Conference 7.286::digital

Isn't this the handiwork of our dearly beloved ex-CEO Ken Olson?

    This is the stuff from Advanced Modular (or whatever they are calling
    themselves..) .. the VAX board uses an NVAX, I believe..
    
    
    see 4112.*
    
    ...tom

   A common enclosure and a cumbersome processor swap never sounded
   so good...  :-)

   The AlphaStation 200, 250, 255, 400, 500 or 600 "cross platform
   servers" are available and shipping from Digital -- AlphaStation
   series systems don't need to swap the processor module to run a
   different operating system -- just reboot (reloading the PALcode if 
   necessary).  And two 64-bit operating systems, as well as Microsoft
   NT, are supported across the entire series.

   With FX!32, the AlphaStation NT systems can cross-translate and run
   Intel code.  And if the customer wants to run Intel stuff directly,
   various members of the AlphaStation series can be cross-graded into
   DECpc (Intel-based) systems.

    Does the 255 run VMS ? Do we sell/support it with VMS? The glossy given
    out at the launch event here today, plus comments from local
    workstation marketing, imply that once the existing 200s go EOL,  the
    entry level VMS station is the AlphaStation 500 (because the 200/166
    won't be sold with VMS). 
    
    So maybe Ken's board swap isn't quite as unattractive as it may appear
    - at least it's all in the same box.
    
    Or am I just having a bad dream ?
    
    regards
    john

    
    Oye, Chamo...!
    
    	Chequea a ver si Fernando Colon tambien esta envuelto en esto!
    
    R.O.

>    Does the 255 run VMS ? Do we sell/support it with VMS? The glossy given
>    out at the launch event here today, plus comments from local
>    workstation marketing, imply that once the existing 200s go EOL,  the
>    entry level VMS station is the AlphaStation 500 (because the 200/166
>    won't be sold with VMS). 

   Whoever created glossies neglected to mention OpenVMS support.

   The (Mustang-LX3+) AlphaStation 255 4/nnn runs OpenVMS -- it'll boot
   and run OpenVMS Alpha V6.2-1H1 and later.  (There was a small change
   made to the system I/O design that prevented it from booting the V6.2
   release -- hence the support in the `Ghost' release.)

   As for the AlphaStation 200, it's being replaced by the 205 series.
   (Which is also supported under OpenVMS V6.2-1H1 and later.)

Yes, it's true, the AlphaStation 200 is going EOL.  Last order is April 30th.  We did announce that we will be
introducing in mid-April a new AlphaStation 200 4/166 entry configuration for $4,995 that includes 24MB RAM, 1GB
disk, PowerStorm 3D10 graphics, 15" color monitor and Digital UNIX. This will be the only AlphaStation 200
configuration available.

The previous note mentioned an "AlphaStation 205".  That product does not exist.

The AlphaStation 255 replaces the AlphaStation 200.  It is a universal client, meaning it supports all three
operating systems.  It has double the cache size, double the memory bandwidth, 1/3 more memory capacity, an
additional PCI slot, and faster CPUs at a lower price than the AlphaStation 200.

I am curious as to what glossy went out leaving OpenVMS off the map.  If any of you have this document, perhaps
you could FAX it to me.


Lisa

I am alarmed by the notion of a configuration that is available with UNIX
but not VMS.  This will be the first such AlphaStation system that I can
recall, and it sends a bad message to our customers.  Is it that we simply
choose not to sell a VMS configuration (and why?), or will VMS not run on
this new system?

				Steve

>  We did announce that we will be introducing in mid-April a new
> AlphaStation 200 4/166 entry configuration for $4,995 that includes
> 24MB RAM, 1GB disk, PowerStorm 3D10 graphics, 15" color monitor and
> Digital UNIX. This will be the only AlphaStation 200 configuration available.

We're introducing a Pentium/75 class machine for more than a Pentium Pro/200
costs from Micron, Dell, etc. (not to mention with more memory, twice
the disk, etc.), and almost as much as for one from Digital?

Personally, it seems to me that we must have some pretty warped internal
systems if that seems like a good move.

I really wish we'd put our effort into competitive systems for the future,
since it's Compaq that's busy passing us in revenue, not Sun or SGI.

This doesn't strike me as even coming close to "going for growth".

AlphaStations are universal clients.  That means UNIX, VMS and NT will run 
on all AlphaStations.


Lisa

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             <<< HUMANE::DISK$SCSI:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DIGITAL.NOTE;1 >>>
                        -< The Digital way of working >-
================================================================================
Note 4479.7  VAX Server module in a IBM 7596 Cross Platform Server!       7 of 7
WRKSYS::SCHOELLER                                    16 lines  13-MAR-1996 13:49
           -< positioning the AlphaStation 200 and AlphaStation 255 >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Yes, it's true, the AlphaStation 200 is going EOL.  Last order is April
    30th.   We did announce that we will be introducing in mid-April a new
    AlphaStation 200  4/166 entry configuration for $4,995 that includes
    24MB RAM, 1GB disk,  PowerStorm 3D10 graphics, 15" color monitor and
    Digital UNIX. This will be the only AlphaStation 200 configuration
    available.

    The previous note mentioned an "AlphaStation 205".  That product does
    not exist.

    The AlphaStation 255 replaces the AlphaStation 200.  It is a universal
    client,  meaning it supports all three operating systems.  It has
    double the cache size,  double the memory bandwidth, 1/3 more memory
    capacity, an additional PCI slot,  and faster CPUs at a lower price
    than the AlphaStation 200.

    I am curious as to what glossy went out leaving OpenVMS off the map. 
    If any of you have this document, perhaps you could FAX it to me.


    Lisa

    Then why make customers think otherwise by not offering VMS on all
    AlphaStations?
    
    				Steve

It was a business decision to keep the $5k price point with one 
complete configuration.  Users are encouraged to purchase the
AlphaStation 255, which is a better value.  Configurations for
all three operating systems exist for the 255.


Lisa

    Very, VERY bad precedent.  You aren't going to believe how annoyed
    customers are going to be by this, and how much effort we'll have to
    spend to correct the misimpression this causes.
    
    					Steve

    Re: .5
    
    Esta bien enveulto.

OpenVMS will is supported on the new Alphastations 2xx with the following 
restrictions:

	o 32Mb memory minimum
	o Use of shared PCI/ISA slot is not supported.  Interrupt line for 
	  this slot is shared with the on-board Tulip ethernet controller.
	  There is no OpenVMS support for sharing of interrupts


							-Paul

    RE. .9 - .14
    
    See 3992.79
    
      Steve is right; customers *are* wondering, and confused, and it sounds
    as though Sales are as well.
      
    Ken

>The previous note mentioned an "AlphaStation 205".  That product does
>not exist.

   Well, the OpenVMS V6.2-1H1 supports the AlphaStation 205 non-product.
   This based on the text in the Ghost release notes:

	BULOVA::ALPHA$KITS:[GHOST]OVMS_V621H1_REL_NOTES.TXT

    The low end workstation product was originally given the names
    
    		AlphaStation 205   and   AlphaStation 255
    
    These were to replace the AlphaStation 200 and AlphaStation 250.
    
    A decisione was made to keep the low end AlphaStation 200 (166) and to
    come forward only with the AlphaStation 255.  Part of that decision
    process was based on:
    
    1.  Demand for low end workstations is very low
    
    2.  It was necessary to keep a low price point AlphaStation on the
    price books -- something low priced to point to and sell up.
    
    
    
    Randy 
    
    
    (rode the AS 255 rollout for 6 months to local OEM/VAR)
    
    
    
    

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