Alpha Replacement

If you have a legacy Alpha system running OpenVMS or Tru64 and you need to replace the underlying hardware with a virtual solution, you've come to the right place. Replacing an Alpha system with one of our emulators is like upgrading hardware in place. You benefit from modern hardware while retaining important software intact and unmodified. Migration Specialties provides virtual Alpha hardware solutions to replace legacy Digital, Compaq, and HP Alpha systems running OpenVMS and Tru64. We have developed a virtual Alpha solution with a target release date in Q1, 2010. Visit our Virtual VAX & Alpha and FreeAXP pages to learn more.

Alpha Virtualization Advantages

• OpenVMS and Tru64 support.
• Quick deployment. Three to five day implementations in most cases.
• Modern hardware, improving reliability, performance, and energy efficiency.
• Improved integrations with current operating environments such as Microsoft Windows.
• Lower operating costs with a smaller data center footprint.
• Binary compatibility means no software migration or re-engineering. Application source code is not needed.
• Preservation of investment in software applications.
• Continued leveraging of vested employee knowledge with negligible user retraining.
• Supported by HP with software license transfers.

Cross-platform Virtualization Solutions for Alpha

FreeAXP

FreeAXP is a free virtual AlphaServer 400 technology demonstrator available for personal and commercial use. FreeAXP is suitable to conduct feasibility testing, personal development, and low demand Alpha replacements. FreeAXP supports OpenVMS and Tru64. Visit the FreeAXP page for additional information.

Avanti

Avanti, a commercial virtual AlphaServer 400 solution, will release early in 2010 hosted on Windows servers. Avanti is designed to support demanding commerical Alpha replacements. Avanti supports OpenVMS and Tru64. Visit the Virtual VAX & Alpha page to view current Avanti developments.

Porting to a Alpha Emulator

Migrating your applications to an Alpha emulator is similar to migrating them to a new physical Alpha system. The emulator installation is first configured to look like the Alpha system it is replacing. The O/S, software applications, and data are then copied to the emulated Alpha system. With the O/S and applications in place, the emulated Alpha is ready to boot and run.

Software-based Alpha emulators create a virtual Alpha environment within the context of the host O/S. The operating environment is indistinguishable from the Alpha being replaced. The emulated Alpha environment is so accurate that it can even be forced to bug check like a genuine Alpha.

Turnkey Solutions

Trouble-free Alpha emulation installations require correct initial configuration of the product. Configuration is a one-time process that requires knowledge and experience in Alpha hardware and its mapping within the emulated Alpha environment. Migration Specialties offers turnkey installation as part of our Alpha replacement solutions to make configuration quick and easy. Turnkey services include system configuration, software porting, and onsite installation. More information is available on our Emulator Services page.

Obtaining a Quote

Before we can quote an Alpha replacement solution, we need information about your Alpha environment. For OpenVMS systems, this can be provided by running the DCL procedure VMS_INFO.COM. Tru64 users can run the builtin sys_check tool. Both utilities produce a file that can be e-mailed to Migration Specialties for review.

• OpenVMS: VMS_INFO.COM system configuration reporting procedure.
• Tru64: HP sys_check tool.
• Request an .

Alpha History

Digital Equipment Corporation introduced the Alpha series of computers in 1992. Alphas represented the first commercially viable 64-bit systems and set 64-bit computing standards for the next decade. The series was produced for 15 years, with new hardware deliveries ending in July 2007. Like their VAX predecessors, Alpha systems ranged from desktop workstations to mainframes. The system was offered with two operating systems, VMS and Tru64 UNIX (formerly Digital UNIX and DEC OSF/1), which were supported across the entire range of Alpha platforms. Alpha systems were well received and deployed in a broad range of environments.

Compaq Computer obtained the VAX and Alpha product lines when it purchased Digital Equipment Corporation in 1998. Compaq's subsequent merger with HP in 2002 placed the Alpha line in the hands of Digital's former competitor, HP. Alpha systems have been supplanted by Itanium-based Integrity systems.