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Document:	DEC-VAXstationFamilyOfWorkstations
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Digital’s VAXstation Family of Workstations
The Productivity Leaders for All Your Workstation Needs

Productivity Is Making Digital the Fastest Growing Workstation
Vendor in the Industry

You and your competition are doing everything you can to gain a competitive

edge. You're searching for ways to produce a better engineering design in a
shorter time. Trying to optimize manufacturing plans on schedule. Attempting to
update complex arbitrage and hedging strategies instantaneously as markets
change. In short, you're looking for ways to improve your productivity.
What you may not know is that many of your competitors are probably using
Digital’s VAXstation family of workstations to sharpen their edge.
In fact, Digital is now the fastest growing workstation vendor in the industry.
Because people like yourself are recognizing the value of workstations designed
with your overall productivity in mind. Not just MIPS, but productivity. That
means the right processing, graphics, networking, and applications to help solve
problems and increase productivity.

Digital’s VAXstation family includes a range of systems, each of which is designed
to address a certain set of your needs. Pick and choose, mix and match. They’re

all designed to work together.
Choose from the two most popular workstation operating systems. Use proven
technologies to set up a working environment in which computing resources are

in the hands of the people solving the problems. Select from among top-of-theline applications in engineering, CAD, CAM, finance, publishing, modeling,
laboratory, and many other areas. And enjoy service and support—hardware and

software service, consulting, educational offerings—from Digital’'s worldwide,
experienced service staff.
Behind this broad spectrum of workstation products, you'll find Digital’s
complete range of computer products and solutions. Digital is more than just a
workstation-only vendor. We're concerned with ensuring that your entire company, whether a small office or huge multinational corporation, use computing
resources that will increase your overall productivity by putting the best informa-

tion and information-processing tools in the hands of the people who need them.

VAXstation Systems Span the Range of Your Needs

The VAXstation family includes single-user workstations for a wide range of
computing needs. Our goal is to provide local processing, graphics, and storage
that’s appropriate to the work at hand. But more important, Digital’s approach is
to make sure you can share information easily among workstations and beyond.

So all of Digital’s VAXstation products share a common VAX processing heritage.
That means you can run the same applications and use the same data across your
entire set of VAXstations. And the same applications and data will run beyond
the workstation environment, too, on larger VAX systems located throughout
your organization.

VAXstation systems also use the same monitor and input devices to create a

familiar environment for users. The standard 19-inch (48.5-cm) color or monochrome monitor provides clear, crisp graphics. You can input and manipulate
data conveniently with Digital’s award-winning keyboard and three-button

mouse, or optional digitizing tablet with light pen or cross-haired puck.

1¢’s easy to tailor VAXstations to your

needs. For example, you can add storage devices to the VAXstation 2000, up

to a maximum of 318 Mbytes of local
bard-disk storage

For local storage, the decision’s up to you. You can configure your VAXstation
workstation with local disk storage or without.
Most important, all VAXstations are designed from the ground up to be net-

worked systems. That doesn’t mean you have to use them in a network, but if you
want a networked environment, you can set one up easily. An interface for

Ethernet, the most popular hardware medium for networking, is built into every
VAXstation. Use your choice of Digital’s networking software
— DECnet-OSI
(Digital’s OSI-compliant networking protocol with thousands of nodes installed)
or TCP/IP (the UNIX® networking protocol standard), plus gateways to IBM® or
X.25 networks—to tie your workstation into any other networked system, anywhere in the world.
Where Price Is the Key—The Versatile VAXstation 2000
For users who need 2-D graphics and the processing power of a workstation, and

for whom cost is a primary concern, there’s the VAXstation 2000. It is the lowestcost member of the VAXstation family. This desktop system comes in both color
and monochrome versions with four or eight planes of graphics, as well as in
disk-based and diskless implementations. Select either the 15-inch or the 19-inch

monitor—either way, you get the high-resolution screen you need.

If you're working in technical publishing, software development, or an administrative, business or educational environment, the monochrome VAXstation 2000
is an ideal choice. If you need low-end CAD capabilities or color business applications, the color version of the VAXstation 2000 is your low-cost choice.

For Entry-level 3-D and Expansion—The VAXstation II/GPX
Users who need entry-level 3-D graphics and the ability to add memory and local
disk storage will find the VAXstation II/GPX their best choice. The VAXstation
II/GPX delivers high-performance computing and high-performance graphics in
a deskside package.

Users working on VLSI and PC board layout, MCAD, process control monitoring,
CASE, and mapping find that the VAXstation II/GPX has everything they need to
get down to work. Also, the VAXstation II/GPX is the system to choose when you
need a low-cost Q-bus system.
High-performance Processing and Graphics—The VAXstation 3200 and 3500
Users who need exceptional processing speed and fast, low-end 3-D graphics can

choose the VAXstation 3200 and 3500 systems. Both offer Digital’s new CMOS
VAX processor to deliver high levels of local processing power—up to four times
that of the VAXstation I/GPX. Both come with either color or monochrome
graphics, and as disk-based or diskless systems.
The VAXstation 3200 is an expandable, deskside system that is most often used
in networked environments. The VAXstation 3500 is packaged in a new cabinet
that provides quiet operation and enhanced resistance to shock and vibration.
Equally appropriate in the office or on the factory floor, this cabinet provides
more option slots to provide maximum expansion for the VAXstation 3500.
If your work includes MCAD, ECAD, Artificial Intelligence (AI) system development, earth resources, molecular modeling, or complex realtime analytics, the
VAXstation 3200 or VAXstation 3500 is the system for you.

Industry-leading Graphics Speed and Clarity—The VAXstation 8000
The most demanding graphics users will find that the VAXstation 8000
meets their needs. The result of a joint development project between Evans
& Sutherland Inc. and Digital Equipment Corporation, the VAXstation 8000
provides the fastest vector drawing speed in the industry, outstanding realtime 3-D graphics clarity, and a high level of local processing power.

The VAXstation 8000 system consists of a powerful Digital processor and a
graphics coprocessor from Evans & Sutherland, an acknowledged leader in
computer graphics technology. Truly exceptional graphics are the result of a

unique antialiasing technique that uses hardware to provide very clean, crisp,
smooth images in realtime.
To manipulate complex 3-D graphic objects in realtime, choose the VAXstation

8000. Applications in which this top-of-the-line system is most popular include
molecular modeling, fluid dynamics, mechanical computer-aided engineering

and design, manufacturing engineering, command and control, and computer
animation.

VAXstation Family Comparison Chart

Monochrome available

Maximum simultaneous colors

VAXstation
2000

VAXstation
I/GPX

VAXstation
3200

VAXstation
3500

VAXstation
8000

160r256

16 million

Yes

Number
of planes

Tordor8

4or8

Jor8

Resolution (pixcls)

1024 by 864

Processor technology

ZMOS

CMOS

ZMOS

Relative processor performance
Graphics coprocessor§

11
Yes

1%
Yes

2.6w0421
Yes

2610427
Yes

141
Yes

Max. system memory

None

Qubus -

Qbus

16 Mbytes

32 Mbytes

Number of slots

None

8or12

20r6

Yes

159/318Mbytes

280/560 Mbytes

Yes

95 Mbytes

95 0r296 Mbytes

296 Mbytes

95 Mbytes

Expansion slots

Diskless support

Disk (Min/Max)
Internal tape

Ethernet

42/318Mbytes

Yes

* Effective 8192-by-6912 pixels
1 = VAX-11/780

+ One VAX 8250 CPU. Three MicroVAX 11 CPUs bring total to 4.3.
§ On grey-scale or color configurations

16 Mbytes

Backplane
Storage

14 Mbytes

71/477 Mbytes

Yes

Qbus
dor6

Yes

VAXBI bus
1

159/477 Mbytes

Yes

Choose from the Two Most Popular Workstation

Operating Systems

Digital offers you the two most popular workstation operating
industry: a UNIX product and a VMS product. Digital has been a leading supplier of UNIX systems ever since the first UNIX system was written on a Digital

PDP-7. In fact, Digital has been the leading seller of UNIX-based hardware and
software for the last 19

years. The renowned VMS operating

system was designed

and written specifically to take advantage of the VAX architecture. A sophisticated virtual-memory system, VMS offers a rich set of tools, utilities, and languages to help you work efficiently.

UNIX Products for VAXstations—
The ULTRIX-32w Family
Digital’s UNIX-based software is called ULTRIX. ULTRIX is based on the Berkeley Software Distribution 4.3 operating system and has base-level AT&T"TM System
V Interface Definition (SVID) support.
ULTRIX for VAXstations includes ULTRIX-32w windowing software that enables

users to open and manipulate multiple windows on the screen so that they can
work on multiple tasks simultaneously. The ULTRIX-32w software, based on the
emerging UNIX windowing standard, the X Window System,” enables you to
resize, restack, move, and iconify windows, and provides pop-up menus for creating new windows, changing colors, or starting applications. You can easily customize the software, 100, so you and other users have complete control over your
window environment. The X Window System also offers a complete graphics
toolkit, including windows, scrollbars, buttons, selectors, and geometry managers.
The X Window System, an emerging

windowing standard for UNIX-based
workstations, is network-based.
Graphic applications running on a
VAXstation 3500 Display

larger VAX host can run on a more

powerful processor on the network,
with the graphics result presented

within the local VAXstation X Window. You can literally get mainframe
compute power in each window!

VAXstation MicroVAX"
Engine

Application A
(X Window

System)

Ethernet
Tcemp

A key advantage of the X Window System is that it is network-based. So if you've

set your workstation up as part of a network, you'll be able to run graphics applications on more powerful systems in the network, and have the graphics presented on your workstation monitor. This technology can save you hours of
processing time by running compute-intensive tasks on servers on the network,
P——

while retaining the graphics presentation you need

AVMS System with Windows — VMS with VWS Software
People more familiar with Digital’s popular VMS operating

ystem may choose

VMS for VAXstation systems.

The VMS running on your workstation includes Digital’s VAX Workstation SoftThe X Window System for ULTRIX-

ware (VWS). VWS provides powerful multiwindowing graphics capabilities for

based VAXstations and the VWS win-

the VAXstation family. Through the VWS menu-based human interface, users

dowing system for VMS-based VAX-

have easy access to the VAXstation’s windowing routines. These menus help you

stations improve users’ productivity

create emulated VT220 windows, control their location, enlarge or shrink them,

by enabling them to move among win-

and change such display characteristics as background and text color.

dows to work on several tasks simultaneously. Users easily create, manipulate,

Building on the rich VMS application-development environment, the VWS soft-

and change the characteristics of the

ware makes it easy to create applications that can use multiple windows; generate

windows.

graphics
and produce such graphic ffects as zooming and panning; generate
text in application-selectable font: and react to user input from the mouse, keyboard, tablet, or other input devi
Digital has also announced the DECwindows

program, which will add a consis-

tent user interface to the X Window software already running in the ULTRIX32w software.
With VAXstations, You Can Have the Best of Both Worlds
If some people in your group prefer a UNIX system and others prefer a VMS system, that’s fine. Digital’s VAXstation family ofproducts includes a set of tools
that enables users to link their ULTRIX and VMS

[—

mixed operating

systems and applications in a

system environment. Users throughout the network will work

together smoothly, regardless ofthe operating system they choose.

For example, to facilitate networking in a mixed ULTRIX/VMS environment,
Digital offers TCP/IP and DECnet-OSI for ULTRIX and VMS systems. To help
application developers writing software for users in a mixed operating system
environment, Digital provides the same compilers (e.g.,

VAX FORTRAN and VAX

LISP) and graphics libraries (GKS and, for the VAXstation 8000, PHIGS) for both

ULTRIX and VMS systems.

Then, for UNIX users who want access to VMS, we offer VNXset software. VNXset provides a user interface identical to the ULTRIX user interface, including
VAX DEC/Shell, a command-language interface to VMS similar to the Bourne
shell; and VAX DEC/Code Management System and VAX DEC/Module Management $

em, which provide capabilities

similar to Source Code Control System.

Put Your Resources in the Hands of the People Who Need Them

As the pioneer of the minicomputer industry, Digital has been working for years
to put computing resources in the hands of the people who need them. In some

cases, that means a timesharing environment with users working at terminals. In
other cases, it means giving people powerful workstations that combine the efficiency of local processing and graphics with the networking that enables them to
share information and expensive resources.

With Digital’s distributed VAXstation strategy, you get the best of the workstation and timesharing worlds. Compute stations can be distributed when and

where needed. Expensive peripherals can be shared easily. And there’s no need
for large amounts of disk storage on each workstation. Large disks can be shared
transparently by all users. Workstation system management and maintenance is

centralized. Data and applications can easily be shared by all users. Best of all,
everyone has the graphics, power, and performance of Digital’s state-of-the-art

VAXstation workstations.
Digital provides distributed computing platforms for both VAXstation operating
systems: NFSTM for ULTRIX workstations, and Local Area VAXcluster software for
VMS workstations.
NFS for ULTRIX Workstations
For UNIX-based workstations, Digital supports the popular Network File System
(NFS). Using Ethernet as the hardware medium, NFS effectively creates a single,

systemwide directory to enable users to share files and data. Users working on a
VAXstation running ULTRIX have transparent access to files on larger VAX sys-

tems, on file servers, and on other workstations. Users need never concern themselves with whether the file is on a local disk, or on a remote system.
NES also simplifies system management with its network administrator service,
Yellow Pages. Yellow Pages distributes and maintains the data needed to define
the network, its users, and services. Network managers who have centralized
access to this information enter any necessary changes once, and Yellow Pages
automatically updates all related data files.
Local Area VAXcluster Software for VMS Users
For VAXstation users running VMS, Digital offers the powerful Local Area VAX-

cluster software. This elegant network clustering scheme offers truly transparent
distributed computing. Local Area VAXcluster systems integrate diskless and
disk-based VAXstation and MicroVAX systems with servers, high-speed peripherals, and midrange and large VAX systems. The result is an environment that can
work as a single, powerful, flexible system.

Local Area VAXcluster software for
VMS-based VAXstations creates a single
environment in which every system in
the Local Area VAXcluster has transparent access to any other system or
resource attached to the Ethernet. Now
Local Area VAXclusters can also connect to VAXclusters of larger systems.

Ethernet

Large Disks

The Local Area VAXcluster software provides a single file system that is available
to the entire cluster of systems. With it, the Ethernet network becomes the backbone ofthe VAXcluster environment, giving every

system on the VAXcluster

transparent access to any other system or resource attached to it. This means that
users working on VAXstations have instant access to the Local Area VAXcluster’s
disk and file servers, high-speed printers and plotters, and to high-performance
compute servers such as the VAX 8840.

When you set up your workstations in a Local Area VAXcluster environment,
you no longer need large amounts of local storage for each VAXstation: the VMS
operating system, windowing software, and data and applications can be stored

centrally.
- You and other users in a Local Area VAXcluster environment will also find yourselves with more time to do productive work because you won't have to deal
with the system maintenance generally associated with workstations. All of the
systems

in the VAXcluster are managed as a single VAX system, so individual

VAXstation users are completely free from such regular maintenance tasks as

backing up data and updating software when new versions are released.

Applications That Get the Work Done

The bottom line in workstation productivity is applications.

n you run the
applications you want on the workstation? If you want to use proven applica-

tions from leading software vendors, the answer for VAXstations s a resounding
“Yes!”

Over the years, Digital has cultivated solid business relationships with many of

the top-of-the-line application vendors. These companies make their software
applications available for new Digital systems as soon as they’re announced.
Choose from among the most respected applications in such application areas as

ECAD, MCAD, science and research, research and laboratories, carth resources,
CASE, electronic engineering, office, electronic publishing, Computer Integrated

Choose from top-of-the-line worksta-

tion applications in a variety of application areas, and take advantage of the

thousands of applications available for
VAX systems.

Manufacturing (CIM), and Al

Because all of Digital’s VAX systems share a common heritage, VAXstation users

also have access to the applications that are available for Digital’s other VAX systems. That's literally thousands of applications: VAX systems boast the largest
library of applications available on a single family of products. Use the VAX

Software Source Book and the ULTRIX Software Source Book to get a sense of just
how many applications are available to you.

DECwindows Program Puts All Applications Within Your Reach

The DECwindows Program may be the most important factor in your future

productivity. With the DECwindows Program, Digital has announced its intention to provide users with a consistent user interface for applications, whether

they’re using ULTRIX, VMS, or MS-DOS, or whether the application is running
locally or halfway around the world. Just think of the savings in training and

retraining, in hours lost making costly mistakes because you're working in an

unfamiliar environment.

The DECwindows program is based on the X Window System software Digital

currently offers on ULTRIX workstations. The X Window System allows users to
run applications anywhere on the network simply by opening a window on their
VAXstations. The application runs wherever it resides, and the graphics are dis-

played at the user’s workstation. To this base, DECwindows will add a consistent
user interface that will be available with all software from Digital. The DECwindows Toolkit will also make it easy for application developers to write software
that will present the same consistent interface to users.
Watch for announcements of DECwindows products.

Integrated Services Offer Support for All Aspects of Your
Computing Solution

Digital understands that you're probably much more interested in getting your

work done than you are in worrying about your computing solutions. So we offer
one of the most diverse suites of services available in the industry. Service that
keeps your systems running at peak performance, helps your company design
and implement the best computing solution, and brings users up to speed quickly.

Worldwide Service from Over 10,000 Professionals
Timely, efficient service for your workstations is an important aspect of ensuring
your productivity. It’s simple: the more uptime you have, the more work you can
get done.
Behind each VAXstation stands a service team of over 10,000 experienced service

Worldwide service from Digital
includes hardware and software service
for your systems, management consul-

professionals. Developed over the course of more than 30 years, this organization
is one of the largest, most respected service groups in the computing industry.
The robust service options available to you translate into more uptime for your

tants to help you implement the best

systems, whether you’re responsible for a few workstations downstairs or for

computing solution for your organiza-

hundreds around the world.

tion, and educational services to get
users up to speed quickly.

Digital’s Customer Services organization offers many different service and maintenance options to help you take care of your VAXstations, from basic hardware

and software support to the peripherals and software that you add as your needs
grow. In addition, special software and systems resource teams are available for
customized VAXstation solutions.
There’s a service package that's right for your needs. Full service is available any-

where in the world. Or, you can opt for carry-in or per-call service. Whatever
your needs, Digital is there to help your system work at maximum efficiency.
Digital Can Help You Design and Implement a Complete Solution
In all likelihood, your VAXstations will be one of many computing resources

working on your business problems. Digital’s experienced service staff can help
you get the most from these resources by designing and then managing the
implementation of solutions that range from application programs to complete
systems and networks. Look to our management services professionals to provide leadership and management expertise for your projects, programs, and system integration efforts. Or count on our network experts to provide a full range of
services that can optimize your network.
The Right Training Shortens the Learning Curve to Productivity
Learning how to get the most out of your workstation environment is crucial to
increasing your productivity. Training from Digital Educational Services can help
make that learning process as convenient as possible, with your choice of class-

room lectures and labs at one of over 40 training and consulting centers around
the globe, computer-based instruction, interactive video technology, self-paced
print and video-based courses, and seminars. If you prefer, our education professionals will work with you at your:site to provide custom training.

With VAXstations, You Build Your Future on Standards

We all hear a lot of talk these days about the importance of standards. Seemingly

overnight, companies claim they've developed a standard for this or that. It’s

confusing—so many standards, so many claims of standardization.
Amid all the confusion Digital is taking a consistent stance. We’ve been working

on computing solutions long enough to appreciate the painstaking work involved

in developing a standard. Point by point, detail by detail, with give-and-take
among technology experts and users with investments in existing technology to

protect. It’s this kind of time-consuming, expensive work and rework that derives
meaningful standards. And it’s this kind of standards development that Digital
participates in and drives.
But we know that you can’t just sit back and wait while this long process takes

place. So we commit ourselves to adhering to developing standards—such as
UNIX, POSIX, OSI, and X Windows. You're assured that the products you order
today will be able to work within the standard environments as they develop over
the years.
Your Workstations Will Help You Work Productively with the Whole Company
With so many workstation vendors, the description of the workstation product is

the end of the discussion. With Digital, it’s only the beginning.
Digital offers a full line of compatible, networked computing solutions, from
desktop VAXstations through the large VAX 8800 Series and VAXclusters.
With this product breadth, Digital can offer you a complete range of integrated

solutions throughout your organization, and beyond. And assure you that the
VAXstations you buy today will easily become part of a larger computing
environment

Moreover, Digital leads the industry in integrating computers from a variety of

vendors into a single, productive information system. The recently announced
Network Application Support program underscores Digital’s long-term commitment to making it easy to integrate systems from other vendors into Digital’s
DECnet/OSI networks.

For More Information...
For more information on how VAXstation workstations from Digital can help
your organization be more productive, contact your local sales representative.

Digital believes the information in this publication is accurate as of its publication date; such information is subjct to change without notice. Dis

alis no responsible for any inadvertent errors

The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation: DEC.

Digital logo, MicroVAX, PDP, Q-bus, ULTRIX, ULTRIX-32,

UNIBUS,

DECUS, DECwindows,

the

VAX, VAXBI, VAXcluster, VMS,

and VT
Third-party trademarks: AT&T

is a trademark of American
Telephone and Telegraph Company. IBM

is a registered trademark of International Business Machines
MicroSystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of American

Corporation. NFS

is a trademark of Sun

Telephone
& Telegraph Company.

X Window System is a trademark of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.