VAX Replacement

Replacing a legacy VAX system with an emulation solution is like upgrading hardware in place. You benefit from modern hardware while retaining important legacy applications intact. Migration Specialties utilizes virtual VAX hardware solutions to replace legacy Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) VAX systems. We are in the process of developing our own virtual VAX solution, with a target release date of late 2010. Click the Virtual VAX & Alpha link to view current developments.

VAX Virtualization Advantages

• Quick deployment. Three to five day implementations are common.
• Modern hardware, improving reliability, performance, & energy efficiency.
• Improved integrations with current operating environments such as Microsoft Windows.
• Lower operating costs with a smaller data center foot print.
• Binary compatibility means no software migration or re-engineering. Application source code is not needed.
• Preservation of investments in software applications & continued leveraging of vested employee knowledge.
• Negligible user retraining.
• Supported by HP with software license transfers.

Cross-platform Virtualization Solutions for VAX

Migration Specialties has utilized SimH and CHARON-VAX virtual solutions to upgrade legacy VAX hardware. These solutions replace the underlying VAX CPU, memory, and mass storage devices with virtual equivalents while maintaining binary compatibility with VAX O/S's and layered products. Both solutions are available on Windows-based server and HP Alpha OpenVMS platforms.

Both solutions run as a 32-bit application, essentially functioning as a virtual VAX. Standard peripherals such as serial ports, disk drives, and CD-ROM drives are emulated or mapped to equivalent host hardware. For example, RD54 disk drives can be emulated as container files, a CD-ROM can be mapped to the host's CD-ROM drive, and serial ports can be mapped to network ports.

Each emulator is binary compatible with the VAX O/S and layered product software. No modification, translation, or recompilation of code is necessary. An image of each VAX disk is transferred to the emulated system, where the code executes as it would on the physical VAX. The emulator runs as a single application within the Windows or OpenVMS environment.

SimH VAX

SimH is an open source application. Migration Specialties materially participates in its ongoing development. SimH supports a limited set of VAX processors. It is a suitable VAX replacement when performance is not critical. Additional SimH information is available at simh.trailing-edge.com.

CHARON-VAX

CHARON-VAX is a commercial product. It is sold by a limited set of resellers. Migration Specialties is not a CHARON-VAX reseller and by manufacturer request we do not link to the CHARON-VAX web site. We provide competitively priced third party installation and support services.

Coming Next Year

Migration Specialties is working on its own commercial VAX emulator. We plan on an initial release late in 2010 hosted on OpenVMS and Windows servers. Click the Virtual VAX & Alpha link to view current developments.

Porting to a VAX Emulator

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

VAX emulators create a virtual VAX environment within the context of the host O/S. The VAX operating environment is indistinguishable from the legacy VAX being replaced.

Turnkey Solutions

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

Obtaining a Quote

• VMS_INFO.COM system configuration reporting procedure.
• Request a .

VAX History

Digital Equipment Corporation introduced the VAX series of computers in 1977. The series was produced for 23 years, with the final hardware orders taken in 1999. VAX systems ranged from desktop workstations to mainframes. The system was offered with two main operating systems, VMS and Ultrix, which were supported across the entire range of VAX platforms. VAX systems were well received and deployed in a broad range of environments.

VAX systems were supplanted by Alpha systems in the mid-1990's. Alpha systems are, in turn, being supplanted by Itanium-based Integrity systems today. 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 left the VAX legacy in the hands of Digital's former competitor, HP.

VMS, which suffered a name change to OpenVMS in 1992, remains in production to this day, offered on HP's Itanium-based Integrity servers. The operating system is renowned for its reliability, security, and clustering capabilities - all good reasons to retain its functionality with virtual VAX solution. See our OpenVMS page for Migration Specialties OpenVMS services.