CHARON-VAX/XM, /XK and /XL for Windows
The CHARON-VAX products are software packages that accurately simulate and create a virtual VAX system hardware on a modern host platform.They are designed to run VAX software in unmodified binary form on that new platform. CHARON-VAX/XM, /XK and /XL for Windows are third generation implementations of CHARON-VAX, tested with AXE, the VAX architecture compatibility verification tool used by DEC in the design of VAX hardware.
CHARON-VAXes compatibility with the VAX computers is verified with AXE. HP will provide existing VAX customers with VMS and layered product licenses for transfer from a hardware VAX to CHARON-VAX. When CHARON-VAX is running on HP products, the transfer license permits customers to maintain their HP VAX software warranties. Transfer license information can be found here.
CHARON-VAX/XL emulates the maximum size VAX 3100-98 or VAX 4000-108 server configuration. This includes the CPU, disk controllers, 512 MB emulated VAX memory, and corresponding number of Ethernet controllers as on the hardware VAX 3100-98 or VAX 4000-108. The disks can be much larger than the maximum size originally shipped with the corresponding hardware VAX. CHARON-VAX/XK Plus is the reduced cost version of the product with a maximum of 256 MB VAX memory.
CHARON-VAX/XM emulates a variety of CPUs, namely VAX 4000-106, VAX 3100-96, VAX 3600 and MicroVAX II, disk controllers as on the corresponding hardware VAX, up to 128 MB VAX memory, and the corresponding number of Ethernet controllers as on the hardware VAX.
To beat or exceed the system performance required, CHARON-VAX/XM/XL products optionally come with the Accelerated CPU Emulation (ACE). ACE optimises VAX instruction interpretation by substituting common VAX code sequences with native instructions, improving the VAX CPU emulation speed 3 to 4 times. ACE does not compromise VAX instruction decoding accuracy; the product remains fully VAX hardware compatible and ACE is completely transparent to VAX operating systems and applications. ACE is standard on CHARON-VAX/XK.
CHARON-VAX/XM, /XK or /XL can replace not only the VAX 3100 family but most modern VAX systems, as VMS strictly separates the applications from the underlying hardware characteristics. CHARON-VAX/XM, /XK or /XL systems running OpenVMS can be networked via Ethernet, DECnet and TCP/IP, and can be clustered using NI clusters or shared disk clusters. In the shared-disk cluster configuration, a Storage Area Network (SAN) device can be used to provide high-speed access to shared storage across the cluster. Even mixed clusters with VAX or Alpha hardware can be created with NI clusters. Depending on the host platform, CHARON-VAX/XL Plus can exceed the CPU performance of a VAX 7000-710.
Pointers to Software Product Descriptions (PDF files)
The Software Product Description (SPD) includes a detailed description of the product as well as order number, license and support options.
| Product | Virtual VAX model |
|---|---|
| CHARON-VAX/XM >> Download SPD (PDF) |
VAX 4000-106, VAX 3100-96, VAX 3600/3900, MicroVAX II. Up to 128MB memory. |
| CHARON-VAX/XM Plus >> Download SPD (PDF) |
VAX 4000-106, VAX 3100-96, VAX 3600/3900, MicroVAX II. Up to 128MB memory, accelerated VAX CPU emulation. |
| CHARON-VAX/XK Plus >> Download SPD (PDF) |
VAX 4000-108, VAX 3100-98. Up to 256 MB memory, accelerated VAX CPU emulation. |
| CHARON-VAX/XL >> Download SPD (PDF) |
VAX 4000-108, VAX 3100-98. Up to 512 MB memory. |
| CHARON-VAX/XL Plus >> Download SPD (PDF) |
VAX 4000-108, VAX 3100-98. Up to 512 MB memory, accelerated VAX CPU emulation. |
