one	Emulates an Alpha EV5 (21164) processor. Minimum VMS version: V6.2-1H3 Minimum Tru64 UNIX version: 4.0
AlphaServer 2000 AlphaServer 1000 AlphaServer 400 AlphaServer 300 AlphaStation 255 AlphaStation 250 AlphaStation 200	CHARON-AXPstation		Emulates an Alpha EV4 (21064) processor. Minimum VMS version: V6.2-1H3 Minimum Tru64 UNIX version: 3.1
DEC3000/300 DEC3000/400 DEC3000/500 DEC3000/600 DEC3000/700 DEC3000/800	CHARON-AXP 3000		Emulates an Alpha EV54 (21064/133) processor with a maximum of 1 GB of Alpha RAM. Minimum VMS version: 6.1 Minimum Tru64 UNIX version: not tested

Email to request more details and pricing. Please attach an Inventory checklist so that we may advise you on the best product choice.

CHARON-AXPstation

CHARON-AXPstation replaces an AlphaStation system and allows the existing AlphaStation licenses to be used.

Requires a dual-core (minimum) host with an available USB port. One core is required for network and disk emulation, plus one core for each emulated Alpha processor. Current supported host operating systems: Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition and Windows Vista 64-bit. Prior product versions supported Windows Server 2003 x64 Standard Edition and Windows XP 64-bit.

Requires host memory of at least 2 GB plus the amount of Alpha memory to be emulated. Intel processors, such as the Core i7 or 5450 series, yield the best performance.

The Software Product Description:

Hardware Model	CHARON Product	Emulates
AlphaStation 200 AlphaStation 250	CHARON-AXPstation	AlphaStation 200, with 4 GB of RAM. Emulates an Alpha EV4 (21064/200) processor. Note: GUI configuration tool has a limit of 4 disk drives. Direct edit of the configuration allows more disks to be attached. Minimum VMS version: V6.2-1H3 Minimum Tru64 UNIX version: not tested

Email to request more details and pricing. Please attach an Inventory checklist so that we may advise you on the best product choice.

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Services

Quayle Consulting Inc. provides a complete menu of services, including:

VAX migration and replacement using virtualization technology
Alpha migration and replacement using virtualization technology
Software design, development and maintenance,including porting to Alpha and Itanium OpenVMS
PDP-11 migation and replacement using virtualization technology
System Administration for platforms including VMS and Linux
Data Conversion to open formats
Software Development
Network design and support

Other items of interest:

The company blog
Details on hooking up equipment, including MMJ connectors
Sales and technical support for the DOS Buttons product, which has flown on the Space Shuttle
News and whitepapers about Quayle Consulting and VMS

The Quayle Consulting Inc. website

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Trademarks

OpenVMS is a trademark of Hewlett-Packard.
CHARON-VAX and CHARON-AXP are trademarks of Stromasys. Quayle Consulting Inc. is an authorized reseller of CHARON products.
NuVAX is a trademark of The Logical Company.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation, USA.