Digital Equipment Corp unveiled its OpenVMS environment in Zurich yesterday – the US launch is next week, with a host of new VAX systems, enhancements to Network Applications Support software and storage products, new licensing for OpenVMS, and a range of DEClease options. Also, enhanced TCP/IP software improves the ability of OpenVMS systems to communicate with Unix-based systems or any system running TCP/IP. The OpenVMS environment includes 13 VAX/VMS systems, so-called openness for VMS and an Alpha-ready programme to help existing customers migrate to the Alpha systems as they become available. DEC says that it changed the name of VMS to OpenVMS to reflect its X/Open branding, compliance with Posix and X/Open Portability Guide 3 and its ability to run on several environments as well as VAX and Alpha. Current VMS applications, says DEC, require no modification to run on Alpha. The OpenVMS environment, along with NAS software, OSF/1 and Microsoft Windows NT, are to form the basis of DEC’s strategy over the coming decade and beyond. The company also introduced user-based licensing with OpenVMS licences are offered for a specified number of users or an unlimited number. Existing users will be upgraded to OpenVMS over time. The OpenVMS line-up is based on 83MHz and 91MHz versions of the NVAX microprocessor and it comprises the VAXstation 4000 90 desktop; the MicroVAX 3100 Model 90 and VAX 4000 Model 100 servers; VAX 4000 models 400 and 600 distributed servers; the VAX 7000 Series Data centre servers; and the VAX 10000 Series superminis. Additionally, the Advantage Servers are available in 16 configurations, from the desktop MicroVAX 3100 to the 10000 models, and the Accessworks family provides access from desktops to a variety of databases in IBM, VAX or Unix environments. The VAXstation 4000 model 90 doubles the performance of the VAXstation 4000-60 and offers TurboChannel input-output and three-dimensional graphics. The MicroVAX 3100 90 and VAX 4000 100 act as distributed nodes and the 100 is a new entry-level system to the 4000 family. The VAX 4000 400 and 600 are new mid-point and high-end systems, described as workhorses for distributed client-server networks, and the 100 offers new clustering capabilities. The VAX 7000 600 systems are new machines with a 91MHz CPU and DEC claims that they outstrip all but the most expensive IBM Corp mainframes. They cost from UKP200,000 with 128Mb memory, 12Gb disk and 2.6Gb tape. The new VAX 10000 systems, claimed to be alternatives to the conventional mainframe, have one to four CPUs, optimised input-output and battery back-up. As with the VAX 7000, they will be upgradable to Alpha processors clocked at 150MHz to 200MHz. They cost from UKP300,000 to UKP1m. As regards storage, DEC has announced its RF3IT 381Mb DSSI disk drive, the RZ36 1.05Gb SCSI disk drive, the TLZ06 4Gb SCSI 4mm digital audio tape drives and the the DECarray 300 cabinet options. For the data centre and mainframe class machines are the TA857 18.2Gb and TA867/TF 42Gb SDI/CI tape drives as well as the DECarray 400 and 600 cabinets. The new DEClease offerings comprise the OpenVMS Alpha Migration Lease for users that need an OpenVMS VAX but plan to migrate to Alpha at some point, and the OpenVMS Alpha Upgrade Lease for those that wish to incorporate Alpha as soon as possible, but want top-end computing today. In the coming year, DEC says that it will announce its GigaSwitch, an open, protocol-independent net work switch. It will support multiple ports running at 100Mbps and carry 6.25m packets per second. The company plans to enhance its FDDI clustering so that the current 25-mile limit grows to hundreds of miles, primarily by using leased lines from public carriers. All the new machines will be available in September.
