AlphaServer
AlphaServer 2000 running Red Hat Linux
DeveloperDEC (1994-1998)
Compaq (1998-2002)
HP (2002-2007)
TypeServer
Release date1994 (1994)
Discontinued27 April 2007 (27 April 2007)
CPUDEC Alpha
AlphaServer 1000A
Inside a DEC AlphaServer 1000A
Alphaserver 1000A CPU board
AlphaServer 2100A

AlphaServer is a series of server computers, produced from 1994 onwards by Digital Equipment Corporation, and later by Compaq and HP. AlphaServers were based on the DEC Alpha 64-bit microprocessor. Supported operating systems for AlphaServers are Tru64 UNIX (formerly Digital UNIX), OpenVMS, MEDITECH MAGIC[1] and Windows NT (on earlier systems, with AlphaBIOS ARC firmware), while enthusiasts have provided alternative operating systems such as Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD and FreeBSD.

The Alpha processor was also used in a line of workstations, AlphaStation.

Some AlphaServer models were rebadged in white enclosures as Digital Servers for the Windows NT server market. These so-called "white box" models comprised the following:

  • 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 no longer supported by HP.

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  ?  ?
4/166 166  ?  ?
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  ?  ?
4/233 21064A
(EV45)		 233  ?  ?
300 4/266 Melmac 1 21064A
(EV45)		 266 2 MB 21072 512 MB
(8x 72-pin SIMMs, 2 banks)		 1 PCI
1 PCI/ISA
1 ISA		 Desktop
or Rack		  ?  ?

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  ?  ?  ?
4/275 275 4 MB / CPU  ?  ?  ?
5/250 Gamma-Sable 21164
(EV5)		 250 4 MB / CPU  ?  ?  ?
5/300 291  ?  ?  ?
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		  ?  ?
4/275 275 4 MB / CPU  ?  ?  ?
5/250 Demi-Gamma 21164
(EV5)		 250 4 MB / CPU  ?  ?  ?
5/300 291  ?  ?  ?
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

Model Code name # of
CPUs		 CPU CPU
MHz		 B-cache Chipset Memory Expansion Enclosure Introduced Discontinued
1000 4/200 Mikasa 1 21064 (EV4) 200 2 MB 210712 512 MB 2 PCI,
1 PCI/EISA,
7 EISA		 Pedestal
or Rack		  ?  ?
4/233 Mikasa+ 21064A
(EV45)		 233 210712  ? 1995  ?
4/266 266 210712 1 GB
(20× 72-pin SIMMs, 4 banks)1		  ?  ?
5/300 Mikasa-Pinnacle 21164
(EV5)		 300  ?  ?  ?

^1 Each bank contained five SIMMs. The initial four SIMMs were used for data; the fifth SIMM was used for ECC.
^2 AlphaServer 1000 Service Guide EK-DTLSV-SV. B01, page 5-2

Noritake Family

Model Code name # of
CPUs		 CPU CPU
MHz		 B-cache Chipset Memory Expansion Enclosure Introduced Discontinued
1000A 4/233 Noritake 1 21064A
(EV45)		 233 2 MB 210712 1 GB
(20x 72-pin SIMMs, 4 banks)1		 7 PCI
2 ISA		 Pedestal
or Rack		  ?  ?
4/266 266 210712  ?  ?
5/300 Noritake-Pinnacle 21164 (EV5) 300  ?  ?  ?
5/333 333 211712  ?  ?
5/400 Noritake-Primo 21164A
(EV56)		 400 211712  ?  ?
5/500 500 8 MB  ? 1997-04-14[2]  ?
800 5/333 Corelle 1 21164A
(EV56)		 333 2 MB 211713 2 GB
(8x ECC EDO DIMMs, 2 banks)3		 3 PCI
2 EISA
1 PCI-X/EISA3		 Mini-tower (can be converted to Rack) 1997-04-14[2]  ?
5/400 400 211713  ?
5/500 500 211713 1997-10-27[3]  ?

^1 5 modules per bank, 5th module used for ECC, later 1000A 5/500 systems have 16 slots, 4 modules with ECC per bank
^2 AlphaServer 1000A Technical Summary, page 6
^3 AlphaServer 800 Service Guide EK–ASV80–SG. A01

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
(EV5)		 300 2 MB  ? 4 GB 8-16 PCI
(including 3 shared PCI/EISA)		 Pedestal/Rack 1996-09-04[4]  ?
5/400 21164A
(EV56)		 400 4 MB  ?  ?
5/466 466 4 MB  ?  ?  ?
5/533 533 4 MB  ? 1997-10-27[3]  ?
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/Rack  ?  ?
5/300 300 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[3]  ?
5/533 533  ?  ?

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		 Rack 1995-04-11 ?
5/350 350 ? ?
5/440 EV56 437 4 MB ? ?
5/625 612 ? ?
8400 5/300 TurboLaser Up to 12
(later 14)		 EV5 300 4 MB Custom
ASICs		 28 GB 144 PCI,
8 EISA,
XMI		 Cabinet 1995-04-11 ?
5/350 350 ? ?
5/440 EV56 437 4 MB ? ?
5/625 612 ? ?
GS60 6/525 TL6 2 to 6 EV6 525 4 MB ? 12 GB 132 PCI,
8 EISA		 Rack 1998-10-19[5] ?
6/700 EV67 700 8 MB ? 1999-11-11 ?
GS60E 6/525 TL6 2 to 6
(later 8)		 EV6 525 4 MB  ? 12 GB 132 PCI,
8 EISA		 Rack 1999-07-19  ?
6/700 EV67 700 8 MB  ? 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[5] ?
6/700 EV67 700 8 MB ? 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  ?  ?  ?
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 21272 (Tsunami) [6] 2 GB 3 PCI-X,
1 PCI		 desktop 1999-05-10 ?
67/600 EV67 600 2 MB 21272 (Tsunami) ? ?
DS10L 6/466 Slate 1 EV6 466 2 MB 21272 (Tsunami) [6] 1 GB 1 PCI-X Rack (1U) ? ?
6/600 EV67 600 2 MB 21272 (Tsunami) 2000-04-10[7] ?
DS20 6/500 Goldrush Up to 2 21264 (EV6) 500 4 MB ? 4 GB 5PCI-X,
1 PCI-X/ISA		 pedestal/Rack 1999-01-02[8][9][10] ?
DS20E 6/500 Goldrack Up to 2 EV6 500 4 MB 21272 (Tsunami) [6] 4 GB 5PCI-X,
1 PCI-X/ISA		 pedestal/Rack ? ?
6/667 EV67 667 8 MB 21272 (Tsunami) 2000-04-10[7] ?
68/833 EV68AL 833 8 MB  ? 2001-07-16  ?
DS20L 68/833 Shark 2 EV68AL 833 4 MB 21271(Tsunami) 2 GB 2 PCI-X Rack (1U) 2001-07-16  ?
ES40 6/500 Clipper Up to 4 EV6 500 4 MB 21272(Tsunami/Typhoon)[11] Model 1: 16 GB
Model 2: 32 GB[12]		 Model 1: 6 PCI-X
Model 2: 10 PCI-X		 pedestal/Rack 1999-04-22[8][13][14] ?
6/667 EV67 667 8 MB 21272(Tsunami/Typhoon)[15] 2000-04-10[7] ?
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 HyperBrick 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/5U Rack 2002-08-04[16]  ?
ES45 68/1000 Privateer Up to 4 EV68CB 1000 8 MB  ? 1: Up to 16 GB
2: Up to 32 GB		 1: AGP 4x, 6 PCI-X
2: 10 PCI-X		 Pedestal/8U Rack, tower  ?  ?
68/1250 1250 16 MB  ? 2002-08-04[16]  ?

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
(EV67)		 731 4 MB Custom Up to 64 GB 33 MHz PCI-X:
Up to 16 buses,
56 slots		 Rack 2000-05-16[17]  ?
21264C
(EV68CB)		 1001 4, 8 MB  ?  ?
1224 4, 8, 16 MB 2002-08-04[16]  ?
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) 2000-05-16[17]  ?
21264C
(EV68CB)		 1001 4, 8 MB  ?  ?
1224 4, 8, 16 MB 2002-08-04[16]  ?
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) 2000-05-16[17]  ?
21264C
(EV68CB)		 1001 4, 8 MB  ?  ?
1224 4, 8, 16 MB 2002-08-04[16]  ?

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) 2002-05-02[18]  ?
SC40 67/667 Sierra 64 to 512 21264A
EV67		 667 8 MB  ? 24 GB/node 10 PCI-X Rack(s) 1999-11-17[19]  ?
SC40 68/833 21264B
EV68AL		 833  ?  ?  ?
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 constructed from a set of individual DS20L, ES40 or ES45 servers (called "nodes") mounted in racks. Every node was connected to every other node using a Quadrics elan3 interconnect and the systems were designed and used primarily for high-performance technical computing. An AlphaServer SC45 supercomputer was still ranked #6 in the world as late as November 2004.[20]

Marvel Family

Model Code name # of
CPUs		 CPU CPU MHz Scache Chipset Memory Expansion Enclosure CPU Drawers Introduced Discontinued
ES47[21] ? 1 to 2 21364
(EV7)		 1000
1150		 1.75MB ? Up to 16GB 1 AGP
5 PCI/PCI-X slots		 Tower n/a 2003-01-20[22] 2007-04-27
1 to 4 Up to 32GB Up to 4 AGP
Up to 32 PCI/PCI-X slots		 Rack 1 to 2
2-CPU drawers
ES80[21]  ? 4 to 8 21364
(EV7)		 1000
1150		 1.75MB  ? Up to 64GB Up to 8 AGP
Up to 64 PCI/PCI-X slots		 Rack 1 to 4
2-CPU drawers		 2003-01-20[22] 2007-04-27
GS1280[21] ? 8 to 64 21364
(EV7)		 1150 1.75MB ? Up to 512GB Up to 64 AGP
Up to 704 PCI/PCI-X slots		 Rack(s) 1 to 8
8-CPU drawers		 2003-01-20[22] 2007-04-27
21364
EV7z		 1300  ? 2004-08-16 2007-04-27

The AlphaServer GS1280 originally supported a maximum of 16 microprocessors. In October 2003, the number of microprocessors supported was increased to 64 and the supported memory capacity was doubled to 8 GB per microprocessor.

References

  1. ↑ MEDITECH MAGIC on the Compaq Alpha platform
  2. 1 2 Davis, Jim (1997-04-14). "Digital makes servers available". CNET News.
  3. 1 2 3 Davis, Jim (1997-10-27). "Digital has new Alpha, Intel servers". CNET News.
  4. ↑ Davis, Jim (1996-09-04). "DEC: more power, less money". CNET News.
  5. 1 2 Shankland, Stephen (1998-10-19). "Compaq rolls out Alpha server". CNET News.
  6. 1 2 3 Exploring Alpha Power for Technical Computing Compaq Technology Brief
  7. 1 2 3 Announcing enhanced high availability AlphaServer systems and new NonStop™ eBusiness solutions
  8. 1 2 "Compaq News (Apr 1999)". Archived from the original on 1999-04-22. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  9. ↑ New Compaq AlphaServer DS20 Boasts 64-Bit Alpha Power, Entry-Level Price
  10. ↑ Compaq AlphaServer DS20 System
  11. ↑ AlphaServer ES40Service Guide (Order Number:EK–ES240–SV. A01), Appendix D - 21264 (EV6) internal processor registers, 21272 (Tsunami/Typhoon) system support chipset registers, dual-port RAM registers
  12. ↑ AlphaServer ES40 Technical Summary
  13. ↑ Announcing the Compaq AlphaServer ES40 system
  14. ↑ Compaq AlphaServer ES40 product information
  15. ↑ AlphaServer ES40 Service Guide (Order Number:EK–ES240–SV. B01), Appendix D - 21264 (EV6/EV67) internal processor registers, 21272 (Tsunami/Typhoon) system support chipset registers, dual-port RAM registers
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 ComputerWire (2002-08-04). "HP refreshes midrange PA, Alpha servers". The Register.
  17. 1 2 3 New AlphaServer GS Systems Set Standard for RISC Servers Press Release
  18. ↑ Announcing the HP AlphaServer DS20L compute engine and the HP AlphaServer SC20 supercomputer
  19. ↑ Compaq (1999-11-17). Compaq Flexes Alpha Muscle with Launch of New "Supercomputer" – the AlphaServer SC Series. Press Release
  20. ↑ "November 2004 | TOP500 Supercomputer Sites". Top500.org. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
  21. 1 2 3 Hewlett-Packard (2004-06-01). HP AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 User Information Version 3.0. HP AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 User Information Version 3.0
  22. 1 2 3 HP Press Release (2003-01-20). "HP Introduces Most Powerful Generation of AlphaServer Systems". HP Press Release.
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