Difference between revisions of "MicroVAX II"

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| [[VUP]]s = 0.9 [[#ref_4|[4]]]
 
| [[VUP]]s = 0.9 [[#ref_4|[4]]]
 
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The '''MicroVAX II''' was a [[personal computer]] [[VAX]], with the [[KA630 CPU‎‎]] for its [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]]. Its [[bus]] between the CPU and [[main memory]] was a special bus carried on [[over the back]] connectors as well as the [[CD interconnect]] of the [[QBUS]] [[backplane]]; it used the QBUS for its [[input/output|I/O]] bus.
  
 
[[Image:MicrovaxII.jpg|thumb|left|300px|A MicroVAX II with an RX50 dual floppy drive]]
 
[[Image:MicrovaxII.jpg|thumb|left|300px|A MicroVAX II with an RX50 dual floppy drive]]
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The '''MicroVAX II''' was a [[personal computer]] [[VAX]] using the [[QBUS]] for its [[input/output|I/O]] [[bus]]. Its [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] was the [[KA630 CPU‎‎]].
 
  
 
==Operating Systems==
 
==Operating Systems==
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=== Digital Unix ===
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===UNIX===
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Many [[UNIX]] variants were available for the MicroVAX II.
 +
 
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====Digital Unix====
  
 
[[Ultrix]]  
 
[[Ultrix]]  
  
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=== CSRG BSD ===
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====CSRG BSD====
  
 
*[[4.3 BSD]]
 
*[[4.3 BSD]]
 
*[[4.3 BSD Quasijarus]]
 
*[[4.3 BSD Quasijarus]]
  
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=== NetBSD ===
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====NetBSD====
  
 
Version 1.2 and higher of the VAX port of [[NetBSD]] can run on a MicroVAX II. I've even built some instructions [[Installing NetBSD 1.2 on the SIMH MicroVAX II|using SIMH]] on how to do so, that may be adapted to a real MicroVAX but I don't have one to test with.
 
Version 1.2 and higher of the VAX port of [[NetBSD]] can run on a MicroVAX II. I've even built some instructions [[Installing NetBSD 1.2 on the SIMH MicroVAX II|using SIMH]] on how to do so, that may be adapted to a real MicroVAX but I don't have one to test with.
  
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=== OpenBSD ===
+
====OpenBSD====
  
 
[[OpenBSD]] can run on the MicroVAX II as well, later versions are better for timing issues... 4.4 is the current good version.
 
[[OpenBSD]] can run on the MicroVAX II as well, later versions are better for timing issues... 4.4 is the current good version.
  
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== Emulation ==
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==Emulation==
  
 
The MicroVAX II is emulated in [[SIMH]].
 
The MicroVAX II is emulated in [[SIMH]].
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* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/630/ VAX 630] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
 
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/630/ VAX 630] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
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** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/630/AZ-GLCAA-MN__MicroVAX_II_630QB_Owners_Manual_Jul86.pdf MicroVAX II 630QB Owner's Manual] (AZ-GLCAA-MN)
 +
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/630/AZ-GL1AA-MN_MicroVAX_II_630Y_630QZ_Owners_Manual_Dec1985.pdf MicroVAX II 630QY, 630QZ Owner's Manual] (AZ-GL1AA-MN)
 
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/630/AZ-GLFAB-MN_VAXstation_II_Technical_Manual_BA23_Enclosure_Oct85.pdf MicroVAX II Technical Manual, BA23 Enclosure] (AZ-GLFAB-MN)
 
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/630/AZ-GLFAB-MN_VAXstation_II_Technical_Manual_BA23_Enclosure_Oct85.pdf MicroVAX II Technical Manual, BA23 Enclosure] (AZ-GLFAB-MN)
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** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/630/AZ-GLCAA-MN__MicroVAX_II_630QB_Owners_Manual_Jul86.pdf MicroVAX II 630QB Owner's Manual] (AZ-GLCAA-MN)
 
 
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/630/AX-GLBAA-MN_MicroVAX_II_630QB_Technical_Manual_Nov85.pdf MicroVAX II 630QB Technical Manual] (AZ-GLBAA-MN)
 
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/630/AX-GLBAA-MN_MicroVAX_II_630QB_Technical_Manual_Nov85.pdf MicroVAX II 630QB Technical Manual] (AZ-GLBAA-MN)
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** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/630/AZ-GL1AA-MN_MicroVAX_II_630Y_630QZ_Owners_Manual_Dec1985.pdf MicroVAX II 630QY, 630QZ Owner's Manual] (AZ-GL1AA-MN)
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* [https://vt100.net/mirror/hcps/fe06atn.pdf MicroVAX II 630QY, 630QZ Technical Manual] (AZ-FE06A-TN)
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* <div id="ref_1">[https://vt100.net/mirror/hcps/fe06atn.pdf MicroVAX II 630QY, 630QZ Technical Manual] (AZ-FE06A-TN)</div>
 
 
* [http://simh.trailing-edge.com/semi/uvax.html SIMH information on the CPU in the MicroVAX II]
 
* [http://simh.trailing-edge.com/semi/uvax.html SIMH information on the CPU in the MicroVAX II]
  
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== References ==
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==References==
  
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<div id="ref_2">[2] "CVAX-based Systems", Digital Technical Journal, Vol 1 No 7, August 1988. </div>
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<div id="ref_1">[1] MicroVAX II 630QY, 630QZ Technical Manual. AZ-FE06A-TN</div>
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<div id="ref_3">[3] MicroVAX Systems Handbook 1988. EB-30991-41</div>
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<div id="ref_2">[2] "CVAX-based Systems", Digital Technical Journal, Vol 1 No 7, August 1988. </div>
−
<div id="ref_4">[4] VAX Systems Hardware Handbook -- VAXBI Systems. EB-31692-46</div>
+
<div id="ref_3">[3] MicroVAX Systems Handbook 1988. EB-30991-41</div>
 +
<div id="ref_4">[4] VAX Systems Hardware Handbook -- VAXBI Systems. EB-31692-46</div>
  
 
{{Nav VAX}}
 
{{Nav VAX}}
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[[Category: DEC VAX systems]]

Revision as of 13:05, 28 March 2023


MicroVAX II
Summary
Announcement date: 14 May 1985
FRS date: May 1985
Codename: Mayflower
OS support (VMS): MicroVMS V4.1M
Enclosure(s): BA23
CPU Details
CPU name (VMS): KA630
CPU name (console): KA630
CPU module: KA630
Module: M7606 [1]
Number of processors: 1
VMS DCL CPU: 8
VMS DCL XCPU: 1
SID: 08000000
XSID: 01010000
CPU chip: 78032
CPU technology: ZMOS
CPU cycle time: 200ns [2]
Instruction-buffer: 8 bytes [2]
Translation-buffer: 8 entries [2]
Cache: None [2]
Compatibility mode: No
Console processor: CPU
Console device: RX50 or TK50
Memory
Minimum memory: 1MB [1]
Maximum memory: 16MB [3]
Memory checking: Parity
On-board memory: 1MB [1]
I/O
Q-bus: 1 @ 3.3MB/s [3]
LAN support: optional [3]


The MicroVAX II was a personal computer VAX, with the KA630 CPU‎‎ for its CPU. Its bus between the CPU and main memory was a special bus carried on over the back connectors as well as the CD interconnect of the QBUS backplane; it used the QBUS for its I/O bus.

A MicroVAX II with an RX50 dual floppy drive

Operating Systems

The following operating systems can run on the MicroVAX II:

MicroVMS / VMS

In version 4 of the VMS operating system there were two different subversions:

  • MicroVMS - for the series of MicroVAX computers
  • VMS - for all other VAX computers

Both versions differ in contents and packaging:

  • MicroVMS software was distributed as set of numerous RX50 diskettes or on TK50 tape cassettes.
  • VMS software was available on standard 9-track magnetic tape or on removable disks, e.g. RL02 or RA60.

From version V5.0 onwards there was no more special version for the series of MicroVAX computers.

MicroVMS Support for MicroVAX II Computers

MicroVMS V4.1 was the first version to support the MicroVAX II computer.

VMS Support for MicroVAX II Computers

Some of the 'full size' VMS V4.x versions include MicroVAX II support, too, see the following table for details:

VMS V4.x Support for MicroVAX computers
Version Type Date MicroVAX Support Save Set Info
V4.0 Full 23-SEP-1984 NO ---
V4.1 Update 11-JAN-1985 YES VMS041.A: VMS041 / VMS041.B: VMS only / VMS041.C: MicroVMS only
V4.2 Full 12-JUL-1985 NO ---
V4.3 Update 9-JAN-1986 YES VMS043.A: Common Files / VMS043.B: VMS only / VMS043.C: MicroVMS only
V4.4 Full 30-MAR-1986 YES Integral part of all Save Sets
V4.5 Update 26-SEP-1986 YES Same as with V4.3 (individual Save Sets)
V4.6 Full 15-JUN-1987 YES Same as with V4.4 (integral part of all Save Sets)
V4.7 Update 29-OCT-1987 YES Same as with V4.3 (individual Save Sets)

UNIX

Many UNIX variants were available for the MicroVAX II.

Digital Unix

Ultrix

CSRG BSD

NetBSD

Version 1.2 and higher of the VAX port of NetBSD can run on a MicroVAX II. I've even built some instructions using SIMH on how to do so, that may be adapted to a real MicroVAX but I don't have one to test with.

OpenBSD

OpenBSD can run on the MicroVAX II as well, later versions are better for timing issues... 4.4 is the current good version.

Emulation

The MicroVAX II is emulated in SIMH.

External links

References

[1] MicroVAX II 630QY, 630QZ Technical Manual. AZ-FE06A-TN
[2] "CVAX-based Systems", Digital Technical Journal, Vol 1 No 7, August 1988.
[3] MicroVAX Systems Handbook 1988. EB-30991-41
[4] VAX Systems Hardware Handbook -- VAXBI Systems. EB-31692-46


v • d • e VAX Computers and Operating Systems
VAX-11/7xx (including VAX 86x0) - VAX-11/780 • VAX-11/785 • VAX-11/750 • VAX-11/730 • VAX 8600 • VAX 8650

VAX 8000 series (excluding VAX 86x0, above) - VAX 82xx/83xx series • VAX 85xx/87xx/88xx series

MicroVAXen (many types also come in VAXserver and VAXstation models) - MicroVAX I • MicroVAX II
MicroVAX 2000 • MicroVAX 3100 • MicroVAX 3300/3400 • MicroVAX 3500/3600 • MicroVAX 3800/3900

VAXstation Series - VAXstation I • VAXstation II
VAXstation 3100 • VAXstation 3200/3500 • VAXstation 3520/3540 • VAXstation 4000 • VAXstation 8000

Late Model VAXen - VAX 4000 series • VAX 6000 series • VAX 7000 series • VAX 9000 series • VAX 10000 series

Special Purpose VAXen - VAXft series • rtVAX series • Infoserver series

Clones - CM 1700 • TPA-11/580

Operating Systems: VMS • VAXELN • ULTRIX • BSD UNIX

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