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EK-ASV80-TS

1997

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Document:	AlphaServer 800 Technical Summary
Order Number:	EK-ASV80-TS
Revision:	0
Pages:	9
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AlphaServer 800
Technical Summary

Contents

1
Investment Protection

4
Storage Architecture

AlphaServer 800 Pedestal System
AlphaServer 800 Rackmount System

Removable Storage
SCSI Storage Expansion
Hot-swap disk drives
External Options

2
AlphaServer 800 Pedestal System Components

CPU Cards
System Board
I/O Buses
PCI Bus
EISA Bus
System Memory

Reliability

Power Control System
Thermal Management
Clustering
Server Management

Operational Management
Platform Management
Maintenance

3
Features and Benefits

System Performance
Reliability and Availability
Flexible Packaging
System Expansion
System Features at a Glance

5
Performance

Sources of Performance Information
Information for Digital Partners
Internet Server on Windows NT and Digital UNIX
Further Information on the World Wide Web
6
System Architecture
Physical Characteristics and Operating Environment

DIGITAL AlphaServer 800

The DIGITAL AlphaServer 800 system provides large-server

Figure 1 AlphaServer 800 Pedestal System

performance and features at an entry level price. It excels
at applications like mail and messages, Internet web
server, and remote communications server. The
AlphaServer 800 incorporates many high availability
features typically found only on more costly high-end
servers, such as hot-swap disk drives, ECC memory,
remote management console (RMC), robust server
management software (ServerWORKS), and cluster support.

Investment Protection
The AlphaServer 800 system provides investment protection
you can count on. Choose from three popular operating
systems: Windows NT, DIGITAL UNIX, and OpenVMS.
These operating systems and thousands of applications benefit
from Alpha chip performance. The CPU is based on a 21164
microprocessor that is a superscalar, super-pipelined
implementation of the 64-bit Alpha RISC architecture, running
at optimized price/performance speeds.

IP00021

Figure 2 AlphaServer 800 Rackmount System

AlphaServer 800 Pedestal System

The pedestal system is a deskside, low-noise unit designed for
office space where a compact footprint and low to medium disk
storage capacities are required. A motherboard contains all
memory (up to 1 GB of main memory) and I/O components,
PCI/EISA I/O bus with option slots, and integrated I/O
controllers. A separate CPU and cache daughter card allow for
easy processor upgrades.
EL

RVE

0 5/4

AlphaServer 800 Rackmount System

The rackmount system utilizes the same basic system box.
Mounted horizontally, it fits in a standard 19-inch rack, faced
with a protective bezel instead of the hinged door. The box can
have up to four internal mass-storage devices; additional
storage can also be mounted in the rack.
IP00065E

AlphaServer 800 Pedestal System Components

System Board

The main components of the system are shown in Figure 3.

The AlphaServer 800 system provides the following I/O
functionality:
• SVGA controller, with 1MB Video RAM, supporting highresolution graphics and text display for a variety of color
CRT monitors without using an expansion slot
• Fast wide single-ended SCSI controller
• Bi-directional parallel port and two serial ports
• Keyboard and mouse interface
• Remote management console (RMC) for monitoring the
system from a remote location

1) Removable side cover of system enclosure
2) Floppy diskette drive
3) Removable media drives
4) Lower and upper doors
5) Control panel
6) Hard disk drives
7) Disk status lights
8) Memory banks
9) Remote management console
10) CPU daughter card
11) PCI/EISA bus slots
12) Power supply

I/O Buses

PCI and EISA I/O buses accommodate industry-standard option
cards.

Figure 3 AlphaServer 800 System Components

PCI Bus

The PCI (peripheral component interconnect) is the preferred
I/O bus for high-performance I/O options. The PCI bus has the
following characteristics:
• Fully compliant with PCI Version 2.0 Specification
• Operates at 33 MHz
• Supports three 32-bit options and one 64-bit option
• Supports onboard SVGA controller with 1 MB Video Ram

2
3

EISA Bus

5
4

11
1

The EISA bus is used for several medium-performance options,
such as modems and other peripherals. It also controls the
Xbus which includes the real-time clock, NVRAM, and
operator control panel interface. The EISA bus is backwardcompatible with ISA bus options, provided the operating
system supports the device. The EISA bus has the following
characteristics:
• Operates at 8.33 MHz
• Supports up to three EISA options

IP00110C

System Memory
CPU Cards

Two CPU cards are available for the AlphaServer 800:
333 MHz and 400 MHz. Each card contains:
• a 21164 microprocessor
• a chipset interfacing the CPU, 256-bit wide ECC-protected
memory subsystem, and 64-bit PCI bus
• 8 Kbytes of serial ROM, providing the CPU with
power-up code
• 2 MB of third-level cache
The 21164 Alpha CPU chips have the following features:
• Floating-point unit, supports DEC and IEEE floating-point
data types
• 32 integer registers, 64 bits wide
• 32 floating-point registers, 64 bits wide
• 8K on-chip, direct-mapped, write-through physical data
cache
• 8K on-chip, direct-mapped, read-only virtual instruction
cache
• On-chip-second-level 96 KB 3-way set associative write
back cache

The AlphaServer 800 system memory is located on the system
board. System memory consists of:
• Two banks (four DIMMs in each bank)
• 3.3V EDO ECC DIMMs
• Each bank can be 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB
• Maximum of 1 GB memory is supported
• DIGITAL UNIX systems support one Prestoserve NVRAM
option per system

Features and Benefits

System Features at a Glance

The AlphaServer 800 provides the following features to ensure
high performance, expandability, enhanced reliability, and high
availability.

Table 1 summarizes the AlphaServer 800 system
features and specifications.

• System Performance
The AlphaServer 800, with the high performance 64-bit Alpha
chip architecture, is available with a 333 or 400 MHz
microprocessor and 2 MB third-level cache, enhancing system
performance, and significantly reducing memory transaction
times. The system has an integrated PCI graphics controller
and a fast wide SCSI controller, which supports tape, CDROM, and hard disk devices; these integrated functions free
expansion slots for other I/O applications. An ultra SCSI-ready
storage backplane provides high-performance drive technology.
• Reliability and Availability
The AlphaServer 800 system incorporates several features to
enhance reliability and availability. Internal sensors monitor
and detect internal system temperature, fan failure, and system
status. Variable fan speeds adjust according to system
temperature. ECC (error correction code) allows recovery from
most cache and memory errors, and hot-swapping of 3.5-inch
half-height devices allows for the replacement of disk drives
while the system continues to operate.
• Flexible Packaging
The AlphaServer 800 system is available as a free-standing
pedestal or rack-mountable box.
• System Expansion
Flexible memory architecture provides a 256-bit memory data
path allowing incremental memory expansion from 32 MB to 1
GB. Three 32-bit PCI slots, one shared 64-bit PCI/EISA slot,
and two dedicated EISA slots accommodate industry-standard
option cards such as Ethernet, FDDI, SCSI, and modems. A
modular storage system accommodates up to four 3.5-inch fullheight SCSI devices, up to three 5.25-inch half-height devices
(CD-ROM or tape), and one 3.5-inch high-density diskette
drive, or one 5.25-inch half-height device and one 5.25-inch
full-height device. Two serial ports and one parallel port
support external options such as printer, modem, or local
terminal.

Table 1 AlphaServer 800 Server Features
Hardware

Environment
Processor
Cache on chip
I-cache/D-cache
Secondary cache
Upgrades
B-cache size

Office environment (Class B)
One Alpha 21164 (333 or 400 MHz)

Memory (max.)
Floppy disk
CD-ROM

8 KB/8 KB
96 KB, 3-way set associative
Memory, CPU, storage
2 MB (16 bytes wide, block size of 64
bytes)
1 GB
1.44 MB
600 MB 12x

Performance

Model 5/333

Model 5/400

SPECint95
SPECfp95
SPECint_rate95
SPECfp_rate95

9.8
12.5
88
113

11.7
13.7
105
123

Internal Storage

Removable media
Maximum internal
storage
Total internal storage
I/O slots
Max. I/O throughput
system throughput
PCI
EISA
Operating Systems

Up to four, including CD-ROM and
floppy diskette
4 hot-swap SCSI drives
36 GB
3 PCI, 2 EISA, 1 shared PCI/EISA
528 MB/sec
264 MB/sec
33 MB/sec
Microsoft Windows NT Server,
OpenVMS, DIGITAL UNIX

Availability Features

System

OpenVMS clusters
DIGITAL UNIX
TruClusters
solutions

System auto reboot, remote management
console (RMC), disk hot-swap, ECC
cache, ECC memory, ECC system bus,
error logging, optional uninterruptible
power supply, memory failover, thermal
management
Ethernet, DSSI, FDDI, SCSI, CI
SCSI, PCI to MEMORY CHANNEL™
interconnect

Warranty

Hardware
Software

3-year, on site
90-day SPD conformance with advisory
telephone support

Storage Architecture

Server Management

The AlphaServer 800 system storage architecture is designed
for maximum performance and easy operation. All storage
bays are accessible from the front of the system.

The AlphaServer products support important operational and
platform management requirements.
Operational Management

Removable Storage

The system includes a 3.5-inch floppy drive and CD-ROM.
The built-in SCSI bus provides connectors for adding up to
three single-ended SCSI devices.
SCSI Storage Expansion

The system supports optional external expansion using a PCIbased SCSI controller. Up to two SCSI breakouts are provided
for SCSI expansion, with a maximum expansion in excess of
1.5 TB. A PCI RAID controller can be used for hot-swap of
internal or external drives.
Hot-swap disks

Up to four 1.0-inch or 1.6-inch high 3.5-inch SCSI hard disks
are accommodated in the system. These can be removed and
replaced while the system remains operating.
External Options

External options include a monitor or terminal, expansion
boxes, printers, RAID controller, uninterruptible power supply
(UPS), and modem.

Reliability
Power Control System

The power system uses several power conditioning functions to
protect against high-voltage transients. The power system is
capable of withstanding under-voltage conditions and power
interruptions on one or more current phases without causing
physical damage. The power system also provides a small
amount of continuous voltage which is used by the remote
management console hardware even when the system is
powered off.

Server/Network Management. ServerWORKS Manager
software is included with each system. This software utilizes
the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
environment to assist the network or server administrator by
constantly monitoring the network for problems, thus avoiding
expensive downtime. The software monitors vital server
information, such as CPU and file system utilization, as well as
the condition of the network supported by the management
console.
Remote Server Management. The remote management console
(RMC), integrated on the system board, enables the user to
monitor and control the system remotely and also provides
operator paging under “alert” conditions. This console lets the
administrator perform several tasks from a serial console:
monitor the power supplies, temperature, and fans, and reset,
halt, and power the sy stem on or off, regardless of the operating
system or hardware state.
Platform Management

The AlphaServer 800 system supports platform management
tasks such as manipulating and monitoring hardware
performance, configuration, and errors. For example, the
operating systems provide a number of tools to detect and
display errors in the system error log file. Other software can
be used to analyze and diagnose such errors.
In addition, every AlphaServer system provides robust console
firmware. Hardware configuration tools and diagnostics
facilitate quick installation and troubleshooting. The system
operator can use simple console commands to show the system
configuration, devices, boot and operational parameters, and
recorded errors.

Thermal Management

The system’s thermal management is designed to maximize
system reliability. Sensors monitor internal system temperature
and fan failure, shutting down the system if necessary.
Clustering

Maintenance
The system covers slide off, making components easy to
access. The CPU, memory, PCI, and EISA options are plug-in
cards that require no special switch or jumper settings for
normal operation.

The AlphaServer 800 system supports clustering capabilities for
DIGITAL UNIX and OpenVMS. A cluster is a loosely coupled
set of systems that behaves (is addressed and managed) like a
single system, but provides high levels of availability through
redundant CPUs, storage, and data paths. Clusters are also
highly scalable, meaning that CPU, I/O, storage, and
application resources can be added incrementally to efficiently
grow capacity. For cu stomers, this translates to reliable access
to system resources and data, and investment protection of both
hardware and software.
•
•

DIGITAL UNIX supports TruCluster and SCSI based
clusters.
OpenVMS supports SCSI, CI, Ethernet, FDDI, and DSSI
based clusters.

Performance
DIGITAL has an ongoing program of performance engineering,
using industry-standard benchmarks that allow comparisons
across major vendors’ systems. These benchmarks against
competitive systems are based on comparable CPU
performance, coupled with comparable memory and disk
expandability.
Remember that system performance depends on application
characteristics. Thus, benchmark information is one helpful
“data point” to be used in conjunction with other purchase
criteria such as features, service, and price.

•
•

FTP. Access performance documents from
ftp://gatekeeper.dec.com. The directory is
pub/DEC/DECinfo/performance.
World Wide Web. The document URL (Uniform Resource
Locator) is http://www.digital.com/info/performance.html.

Information for DIGITAL Partners

DIGITAL partners can access DIGITAL’s Integrated
Repository from DECGenisys V1.2. Digital Today, Business
Partner Edition, occasionally contains articles on performance
of Alpha systems and announcements of available documents.
Also see the Alliances and Partners web site located at
http://www.digital.com/other-servers.html.

Sources of Performance Information

You can access performance information from DIGITAL using
your fax machine as well as several online sources.
• InstaFACTS. The InstaFACTS fax service delivers
information directly to your fax machine. Call
1-800-723-4431 (through a touch-tone phone in the U.S.A.
and Canada) and 908-885-6426 (outside the U.S.A. and
Canada). A catalog of documents is available from which
you can order an abbreviated table of performance
information, including DIGITAL performance briefs and
flashes, TPC results, AIM results, and graphics results.

Internet Server on Windows NT and
DIGITAL UNIX
The AlphaServer 800 system comes ready with all popular
modes of connection to the Internet. It can also be preconfigured with the most commonly used Internet applications, allowing customers immediate access to Internet information, news
groups, and electronic mail.

Further Information on the World Wide Web
The web site located at http://www.digital.com/alphaserver
offers further information on the DIGITAL AlphaServer line.

System Architecture
Figure 4 shows the AlphaServer 800 system architecture.

Figure 4 System Architecture
333-400 MHz Processor

CPU Card
SROM

21164

QLOGIC
ISP1020A

Fast-Wide
SCSI Bus
TOY

PCI Slot
PCI Slot

Bcache
2MB

Flash
ROM
(1MB)

PCI Slot

64-bit
PCI

CIA
DSW

EISA
Config
RAM
8242
Keybd &
Mouse

Buffers
Keyboard
Mouse

EISA Slot

X-Bus

EISA Slot
Memory
(32MB-1GB)

NS
87332

EISA Slot

Floppy Port
Parallel Port
COM2
COM1

PCI-EISA
Bridge

EISA Bus
SVGA
S3
TRI064

Primary PCI Bus

Remote
Mgmt
Console
Modem Port
Local
Terminal Port

IP00085A

Physical Characteristics and Operating Environment
Table 2 lists the physical characteristics and operating conditions for the AlphaServer 800 pedestal system and AlphaServer 800
rackmount system.
Table 2 AlphaServer 800 Physical Characteristics
Characteristic

AlphaServer 800 Pedestal

AlphaServer 800 Rackmount

Height
Width
Depth
Weight

45 cm (17.7 in.)
22.6 cm (8.9 in.)
65.8 cm (25.9 in.)
typical: 24.5 kg (54 lbs)
maximum: 28 kg (62 lbs)
Class B
10C–40°C (50-104°F)
20-80%
110−120 V (operating)
220−240 V (service)
57–63 Hz (operating)
47–53 Hz (service)
450 watts
7.0 amps (operating)
3.0 amps (service)

22 cm (8.6 in.) fits 8.75 in. [5U] standard EIA 310D
standard EIA 310D (RETMA) cabinet
63.8 cm (25.1 in.)
typical: 24.5 kg (54 lbs)
maximum: 28kg (62 lbs)
Class B
10C–35°C (50-95°F)
20-80%
110−120 V (operating)
220−240 V (service)
57–63 Hz (operating)
47–53 Hz (service)
450 watts
7.0 amps (operating)
3.0 amps (service)

Operating environment
Operating temperature
Operating humidity
Nominal voltage
Frequency range
Power consumption (max.)
RMS current at nominal voltage
(steady state)

Digital believes the information in this publication is accurate as of its publication date; such information is subject to change without notice. Digital is not responsible
for any inadvertent errors. Digital will conduct its business in a manner that conserves the environment and protects the safety and health of its employees, customers,
and the community.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation: AlphaServer, the DIGITAL logo, DSSI, OpenVMS, ServerWORKS, and VAX. SPEC, SPECint95, and
SPECfp95 are registered trademarks of Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark, in the United States and other countries, licensed
exclusively through X/Open Company. Windows and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Corporation.

MEMORY CHANNEL is a trademark of Encore Computer