MIKADO

Stromasys' MIKADO software is an integrated software model of all VAX hardware components (VAX CPU, memory subsystem, I/O controllers and peripheral devices) that together form a complete MicroVAX hardware system. MIKADO runs on an Industry standard PC or server, converting this system effectively into MicroVAX hardware.

As a result, MIKADO executes the same software as the original MicroVAX hardware, hence the original operating system and binary applications from a MicroVAX can continue to be used unmodified. MIKADO is based on the Real-Time operating system QNX to maintain exact internal MicroVAX timing. Hence also system level software, custom drivers and special QBUS hardware can be used unmodified.

MIKADO Key Benefits

$        MIKADO provides a cost effective way to replace aging MicroVAX hardware without having to convert or rewrite the MicroVAX operating system and applications.

$        Independent of the operating system and the applications used. No code to convert, no special hardware required to use MIKADO.

$        Optimized for Industrial control systems, Military test systems and other processes requiring tight real-time response.

$        Directly connect QBUS I/O controllers to the host system via a hardware adapter.

$        GUI and installation tools facilitate transfer of the binary MicroVAX code.

MIKADO is a robust 3th generation hardware abstraction layer developed from Stromasys' CHARON-VAX code base, and originally designed for Military customers. With over 4000 CHARON licenses in the field and partners providing customized PC hardware for MIKADO, it is a stable, field-proven solution for replacing obsolete VAX hardware at the lowest possible cost.

Exact Hardware Compatibility

MIKADO is fully compliant with the original AXE test suite used by Digital Equipment in the verification of new VAX hardware designs (DEC STD 035).

Large library of configurable components

Virtual MicroVAX hardware can be configured on demand, using the following components: MicroVAX II CPU, MicroVAX 3500 and 3600 bootROMs, Console, Memory subsystem (64 MB), Real-Time Clock, MSCP disk controllers and disk drives, DEQNA, DELQA and DESQA Ethernet adapters, DHV-11 and LPV11 serial line and printer controllers.

Easy mapping to host resources

For many subsystem there is a choice between using (the original) media or mapping to host system services. For instance a SCSI disk can be directly connected, but also be represented as a virtual disk on the host system or on a storage server. QBUS hardware can be directly connected to the PC server via an adapter. In this case the original (custom) drivers can be used unmodified.

Fast Snapshot, Backup and Restart

The virtual hardware configuration and all disk content can be represented as files on the host system and rapidly saved as snapshot. All disk images can be saved as host files instead of using the slower VMS backup. The virtual MicroVAX environment takes only a few seconds to startup and load the disk snapshots, providing very rapid restart of an (archived) system.

Choice of solutions

Talk to your Stromasys' sales representative for a choice between MIKADO for time critical and CHARON-VAX for general data processing applications.

Click here to download the full Software Product Description: MIKADO Virtual Real-Time MicroVAX