On this page...
- Legacy Hardware Virtualization
- Binary Compatibility
- FreeAXP Components
- Guest O/S
- Host O/S
- FreeAXP Target Market
- FreeAXP Support
- FreeAXP Links
"FreeAXP™ puts an Alpha on your laptop for free!"
FreeAXP™ - A Free Virtual Alpha System
Migration Specialties is pleased to offer FreeAXP, a technology demonstrator and free AlphaServer 400 hardware emulator. FreeAXP is designed to be hosted on a Windows X86 and x64 systems. This highly portable product offers the following key features:
- OpenVMS support
- Tru64 support
- Native 32 and 64-bit host O/S support
- Simple configuration
- Free for commercial and hobbyist use
- No expiry date
- Runs under virtual machines such as VMware®, Sun VirtualBox, and Apple Boot Camp
Best of all, the product is free and no registration is required!
Legacy Hardware Virtualization
FreeAXP provides an introduction to Migration Specialties legacy hardware virtualization solutions. FreeAXP demonstrates these major legacy hardware virtualization components:
- Hardware Virtual Layer (HVL)
- Virtual Layer Console (VLC)
- Legacy Virtual Machine (LVM)
Binary Compatibility
FreeAXP is designed to virtualize legacy Alpha hardware. The product is binary compatible with real Alpha hardware, allowing the resident operating system and software to be ported to FreeAXP without modification or the need for source code. FreeAXP offers a simple way to upgrade existing Alpha systems to new hardware.
FreeAXP Components
FreeAXP provides the following user configurable components:
- 32 - 128MB of virtual memory
- Up to seven storage devices
- One physical CD-ROM
- One 100Mb NIC
- Two virtual serial ports (1 console, 1 terminal)
Guest O/S
FreeAXP has been tested building and booting the following guest operating systems.
- Tru64
- Digital UNIX V3.2C*
- Digital UNIX V4.0D
- Digital UNIX V4.0F
- Digital UNIX V4.0G
- Tru64 UNIX V5.0A
- Tru64 UNIX V5.1
- Tru64 UNIX V5.1A
- Tru64 UNIX V5.1B
- Tru64 UNIX V5.1B-5
- TruCluster V5.1B-5
- OpenVMS
- OpenVMS 6.2*
- OpenVMS 6.2-1H3*
- OpenVMS 7.0
- OpenVMS 7.1
- OpenVMS 7.2
- OpenVMS 7.2-1
- OpenVMS 7.3
- OpenVMS 7.3-1
- OpenVMS 7.3-2
- OpenVMS 8.2
- OpenVMS 8.3
- OpenVMS 8.4FT
*NIC not yet supported.
Host O/S
FreeAXP has been tested on real hardware and running under VMware®, Sun VirtualBox, and Apple Boot Camp. FreeAXP runs under the following 32 and 64-bit host operating systems:
- Microsoft Server 2008
- Microsoft Server 2003
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
FreeAXP Target Market
FreeAXP is designed for hobbyist and non-critical system use. Clients requiring additional performance and capabilities should look at Migration Specialties commercial Alpha replacement solutions. Users requiring a more robust Alpha emulation solution are encouraged to review our commercial offerings, such as Avanti.
FreeAXP Support
The OpenVMS Hobbyist web site provides a FreeAXP forum to report issues and exchange ideas with the FreeAXP community. Migration Specialties moderates the forum and watches it for problem reports. FreeAXP questions and bug reports should be filed on the forum and will be addressed as time permits. We thank the folks at OpenVMS Hobbyist for providing this service and encourage you to browse the site for OpenVMS information.
FreeAXP Links
- FreeAXP™ Download (Beta 283)
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FreeAXP™ User Guide
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FreeAXP™ Release Notes
- FreeAXP™ User Forum - Sponsored by OpenVMS Hobbyist.
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FreeAXP™ SPD
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FreeAXP™ License
- Prior FreeAXP Kits
- MiM: Make Image. Graciously provided by Enrico Granata, copyright © 2010. MIM is a command line utility that allows quick creation of container files used with virtual VAX and Alpha systems. MIM is intuitive to use. Simply run MIM at the command line to obtain usage instructions.
