CHARON™-AXP/ES40

CHARON-AXP to replace DEC Alpha ES40, Alpha ES45

Product version: 2.2.107

Description

CHARON-AXP/ES40 is a member of the CHARON cross-platform hardware virtualization product-family by Stromasys. CHARON-AXP creates the virtual replica of the original Alpha hardware interface inside a standard computer system. The virtual system runs the Alpha operating systems OpenVMS and Tru64 UNIX including the layered products and application software in their existing, binary form. It quickly moves your Alpha software and data to a general purpose computer.

CHARON-AXP/ES40 is designed to replace the AlphaServer ES40 computer systems by its virtual equivalent running on a Windows XP/7/2003/2008 or Linux Fedora host platform.

On CHARON-AXP/ES40, the unmodified OpenVMS or Tru64 operating system and all software running in that environment to remain working as usual. No changes to the original software (operating system, layered products or applications), its procedures or handling have to be applied.

Network

CHARON-AXP/ES40 virtualizes an Alpha Ethernet controller using a host-based Ethernet adapter. Any network protocol (DECnet, TCP/IP, LAT) runs over this virtualized link. The original FDDI network adapter DEPFA can be used in the host system. For Ethernet or Fibrechannel connections, no special software is required.

Storage

CHARON-AXP/ES40 supports the common storage methods of the Alpha hardware: local disks in the host server, virtual disks (host files), virtual SCSI and Fibrechannel adapters. For all storage and physical methods, no special software is required.

Performance

As with all virtual systems, the CHARON-AXP/ES40 performance is determined by its host system. The fastest current host available (Jan 2011), a Xeon 5680 based server, delivers the CHARON-AXP/ES40 performance as listed in the table below. To replace faster OpenVMS or Tru64 ES4x servers with one or two CPUs, adding one or two extra virtual CPUs to CHARON-AXP/ES40 can cover the required performance.

The CHARON-AXP/ES40 base license includes 1 virtual Alpha CPU’s, 2 additional CPU options can be added.

Host CPU Requirements

CHARON-AXP/ES40 requires two dedicated host system cores for each virtual Alpha CPU. Running multiple instances of CHARON-AXP/ES40 on a simple host system is not recommended.

Product license key

The CHARON USB-type license key is permanently connected to the host system running the emulator. It preserves the customer specific license parameters, allows remote electronic updates and enables rapid change of host systems as the CHARON executable itself can be installed on multiple systems. The MTBF of the key is more than 100 years. For mission critical applications a backup key containing 720 hours execution time can be ordered to meet any disaster recovery plan that requires replacement hardware.

User environment

After installation the system will behave like the Alpha it replaces and should be treated like that Alpha. Operating procedures will be the same and we advise not to treat it as a Windows system, despite the fact it runs on a Windows kernel. The product documentation includes an advisory for switching off unused Windows services and the Windows kernel can be disconnected from the network after installation.

¹⁾ For FibreChannel support the installation of an Emulex FibreChannel adapter is required (LPe1105 or LPe11002)

Additional utilities

Program Launcher: start/stop/manage CHARON-AXP
Service Manager: manage CHARON-AXP as a service
MKdisk: Create empty AXP disk images
SCSIcheck: Locate CHARON names for disks, tapes, CD’s floppy disks and other SCSI devices
Network Control Center: Manage CHARON network components

Ordering information

For Download:

 CHARON-AXP / ES40 Software Product Description (PDF)