VAX Simulator Configuration

The VAX was the most popular 32-bit minicomputer. Introduced by DEC in 1977, it remained in active production until 1999. The VAX family included many processor designs:

• 1977: VAX-11/780 (TTL ); derivative design, VAX-11/785
• 1980: VAX-11/750 (TTL gate arrays)
• 1982: VAX-11/730 (TTL)
• 1984: VAX 8600 (ECL gate arrays); derivative design, VAX 8650
• 1984: MicroVAX I (4u NMOS data path chip + TTL control)
• 1985: MicroVAX II (3u NMOS)
• 1986: VAX 8800 (ECL gate arrays); derivative designs, VAX 8830, VAX 8850
• 1987: CVAX (2u CMOS); derivative designs CVAX II (1.5u CMOS) and SOC (1u CMOS)
• 1989: Rigel (1.5u CMOS); derivative design Mariah (1u CMOS)
• 1990: VAX 9000 (ECL gate arrays)
• 1991: NVAX (.75u CMOS); derivative design NVAX+ (.75u CMOS) and NVAX+5 (.5u CMOS)

While the relationship between processor designs and system models is obvious for TTL and ECL processors, the VAX microprocessors were used in many different types and models of systems. For example, CVAX was the basis for the MicroVAX 3500, the VAX and VAXstation 3100, and the VAX 6200. A complete chart of the VAX processors and their instruction sets and system implementations can be found here.

SimH supports two different VAX models: the VAX-11/780 and the MicroVAX 3900.  The options for the VAX-11/780 are:

Option	Description	Capacity
CPU	VAX-11/780, no FPA, G&H microcode
Memory	2 x MS780-C controller, or	8MB
	2 x MS780-E controller	16MB-128MB
Console	Full duplex asynchronous interface
	Single-density floppy disk drive	256KB
Real time clock	VAX standard real-time and TOY clock
Card reader	CR11/CD11
Line printer	LP11 line printer
Terminal multiplexor	DZ11 multiplexor	8-32 lines
Disk	RL11/RL01-RL02 cartridge disk	5-10MB
	RK611/RK06-RK07 cartridge disk	14-28MB
	UDA50/RX50,RX33 floppy disks	.4-1.2MB
	UDA50/RD51,RD52,RD53,RD54,RD31 disks	10.8-155.6MB
	UDA50/RA60,RA71,RA72,RA73,RA81,RA82,RA90,RA92 disks	12KB
	RH780/RP04/5,RP06,RM02/3,RM80,RP07	67-516MB
Floppy disk	RX211/RX02 floppy disk	512KB
Magnetic tape	TS11 1600bpi 9 track magnetic tape
	TUK50/TK50 TMSCP magnetic tape
	RH780/TM03/TE16,TU45,TU77 800/1600bpi 9 track magnetic tape
Network	DEUNA/DELUA Ethernet controller

The options for the MicroVAX 3900 are:

Option	Description	Capacity
CPU and memory	MicroVAX 3900 (CVAX CPU)	16MB - 64MB
Console	Full duplex asynchronous interface
Real time clock	VAX standard real-time and TOY clock
Card reader	CR11/CD11 card reader
Line printer	LPV11 line printer
Terminal multiplexor	DZV11 multiplexor	4-16 lines
Disk	RLV12/RL01-RL02 cartridge disk	5-10MB
	RQDX3/RX50,RX33 floppy disks	.4-1.2MB
	RQDX3/RD51,RD52,RD53,RD54,RD31 disks	10.8-155.6MB
	RQDX3/RA60,RA71,RA72,RA73,RA81,RA82,RA90,RA92 disks	200-1960MB
Floppy disk	RXV21/RX02 floppy disk	512KB
Magnetic tape	TSV05 1600bpi 9 track magnetic tape
	TQK50/TK50 TMSCP magnetic tape
Network	DELQA/DEQNA Ethernet controller

Updated 25-Apr-2022 by Bob Supnik (simh AT groups DOT io - anti-spam encoded)