Hardware Documentation - Machines DEC - VAX hardware reference
This is an (incomplete) list of Digital Equipment Corporation VAX computers and specifications. Compiled by abs@NetBSD.org with much help from port-vax@NetBSD.org users. This is very much still a work in progress - many sections are little more than placeholders. Having said that, there should be enough here to prove useful.
Index Introduction page MicroVAXes VAXstations VAXservers VAX 700 series VAX 8000 series VAX 4000 series VAX 6000 series VAX 7000 series Other VAX machines Storage devices Interface cards Busses and interfaces Monitors Enclosures
MicroVAXes
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MicroVAX I MicroVAX II MicroVAX 2000 MicroVAX 3100 M10 MicroVAX 3100 M10e MicroVAX 3100 M20 MicroVAX 3100 M20e MicroVAX 3100 M30 MicroVAX 3100 M40 MicroVAX 3100 M80 MicroVAX 3100 M85 MicroVAX 3100 M88 MicroVAX 3100 M90 MicroVAX 3100 M95 MicroVAX 3100 M96 MicroVAX 3100 M98 MicroVAX 3300 MicroVAX 3400 MicroVAX 3500 MicroVAX 3600 MicroVAX 3800 MicroVAX 3900 MicroVAX I <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Seahorse Cpu: KD32, UV1 (250ns), 8KB on chip cache
Vup: 0.3 Bus: Q-bus
Memory: 1MB, Maximum 4MB Enclosure: 6" x 28" x 22"
Introduced: 1984 Image: MicroVAX-I
NetBSD: Cannot run NetBSD (As of 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Effectively a VAXstation I without graphics. Was the first 'subset' VAX. Used a custom data path chip and off the shelf TTL components. Came in two versions; one includes F_floating and G_floating instructions, the other F_floating and D_floating instructions. Neither version includes H_floating instructions. The MicroVAX I procesor includes some of the optional string instructions (CMPC3, LOCC, SCANC, SKPC, and SPANC) but does not include any of the optional processor registers or PDP-11 compatibility mode. It uses 8K words of 39bit wide microcode running at a 250ns cycle time.
 MicroVAX II <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Mayflower Cpu: KA630, UV2 (200ns), no cache
Vup: 0.9 Tps: 7
Bus: Q-bus (Max 3.3 MB/s)
Memory: 1MB on motherboard, can add up 16MB in 2,4,8, or 16MB cards (base 1MB disabled) (parity)
Enclosure: BA23, BA123, or 630QE Image: MicroVAX-II in a BA123 enclosure
Introduced: May 1985 NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-18
Notes: Can be made into a VAXstation II by adding VCB01 (QVSS), or a VAXstation II/GPX by adding VCB02 (QDSS). Was also available as a 'reduced configuration' VAXstation-II/RC in which some of the backplane was filled with glue
 MicroVAX 2000 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: TeamMate Cpu: KA410, UV2 (200ns), no cache
Vup: 0.9 Tps: 7
Memory: Base 2MB. Space for one extra board of 4M, 8M or 12MB for a maximum of 14MB. Clearpoint produced a 16MB board that also included an updated ROM required for the vax accept the board (parity)
Bus: none (3.3 MB/s max internal I/O) Image: VAXstation-2000 (Same machine)
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Can be converted to VAXstation 2000 by moving one jumper and removing MMJ converter pack
 MicroVAX 3100 M10 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Teammate II Cpu: KA41-A, CVAX (90ns), 1KB on chip cache
Vup: 2.4 Tps: 19
Bus: SCSI Enclosure: BA42-A, 180W
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2006-05-19
Notes: MicroVAX 3100 M20 used same hardware in a larger BA42-B box Can switch EPROM to get VAXserver 3100 KA41-B. No video hardware
 MicroVAX 3100 M10e <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Teammate II Cpu: KA41-D, CVAX+ (60ns), 1KB on chip cache
Vup: 3.5 Tps: 30 (Maybe 22?)
Bus: SCSI Memory: 4MB on motherboard expandable to 32MB via 4, 12, and 16MB boards
Enclosure: BA42-A, 180W NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2006-05-19
Notes: MicroVAX 3100 M20e used same hardware in a larger BA42-B box. On board NCR-5380 SCSI-1, where video is on VAXstation 3100 M38. Can switch EPROM to get VAXserver 3100 KA41-E. Ethernet 'lance' (le0) AMD7990/DC80AMD7992. No video hardware. Can have TZ30(TK50) tape or RX32 floppy
 MicroVAX 3100 M20 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Teammate II Cpu: KA41-A, CVAX (90ns), 1KB on chip cache
Vup: 2.4 Tps: 19
Bus: SCSI Enclosure: BA42-B
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: MicroVAX 3100 M10 used same hardware in a smaller BA42-A box. Can switch EPROM to get VAXserver 3100 KA41-B. No video hardware
 MicroVAX 3100 M20e <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Teammate II Cpu: KA41-D, CVAX+ (60ns), 1KB on chip cache
Vup: 3.5 Tps: 22 (Maybe 30?)
Bus: SCSI Memory: 4MB on motherboard expandable to 32MB via 4, 12, and 16MB boards
Enclosure: BA42-B NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: MicroVAX 3100 M10e used same hardware in a smaller BA42-A box. On board NCR-5380 SCSI-1, where video is on VAXstation 3100 M38. Can switch EPROM to get VAXserver 3100 KA41-E. Ethernet 'lance' (le0) AMD7990/DC80AMD7992. No video hardware
 MicroVAX 3100 M30 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Waverley/S Cpu: KA45, SOC 25 MHz (40ns), 6KB on chip cache
Vup: 5.0 Tps: 39
Bus: SCSI (4 MB/s) Interfaces: Ethernet (thick/thin), 3 DEC423 (MMJ), 1 RS232 (MMJ) (?)
Memory: Maximum 32MB Enclosure: BA42-A
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-18
Notes: MicroVAX 3100 M40 used same hardware in a larger BA42-B box
 MicroVAX 3100 M40 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Waverley/S Cpu: KA45, SOC 25 MHz (40ns), 6KB on chip cache
Vup: 5.0 Tps: 78 or 39(est) (both from DEC webpages)
Bus: SCSI (4 MB/s) Interfaces: Ethernet (thick/thin), 3 DEC423 (MMJ), 1 RS232 (MMJ)
Memory: Minimum 8MB, Maximum 32MB Enclosure: BA42-B, 144W
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-18
Notes: MicroVAX 3100 M30 used same hardware in a smaller BA42-A box
 MicroVAX 3100 M80 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Waverley/M Cpu: KA47, Mariah 50MHz (20ns), 2KB on chip cache, 256K external cache
Vup: 12 Tps: 78
Bus: SCSI (Max 4MB/s) Interfaces: Ethernet (thick/thin), 3 DEC423 (MMJ), 1 RS232 (MMJ) (?)
Memory: Maximum 72MB Enclosure: (?)
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-18
Notes: SCSI interface uses SCSI-2 NCR-53C94
 MicroVAX 3100 M85 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Waverly/M+ Cpu: KA55, NVAX 62.5MHz (16ns), 8KB on chip cache, 128KB external cache
Vup: 16 Tps: 110
Bus: 2 SCSI Interfaces: Ethernet (thick/thin), 3 DEC423 (MMJ), 1 RS232 (MMJ)
Memory: Minimum 16MB, Maximum 128MB Enclosure: BA42-B, 180W
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Seven additional SCSI devices with option KZDDA-xx
 MicroVAX 3100 M88 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Waverly/M+ Cpu: KA58, NVAX (16ns), 8KB on chip cache (?), 128KB external cache
Vup: 16 Tps: 110
Bus: 1 SCSI (and 1 optional) Memory: Minimum 64MB, Maximum 512MB
Enclosure: MiniTower or rackmount Introduced: 1996?
NetBSD: Probably (as of NetBSD 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Seven additional SCSI devices with option KZDDA-xx
 MicroVAX 3100 M90 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Cheetah Cpu: KA50, NVAX 72MHz (14ns), 10KB cache on chip, 128KB on board
Vup: 24 Tps: 125
Bus: SCSI (Max 4MB/s) Interfaces: Ethernet (thick/thin), 3 DEC423 (MMJ), 1 RS232 (MMJ) (?)
Memory: Maximum 128MB Enclosure: (?)
NetBSD: Probably (as of NetBSD 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: SCSI interface uses SCSI-2 NCR-53C94
 MicroVAX 3100 M95 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Cheetah+ Cpu: KA51, NVAX (12ns), 10KB cache on chip, 512KB on board
Vup: 32 Tps: 165
Bus: none (?) Q-bus (?) NetBSD: Probably (as of NetBSD 1.6.1)
Last updated: 2003-07-17
 MicroVAX 3100 M96 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Cheetah++ Cpu: KA56, NVAX 100MHz (10ns?)
Vup: 38 Tps: 190
Bus: 2 SCSI Interfaces: Ethernet (thick/thin), 3 DEC423 (MMJ), 1 RS232 (MMJ)
Memory: Minimum 16MB, Maximum 128MB Enclosure: BA42-B, 180W
NetBSD: Probably (as of NetBSD 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Seven additional SCSI devices with option KZDDA-xx
 MicroVAX 3100 M98 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Cheetah++ Cpu: KA59, NVAX (10ns), 10KB on chip cache, 512KB external cache
Vup: 38 Tps: 200
Bus: 1 SCSI (and 1 optional) Memory: Minimum 64MB, Maximum 512MB
Enclosure: Minitower or rackmount Introduced: 1996?
NetBSD: Probably (as of NetBSD 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Seven additional SCSI devices with option KZDDA-xx
 MicroVAX 3300 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Mayfair II Cpu: KA640, CVAX chip (100ns), 1KB cache on chip, 4MB RAM
Vup: 2.4 Tps: 19
Bus: Q-bus, DSSI disk interface (Max 4.0MB/s) Interfaces: Ethernet - one or two
Enclosure: Minitower Memory: Maximum 52MB (ECC)
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD. (but DSSI not supported as of 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: MicroVAX 3400 used same hardware in a larger (?) box, the KA640 CPU card has 4MB of DRAM on board for lower cost systems.
 MicroVAX 3400 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Mayfair II Cpu: KA640, CVAX (100ns), 1KB cache on chip, 4MB RAM
Vup: 2.4 Tps: 19
Bus: Q-bus, DSSI disk interface (Max 4.0MB/s) Interfaces: Ethernet - one or two
Enclosure: BA213 Memory: Maximum 52MB (ECC)
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD. (but DSSI not supported as of 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: MicroVAX 3300 used same hardware in a smaller box (BA215)
 MicroVAX 3500 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Mayfair Cpu: KA650, CVAX (90ns), 1KB on chip cache, 64KB external cache (180ns)
Vup: 2.7 Tps: 21
Bus: Q-bus (Max 3.3MB/s) Memory: Maximum 32MB (ECC) (maybe 64MB with 4 boards)
Enclosure: BA213 Introduced: September 1987
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-18
Notes: MicroVAX 3600 used same hardware in a larger BA213 pre-mounted in an H9644 box
 MicroVAX 3600 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Mayfair Cpu: KA650, CVAX chip (90ns), 1KB on chip cache, 64K external cache (180ns)
Vup: 2.7 Tps: 21
Bus: Q-bus, DSSI bus (Max 3.3MB/s) Memory: Maximum 64MB (ECC)
Enclosure: H9644 system cabinet Bus: Q-bus, DSSI bus (Max 3.3MB/s)
Enclosure: H9644 system cabinet Interfaces: 1 or 2 ethernet
Memory: Maximum 64MB (ECC) Introduced: September 1987
Image: MicroVAX 3900. NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: MicroVAX 3500 used same hardware in a smaller (?) box Usually delivered in a BA213 chassis with an RA82 on top. Often paired with a second cabinet containing TU81-PLUS and a second RA82 in the bottom. The VAXserver 3600 and VAXserver 3602 seem essentially identical base machines
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: MicroVAX 3500 used same hardware in a smaller (?) box Usually delivered in a BA213 chassis with an RA82 on top. Often paired with a second cabinet containing TU81-PLUS and a second RA82 in the bottom. The VAXserver 3600 and VAXserver 3602 seem essentially identical base machines
 MicroVAX 3800 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Mayfair III Cpu: KA655, CVAX+ chip (60ns), 1KB on chip cache, 64KB external cache (120ns)
Vup: 3.8 Tps: 30
Bus: Q-bus, DSSI bus (Max 3.3MB/s) Interfaces: 1 or 2 ethernet
Memory: Maximum 64MB (ECC) Enclosure: BA213
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: MicroVAX 3900 is the same machine in an H9644 w/RA90 drives
 MicroVAX 3900 <small><ulink url="#section:microvaxes">(MicroVAXes index)</ulink></small>
Nickname: Mayfair III Cpu: KA655, CVAX+ chip (60ns), 1KB on chip cache, 64KB external cache (120ns)
Vup: 3.8 Tps: 30
Bus: Q-bus, DSSI bus (Max 3.3MB/s) Enclosure: H9644 system cabinet
Interfaces: 1 or 2 ethernet Memory: Maximum 64MB (ECC)
Image: MicroVAX 3900. NetBSD: Can run NetBSD.
Last updated: 2003-07-17 Notes: MicroVAX 3800 used same hardware in a BA213