# 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
| DHQ11 multiplexor | 8-32 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 30-Jan-2007 by Bob Supnik (simh AT trailing-edge DOT com - anti-spam encoded)