Hardware Documentation - Machines DEC - VAX hardware reference

This is an (incomplete) list of Digital Equipment Corporation VAX computers and specifications. Compiled by abs@NetBSD.org with much help from port-vax@NetBSD.org users.

This is very much still a work in progress - many sections are little more than placeholders. Having said that, there should be enough here to prove useful.

BSD daemon

VAX 4000 series
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VAX 4000 M100(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Cheetah-Q Cpu: KA52, NVAX 72MHz (14ns), 8KB cache on chip, 128KB external cache
Vup: 24 Spec: 31.1
Tps: 125 Bus: 1 Q-bus, 1 SCSI (NCR-53C94), 1 DSSI (Max 8.5MB/s)
Interfaces: ethernet on CPU board Memory: Maximum 128MB
Introduced: 1991 or later Enclosure: similar to MicroVAX 3100 M40
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Qbus expansion possible through cable to external Qbus cabinet

VAX 4000 M100A(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Cheetah-Q Cpu: KA52, NVAX 72MHz (14ns), 10KB cache on chip, 128KB external cache
Vup: 24 Spec: 31.1
Tps: 125 Bus: 1 Q-bus, 1 SCSI (NCR-53C94), 1 DSSI (Max 8.5MB/s)
Interfaces: ethernet on CPU board Memory: Maximum 128MB
Introduced: 1991 or later Enclosure: similar to MicroVAX 3100 M40
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Q-bus expansion possible through cable to external cabinet

VAX 4000 M105A(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Cheetah-Q+ Cpu: KA53, NVAX 83MHz (12ns), 10KB on chip cache, 128KB external cache
Vup: 32 Spec: 41.2
Tps: 180 Bus: 1 Q-bus, 1 SCSI (NCR-53C94), 1 DSSI (Max 8.5MB/s)
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAX 4000 M106A(VAX 4000 series index)

Cpu: KA54, NVAX 100MHz (10ns), 10KB on chip cache, 512KB external cache Vup: 48.7
Tps: 215 Bus: Q-bus (max throughput 3.3MB/s), DSSI (max throughput 8MB/s)
Memory: Max 128MB Enclosure: BA42B or Rackmount: BA42B mounted sideways in a slide shelf
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAX 4000 M108(VAX 4000 series index)

Cpu: KA57, NVAX 100MHz (10ns), 10KB on chip cache, 512KB external cache Vup: 38
Tps: 225 Memory: Max 512MB
Enclosure: mini tower or rackmount NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAX 4000 M200(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Spitfire Cpu: KA660, SOC (35ns), 6KB cache on chip
Vup: 5 Spec: 5.6
Tps: 40 Bus: Q-bus, 3 DSSI
Interfaces: SGEC ethernet on CPU board, AUI/BNC Memory: Minimum 16MB, max 64MB
Introduced: 1991 or later Enclosure: Tower case, approx 3' x 1' x 1' or BA430
Image: VAX-4000/200 NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Popular CPU upgrade for any earlier KA6x0 VAX Fastest VAX that can be put on the Q-bus directly KA660 has attached 16MB of memory (MS650-BA)

VAX 4000 M215(VAX 4000 series index)

Tps: 40 Last updated: 1998-11-19

VAX 4000 M300(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Pele
Cpu: KA670, Rigel 143 MHz (28ns), 2KB on chip cache, 128KB external cache with full ECC
Vup: 8 Spec: 9.2
Tps: 60 Bus: Q-bus, dual DSSI
Interfaces: SGEC ethernet on CPU board Memory: Minimum 32MB, maximum 512MB
Introduced: 1989 Enclosure: BA440
Image: VAX-4000/300 NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Usually shipped with a KZQSA SCSI controller, TK50 or TK70, occasionally a TF86. Can hold up to 4 internal DSSI disks (RF3x or RF7x series), or 3 if tape drive in frame. 256K firmware ROM. Most Q22-bus peripheral devices are supported, as long as a quad-height board doesn't use the Qbus on both halves. (The bottom half is an extension bus.) 7 slots are provided. Uses S-box cards, such as the CXA16 and KZQSA-SA, and RFxxE-AF series disks. Upgradeable to KA690 CPU (requires MS690 memory and backplane upgrade for early machines).

VAX 4000 M400(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Omega Cpu: KA675, NVAX 63MHz (16ns), 8KB on chip cache, 128KB external cache
Vup: 16 Spec: 22.3
Tps: 95 Bus: Q-bus, DSSI
Interfaces: SGEC ethernet on CPU board
Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB)
Introduced: 1991 or later Enclosure: BA440
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAX 4000 M430(VAX 4000 series index)

Tps: 40
Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB)
Last updated: 2001-09-30

VAX 4000 M500(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Omega/N Cpu: KA680, NVAX (14ns), 10KB on chip cache, 128KB external cache
Vup: 24 Tps: 125
Bus: Q-bus, DSSI Interfaces: ethernet on CPU board
Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB)
Introduced: 1991 or later Enclosure: BA440
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAX 4000 M500A(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Omega/N Cpu: KA681, NVAX (14ns), 10KB on chip cache, 128KB external cache
Vup: 24 Spec: 41.1
Tps: 125 Bus: Q-bus, DSSI
Interfaces: SGEC ethernet on CPU board
Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB)
Introduced: 1991 or later Enclosure: BA440
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAX 4000 M505A(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Omega/N+ Cpu: (?), NVAX 83MHz (12ns), 10KB on chip cache, 512KB external cache
Vup: 32 Tps: 185
Bus: Q-bus (max throughput 3.3MB/s), 2 DSSI (max throughput 16MB/s)
Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB)
Enclosure: BA440 or BA441 (Rackmount) NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAX 4000 M600(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Omega/N+ Cpu: KA690, NVAX (12ns), 10KB on chip cache, 512KB external cache
Vup: 32 Tps: 185
Bus: Q-bus, DSSI Interfaces: SGEC ethernet on CPU board
Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB)
Introduced: 1991 or later Enclosure: BA440
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAX 4000 M600A(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Omega/N+ Cpu: KA691, NVAX 83MHz (12ns), 10KB on chip cache, 512KB external cache
Vup: 32 Spec: 41.1
Tps: 185 Bus: Q-bus, DSSI
Interfaces: SGEC ethernet on CPU board
Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB)
Introduced: 1991 or later Enclosure: BA440
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAX 4000 M700A(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Legacy Cpu: KA692, NVAX 100MHz (10ns), 10KB on chip cache, 2MB external cache
Vup: 40 Spec: 51.6
Tps: 255 Bus: Q-bus, DSSI
Interfaces: SGEC ethernet on CPU board
Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB)
Introduced: 1991 or later NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAX 4000 M705A(VAX 4000 series index)

Nickname: Legacy+ Cpu: KA694, NVAX 111MHz (9ns), 10KB on chip cache, 2MB external cache
Vup: 45 Tps: 280
Bus: Q-bus (max throughput 3.3MB/s), 2 DSSI (max throughput 16MB/s) Interfaces: SGEC ethernet on CPU board
Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB)
Enclosure: BA440 or BA441 (Rackmount) NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17
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