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The CHARON-AXP family of products are Alpha computer replacement systems, running as a software package that creates a hardware abstraction layer (HAL) on industry standard servers. The HAL provides to Alpha software an exact copy of an Alpha hardware system. This permits to run unmodified OpenVMS/Alpha, its layered software and the user applications. The compatibility is so exact that we run the Alpha CPU verification software and some of the original Alpha hardware diagnostics during the design.
You can install OpenVMS/Alpha directly from its original distribution kit on the virtual Alpha created by CHARON-AXP. The applications can subsequently be transferred as on hardware Alphas. You can transfer your LMF license keys in the same way. As the original Alpha operating system is running, all original software functionality is maintained.
- Benefits–
- Proven and robust CHARON architecture and technology for an accurate and stable virtualization of the hardware
- Rapid implementation on industry standard hardware with increased performance
- Replaces old hardware and reduces cost of ownership
- Preserves the current application investments
- No change required in current and proven business processes or operational skills
- Extend on new platforms, create room for future growth
- Product variations available to match different application needs
- Adaptable product design, flexible support and licensing conditions to satisfy the defense industry, OEM or high-volume end-user needs
These CHARON-AXP products address various systems in the early Alpha computers range, that were typically used in industrial or process control environments, where hardware upgrades were not desirable. CHARON-AXP now creates the possibility to maintain those legacy applications even when the Alpha hardware is no longer available. CHARON-AXP allows users to avoid legacy hardware support issues and costs.
- Product Overview–
- CHARON-AXP/4000 for Windows provides the functional equivalent of an AlphaServer 4000/466 computer system hardware when executed on a 3 GHz dual CPU AMD Opteron or equivalent Windows XP or 2003 X64 server. It is designed to allow the substitution of the AlphaServer 800, AlphaServer 1000, AlphaServer 1200, AlphaServer 2000, AlphaServer 2100 or AlphaServer 4000 systems with industry-standard servers.
- CHARON-AXP/3000 for Windows provides the functional equivalent of an DEC3000 model 600 computer system hardware when executed on a 2 GHz dual CPU AMD Opteron or equivalent Windows XP or 2003 X64 server. It is designed to allow the substitution of the DEC3000/300, DEC3000/400, DEC3000/500, DEC3000/600, DEC3000/700 or DEC3000/800 systems with industry-standard servers.
- CHARON-AXP/1000 for Windows provides the functional equivalent of an AlphaServer 1000/266 computer system hardware when executed when executed on a 2.4 GHz dual CPU AMD Opteron or equivalent Windows XP or 2003 X64 server. It is designed to allow the substitution of the AlphaServer 400 4/266 or AlphaServer 1000 4/266 or AlphaServer 2000 4/275 systems with industry-standard servers.
- PersonalAlpha for Windows is to allow users to develop OpenVMS/Apha applications on their notebooks or demonstrate the feasibility of the Alpha emulation. It is not suitable for production use. Please note that, once installed on a computer, this software cannot be installed on another system using the same license.
The Software Product Descriptions (SPDs) of the products provide detailed information about the features of individual products.
The following table gives an overview of these early Alpha systems that can be replaced by CHARON-AXP, and the relative performance to expect.
| Alpha hardware model
(single CPU) |
SPECfp92
(SPECfp95) |
TPS |
CHARON-AXP product |
Runs on |
Alphaserver DS10
6/466
AlphaServer 800/500
AlphaServer 4100/466
AlphaServer 4000/400 |
(16.10)
(19.2)
(17.2) |
2,267
1000
1060
980 |
CHARON-AXP/4000 |
Windows 64bit |
AlphaServer 2100/300
AlphaServer 2000/275
AlphaServer 1000/266 |
477
293
264 |
640
415
473 |
CHARON-AXP/ 1000 |
Windows 64bit |
DEC3000/800
DEC3000/600
DEC3000/400 |
|
270
240
160 |
CHARON-AXP/3000 |
Windows 64bit |
AlphaStation 200
AlphaStation 250 |
135 - 194
263 (6.27) |
|
CHARON-AXPstation |
Windows 64bit |
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