Tag: Virtual Address Extension

VAX Computer Family, Virtual Address Extension, Timeline History by year

The VAX (Virtual Address Extension) computer family, produced by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) from 1977 to 2000, is considered the quintessential 32-bit Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) architecture. 

The Formative Years (1970s)

  • 1976: Development begins on the VAX-11 architecture as a 32-bit successor to the successful 16-bit PDP-11 series.
  • 1977: On 25 October, DEC announces the VAX-11/780 (code-named “Star”), the first system to implement the VAX architecture.
  • 1978: The first VAX-11/780 systems ship with VMS 1.0 (Virtual Memory System). 

Expansion and Innovation (1980–1984) 

  • 1980: Introduction of the VAX-11/750 (code-named “Comet”), the first LSI (Large Scale Integration) VAX.
  • 1982: Launch of the VAX-11/730 (“Nebula”) and the dual-processor VAX-11/782 (“Atlas”).
  • 1983: Introduction of VAXcluster technology, allowing multiple VAX systems to share storage and be managed as a single system.
  • 1984: The VAX-11/785 and the high-end VAX 8600 (“Venus”) are introduced. This year also marks the debut of the MicroVAX I and VAXstation I, bringing VAX power to desktop workstations. 

The Microprocessor Era (1985–1989) 

  • 1985: Launch of the MicroVAX II, featuring the first “VAX-on-a-chip”.
  • 1986: Introduction of the VAX 8800 and 8200/8300 series. Local Area VAXcluster (LAVC) extends clustering to smaller workgroups.
  • 1987: The VAXstation 2000 and MicroVAX 3500/3600 are released, the latter being the first to use the CVAX chip.
  • 1988: Introduction of the VAX 6200 series and VMS 5.0.
  • 1989: The VAX 9000 mainframe is announced, designed to compete directly with IBM’s most powerful systems. The MicroVAX 3100 and VAX 6000-400 are also launched. 

The Transition to Alpha (1990–2000)

  • 1990: Launch of the VAX 4000 series and the fault-tolerant VAXft 3000. DEC announces “OpenVMS”.
  • 1991: The VAX 6000-600 is released, featuring the NVAX chip.
  • 1992: Introduction of the VAX 7000 and 10000 series, the final high-end VAX systems. DEC begins transitioning to the 64-bit Alpha AXP architecture.
  • 1998: Compaq acquires DEC for $9.6 billion.
  • 1999–2000: Sales of new VAX systems officially end, though support continues for decades. 

The VAX (Virtual Address eXtension) computer family, produced by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), represents one of the most successful 32-bit architectures in computing history. 

The Early Era: Origins and VAX-11 (1975–1984)

Designed to overcome the 16-bit memory limitations of the PDP-11, this era established VAX as the industry standard for superminicomputers. 

  • 1975: VAX 32-bit architecture first proposed.
  • 1977: The VAX-11/780 (code-named “Star”) is introduced; it becomes the first commercially successful model and the baseline for “VAX MIPS” performance.
  • 1980: VAX-11/750, the first 32-bit minicomputer using LSI technology.
  • 1981: VAX-11/782, the first dual-processor VAX.
  • 1982: VAX-11/730, the first to fit in a single cabinet.
  • 1984: VAX-11/785 (most powerful VAX-11) and the high-end VAX 8600 are released. 

The Expansion Era: MicroVAX and Workstations (1984–1989) 

DEC miniaturized the architecture, bringing VAX power to desktops and departmental servers. 

  • 1984: MicroVAX I and VAXstation I introduced, bringing VAX to the workstation market.
  • 1985: MicroVAX II (the “VAX-on-a-chip”) and VAXstation II extend performance to personal-sized systems.
  • 1986: VAX 8200/8300 (mid-range) and VAX 8800 (high-end) introduce the VAXBI bus and dual-processor support.
  • 1987: VAXstation 2000 and MicroVAX 3500/3600 launched.
  • 1988: VAX 6200 series (first small systems to run Symmetric Multiprocessing) and the VAX 8840 (4-processor VAX) are released. 

The Late Era: Mainframes and Transition (1989–2000)

DEC attempted to compete with mainframes while eventually transitioning to the 64-bit Alpha RISC architecture. 

  • 1989: VAX 9000 introduced as a mainframe-class machine, though its complexity led to commercial challenges.
  • 1990: VAX 4000 series (replacing MicroVAX) and the fault-tolerant VAXft debuted.
  • 1992: VAX 7000/10000 systems launched using the NVAX single-chip CPU; DEC introduces the 64-bit Alpha (RISC) as the successor to VAX.
  • 1993–1996: Continued releases of VAX 4000 models (e.g., Model 705A) as legacy support.
  • 2000: Compaq (which acquired DEC) officially announces the discontinuation of the remaining VAX models.

VAX Computer Family, Virtual Address Extension, Timeline History by year