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vtAlpha-AS (Alpha Start) Product Description

vtAlpha allows the owners of Alpha computer systems to move their
entire Alpha software installation to a more modern environment
(X86 computer, Virtual Machine or Cloud) without changes.
No software migration is required, saving enormous amounts
of effort, time and money.
6 vtAlpha variants are available to cover the whole range of Alpha
systems that were manufactured during its life-time.
vtAlpha-AS (Alpha Start) is developed to replace one of the
following Alpha computer systems:
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AlphaStation 200, 250, 255
AlphaServer 300 and 400
DEC3000

Since Alpha-based applications won’t run on modern computers,
vtAlpha creates the Alpha hardware interfaces that the original
operating system and user programs expect to find. This way your
Alpha software can continue to run without making changes to it.
vtAlpha translates in real-time between the old and the new world.
It facilitates use of modern storage, backup and IT infrastructures
that were never supported by the old Alpha computers. Simply
specify the configuration of the Alpha computer being replaced and
vtAlpha will build a virtual equivalent of that old hardware to run your
existing applications on.
After creating a virtual Alpha, binary image copies of the original
Alpha disks are transferred to the virtual Alpha host. After that you
can boot from these copied disks and resume the operation as
usual, without changes to the Alpha software itself.
CPU and Memory
vtAlpha-AS supports:

This is all transparent for the Alpha software, which still ‘sees’ the
old device types. vtAlpha seamlessly connects the old Alpha world
to the modern storage equipment.
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Physical and logical disks
Physical and logical tapes
CD-ROM (logical and physical)
Direct SCSI-attached devices of unknown origin

All original Alpha disk types and sizes are supported by vtAlpha.
Logical Disks and Tapes
To the virtual Alpha these appear as regular disks or tapes, attached
to one of the virtual storage adapters configured in the virtual Alpha.
On the host system these will be files in directories on the host
attached storage.
This allows combining multiple virtual Alpha disks on a single host
disk. Or making really fast backups to logical tapes and then
including these logical tape files (after dismount) in a regular backup
process that is used in your organization.
Physical Disks and Tapes
Direct access to physical disks and tapes is supported, by assigning
a physical disk or partition to a virtual disk in vtAlpha. Or by
connecting a physical tape/disk drive to a virtual Alpha tape/disk.
Physical DVD/CD-ROMs as Virtual DVD/CD-ROMs (ISO images)
are supported, which can be connected as CD-ROM to vtAlpha.
Direct SCSI device

vtAlpha-AS supports both OpenVMS and Tru64 as guest operating
systems. Minimum releases:
OpenVMS 6.2-1h3
Digital UNIX / Tru64 3.2C

The vtAlpha host system can use more modern storage elements,
like SAS, SATA, modern SAN or other network-based storage, like
iSCSI and NFS.

CD-ROM

1 virtual Alpha CPU
Up to 32 GB virtual Alpha memory

Supported Alpha Operating Systems

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vtAlpha presents the virtualized Alpha all the hardware interfaces it
expects (e.g., KZPBA SCSI and KGPSA FibreChannel) and the
storage devices it is used to work with.

Supported Storage Devices:

How does it work?


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Storage Subsystem

This allows connecting generic SCSI devices for which a custom
peripheral driver is present in the Alpha Operating System. vtAlpha
only processes the SCSI communication.

Clustering is supported (both OpenVMS and Tru64).

Doc: AM-0002-19

contact@avtware.com

Network Subsystem

Secure Environment

vtAlpha offers support for the following Ethernet adapters:

vtAlpha creates a secure environment that can be configured by the
system manager to meet the security needs of your company.

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DE600, DE500
DE450, DE435

Security highlights:

Virtual network switch support enables sharing the host Ethernet
links with multiple virtual Alphas.
All Alpha guest OS supported protocols will run on vtAlpha.
Virtual LAN (VLAN) infrastructure is supported.

Serial Lines
vtAlpha includes support for the two COM ports that are available on
every Alpha system: OPA0 and COM2. These virtual devices can be
mapped to:
A physical VT-like device connected to the host
Any VT-terminal emulator via telnet/ssh
Pseudo terminal on the host’s console

vtAlpha installs directly on the host (X86 hardware, Virtual Machine
or Cloud) without the need for a pre-installed operating system like
Windows or Linux.
This not only assures the security and availability of your virtual
Alpha installation, it also saves you the cost and effort to purchase
and maintain such additional operating systems.
Everything that is required to run your virtual Alphas and control the
host environment is included in the vtAlpha product. It is often
referred to as Bare Metal installation.
Host recommendations: www.avtware.com/vtalpha-x86.

vtAlpha also includes support for the PBXDA serial lines adapter,
that can add 8 serial lines to the two that are already available.
License Protection
vtAlpha is a software product available under End-User License.
The licenses are stored on a Smart Card device with USB connector
for maximum compatibility/flexibility. This license key is only 3 mm
high, limiting the risk of damage or accidental removal when in use.
The License Protection Mechanism can control multiple instances of
vtAlpha inside one host computer or in a company network,
providing maximum flexibility and fail-over capabilities allowing a
low-cost disaster-tolerant installation.
System Management
The product includes the vtMonitor management tool that helps
manage and control the virtual Alpha environment from any location
that has network access to the vtAlpha host.
It is an easy to use and intuitive user interface that facilitates the
management of the virtual Alpha systems as well as the host
environment they run on.

Doc: AM-0002-19

Access roles and configurable security levels
Secure communication protocols
Encrypted environment in the Cloud
Event logging and alerts (configurable)

Host Computer Environment.

The actual speed of the vtAlpha supported network connections may
be better than what the original Alpha Ethernet adapters could
deliver, given the higher capacity of the modern network adapters in
the host.

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Storage
For host based storage you can select any type of device:
FibreChannel, SCSI, iSCSI, SATA, SAS, NAS, SAN or NFS. vtAlpha
translates between the storage that the Alpha software expects and
what the host has to offer.
Orderable Items
Base License to run one virtual Alpha system. This base license
includes one virtual Alpha CPU
Annual Software Support Service providing free access to the
vtAlpha support group as well as the right to obtain and install newer
product versions during the term of the support agreement.
Disaster Recovery License, offers 720 hours of vtAlpha-AS usage
that can be consumed in 10 minute intervals to survive a host
hardware break-down.
Product Origin
vtAlpha is developed, maintained and owned by Advanced
Virtualization Technologies, The Netherlands (www.avtware.com).

contact@avtware.com