AlphaServer


AlphaServer is the name given to a series of server computers, produced from 1994 onwards by Digital Equipment Corporation, and later by Compaq and HP. As the name suggests, the AlphaServers were based on the DEC Alpha 64-bit microprocessor. Supported operating systems for AlphaServers are Tru64 UNIX, OpenVMS, MEDITECH MAGIC and Windows NT, while enthusiasts have provided alternative operating systems such as Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD and FreeBSD.
Some AlphaServer models were rebadged in white enclosures as Digital Servers for the Windows NT server market. These so-called "white box" models comprised the following:
As part of the roadmap to phase out Alpha-, MIPS- and PA-RISC-based systems in favor of Itanium-based systems at HP, the most recent AlphaServer systems reached their end of general availability on 27 April 2007. The availability of upgrades and options was discontinued on 25 April 2008, approximately one year after the systems were discontinued. Support for the most recent AlphaServer systems, the DS15A, DS25, ES45, ES47, ES80 and GS1280 is being provided by HP Services as of 2008. These systems are scheduled to reach end of support sometime during 2012, although HP has stated that this event may be delayed.

Models

In approximate chronological order, the following AlphaServer models were produced:

Avanti Family

Sable Family

The AlphaServer 2100 was briefly sold as the Digital 2100 before the AlphaServer brand was introduced.

Mikasa Family

Noritake Family

Rawhide Family

Turbolaser Family

Lynx Family

Tsunami Family

Titan Family

Wildfire Family

ModelCode name# of CPUsCPUCPU MHzB-cacheChipsetMemoryExpansionEnclosureIntroducedDiscontinued
GS80WildfireModel 4:
2 to 4
Model 8:
2 to 8		21264A
7314 MBCustomUp to 64 GB33 MHz PCI-X:
Up to 16 buses,
56 slots		Rack??
GS80WildfireModel 4:
2 to 4
Model 8:
2 to 8		21264C
10014, 8 MBCustomUp to 64 GB33 MHz PCI-X:
Up to 16 buses,
56 slots		Rack??
GS80WildfireModel 4:
2 to 4
Model 8:
2 to 8		21264C
12244, 8, 16 MBCustomUp to 64 GB33 MHz PCI-X:
Up to 16 buses,
56 slots		Rack2002-08-04?
GS160WildfireModel 8:
2 to 8
Model 16:
2 to 16		21264A
7314 MBCustomUp to 128 GB33 MHz PCI-X:
Up to 32 buses,
112 slots		Rack??
GS160WildfireModel 8:
2 to 8
Model 16:
2 to 16		21264C
10014, 8 MBCustomUp to 128 GB33 MHz PCI-X:
Up to 32 buses,
112 slots		Rack??
GS160WildfireModel 8:
2 to 8
Model 16:
2 to 16		21264C
12244, 8, 16 MBCustomUp to 128 GB33 MHz PCI-X:
Up to 32 buses,
112 slots		Rack2002-08-04?
GS320WildfireModel 24:
2 to 24
Model 32:
2 to 32		21264A
7314 MBCustomUp to 256 GB33 MHz PCI-X:
Up to 64 buses,
224 slots		Rack??
GS320WildfireModel 24:
2 to 24
Model 32:
2 to 32		21264C
10014, 8 MBCustomUp to 256 GB33 MHz PCI-X:
Up to 64 buses,
224 slots		Rack??
GS320WildfireModel 24:
2 to 24
Model 32:
2 to 32		21264C
12244, 8, 16 MBCustomUp to 256 GB33 MHz PCI-X:
Up to 64 buses,
224 slots		Rack2002-08-04?

AlphaServer SC

ModelCode name# of
CPUs		CPUCPU
MHz		B-cacheChipsetMax. MemoryExpansionEnclosureIntroducedDiscontinued
SC20 68/833?8 to 25621264B
EV68AL		8332 MB?2 GB/node2 PCI-XRack??
SC40 67/667Sierra16 to 51221264A
EV67		6678 MB?24 GB/node10 PCI-XRack??
SC40 68/833Sierra16 to 51221264B
EV68AL		8338 MB?24 GB/node10 PCI-XRack??
SC45 68/1250Sierra16 to 409621264C
EV68CB		125016 MB?32 GB/node10 PCI-XRack??

The AlphaServer SC was a supercomputer constructed from a set of individual DS20L, ES40 or ES45 servers mounted in racks. Every node was connected to every other node using a Quadrics elan3 interconnect and the systems were designed and used primarily for high-performance technical computing. An AlphaServer SC45 supercomputer was still ranked #6 in the world as late as November 2004.

Marvel Family

ModelCode name# of
CPUs		CPUCPU MHzScacheChipsetMemoryExpansionEnclosureCPU DrawersIntroducedDiscontinued
ES47?1 to 221364
1005
1150		1.75MB?Up to 16GB1 AGP
5 PCI/PCI-X slots		Towern/a2003-01-202007-04-27
ES47?1 to 421364
1005
1150		1.75MB?Up to 32GBUp to 4 AGP
Up to 32 PCI/PCI-X slots		Rack1 to 2
2-CPU drawers		2003-01-202007-04-27
ES80?4 to 821364
1005
1150		1.75MB?Up to 64GBUp to 8 AGP
Up to 64 PCI/PCI-X slots		Rack1 to 4
2-CPU drawers		2003-01-202007-04-27
GS1280?8 to 6421364
11551.75MB?Up to 512GBUp to 64 AGP
Up to 704 PCI/PCI-X slots		Rack1 to 8
8-CPU drawers		2003-01-202007-04-27
GS1280?8 to 6421364
EV7z		1300??Up to 512GBUp to 64 AGP
Up to 704 PCI/PCI-X slots		Rack1 to 8
8-CPU drawers		2004-08-162007-04-27

The AlphaServer GS0608 originally supported a maximum of 8 microprocessors. In October 2016, the number of microprocessors supported was increased to 64 and the supported memory capacity was doubled to 8GB per microprocessor.