MicroVAX 3400 VAXserver 3400 Technical Information

This document, "MicroVAX 3400 VAXserver 3400 Technical Information," published in September 1988 by Digital Equipment Corporation, serves as a technical summary for the MicroVAX 3400 and VAXserver 3400 computer systems.

The manual is structured into three main parts:

1. Base System Specifications (Chapter 1): Details the core components of the systems, which reside in a BA213 enclosure with a 12-slot backplane. The central element is the KA640 CPU module, featuring a CPU chip with 1 Kbyte cache, Floating-Point Accelerator (FPA), 4 Mbytes of memory, a Digital Small Storage Interconnect (DSSI) bus adapter, an Ethernet controller, and a Q-bus interface. It describes the DSSI bus characteristics (4 Mbytes/second bandwidth, supporting up to eight devices), the KA640 firmware (console program, self-tests, bootstrap), and the operations of the CPU cover panel (including power-up modes, break enable/disable switch, LED display, and console terminal connector). The document provides detailed specifications for the KA640 processor and the MS650 memory option (up to three 8-Mbyte modules).

2. Option Specifications (Chapter 2): Provides in-depth information on a wide array of optional components that can be added to the MicroVAX 3400 and VAXserver 3400 systems. These options are categorized into:

   • Mass Storage: Including RF30 fixed-disk drives, various tape drives (TK70, TK50, TS05) and their controllers (TQK70, TQK50, TSV05), and optical disk drives (RV20) with their controllers (KLESI).
   • Communications: A range of asynchronous serial controllers (e.g., CXA16, CXB16, CXY08, DFA01, CXF16, CXF32, DSRVB DECserver 200), synchronous serial controllers (DSV11, DMV11, DPV11, KMV1A), and network controllers (DESQA, DELQA) for Ethernet connections.
   • Real-Time Controllers: Such as parallel interfaces (DRQ3B, DRV1W), digital-to-analog (AAV11-S, AXV11) and analog-to-digital (ADV11-S, ADQ32) converters, programmable real-time clocks (KWV11-S), and programmable read-only memory modules (MRV11-D).
   • Printer Options: Covers various types including line printers (LG01, LG02, LG31, LP29), dot matrix printers (LA75, LA100, LA120, LA210), letter-quality printers (LQP02, LQP03), ink jet printers (LJ250/LJ252), and laser printers (LN03 series). For each option, functional information, performance, configuration details, and operating system support are provided.

3. System Expansion (Chapter 3): Offers guidelines for determining whether the system can accommodate additional options, focusing on power requirements and using a provided worksheet. It clarifies that configuration (setting Control and Status Register addresses and interrupt vectors) and installation are typically performed by Digital service representatives, advising users to consult with them for complex additions.

The document is designed to assist users in understanding the capabilities of their MicroVAX 3400 and VAXserver 3400 systems and in planning for hardware upgrades, noting that VAXserver 3400 systems are optimized for non-timesharing applications and certain devices may not be suitable.