VAXELN: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox OS |
{{Infobox OS |
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| name = VAXELN |
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| working state = Discontinued |
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| working_state = Historic |
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| discontinued = Yes |
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| latest release version = 4.6 |
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| latest release date = {{Start date and age|1996|05}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://h30266.www3.hpe.com/MasterIndex/spd/spd_00fe9638.txt|title=VAXELN Toolkit, Version 4.6|date=May 1996|access-date=2021-01-15|publisher=Digital}}</ref> |
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| programmed in = [[Pascal (programming language)|Pascal]] (initial)<br/>[[C (programming language)|C]], [[Ada (programming language)|Ada]], [[Fortran]] (later options) |
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| programmed_in = [[Pascal (programming language)|Pascal]] |
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| supported platforms = [[VAX]] family |
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| supported_platforms = [[VAX]] family |
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'''VAXELN''' is a discontinued [[real-time operating system]] for the [[VAX]] family of [[computer]]s produced by the [[Digital Equipment Corporation]] (DEC) of [[Maynard, Massachusetts|Maynard]], [[Massachusetts]]. |
'''VAXELN''' is a discontinued [[real-time operating system]] for the [[VAX]] family of [[computer]]s produced by the [[Digital Equipment Corporation]] (DEC) of [[Maynard, Massachusetts|Maynard]], [[Massachusetts]]. |
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As with [[RSX-11]] and [[OpenVMS|VMS]], [[Dave Cutler]] was the principal force behind the development of this operating system. |
As with [[RSX-11]] and [[OpenVMS|VMS]], [[Dave Cutler]] was the principal force behind the development of this operating system. Cutler's team developed the product after moving to the [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] area to form the DECwest Engineering Group; DEC's first engineering group outside [[New England]]. Initial target platforms for VAXELN were the ''[[backplane]] interconnect'' computers such as the model code-named Scorpio. When VAXELN was well under way, Cutler spearheaded the next project, the [[MicroVAX#MicroVAX I|MicroVAX I]], the first VAX [[microcomputer]]. Although it was a low-volume product compared with the New England-developed [[MicroVAX#MicroVAX II|MicroVAX II]], the MicroVAX I demonstrated the set of architectural decisions needed to support a single-board implementation of the VAX computer family, and it also provided a platform for [[embedded system]] applications written in VAXELN. |
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The VAXELN team made the decision, for the first release, to use the [[Pascal (programming language)|Pascal |
The VAXELN team made the decision, for the first release, to use the [[programming language]] [[Pascal (programming language)|Pascal]] as its [[system programming language]]. The development team built the first product in approximately 18 months. Other languages, including [[C (programming language)|C]], [[Ada (programming language)|Ada]], and [[Fortran]] were supported in later releases of the system as optional extras. A [[relational database]], named [[Oracle Rdb#Rdb on other platforms|VAX Rdb/ELN]] was another optional component of the system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/dec/vax/vaxeln/2.0/VAXELN_2.2_Brochure_1986.pdf|title=VAXELN 2.2 Brochure|date=1986|access-date=2020-11-12|website=bitsavers.trailing-edge.com}}</ref> |
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VAXELN allowed |
VAXELN allowed writing a self-contained embedded system application that would run on VAX (and later MicroVAX) hardware with no other operating system present. The system was debuted in Las Vegas in the early 1980s, with a variety of amusing [[application software]] written by the development team, ranging from a system that composed and played minuets to a robotic system that played and solved the [[Tower of Hanoi]] puzzle. |
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VAXELN was not ported to the Alpha, and instead was replaced with a Digital-supported port of [[VxWorks]] to Alpha which included a VAXELN API compatibility layer.<ref name="vaxeln-history" |
VAXELN was not ported to the [[DEC Alpha]] processor, and instead was replaced with a Digital-supported port of [[VxWorks]] to Alpha which included a VAXELN application programming interface ([[API]]) compatibility layer.<ref name="vaxeln-history"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://h30266.www3.hpe.com/masterindex/spd/spd_0054a268.txt|title=VxWorks Realtime Tools for Alpha, Version 3.2|date=July 1995|publisher=Digital|access-date=2021-01-17}}</ref> In 1999, SMART Modular Technologies acquired [[Compaq]]'s (formerly Digital's) embedded systems division, which included VAXELN.<ref name="vaxeln-history"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/11/111995/pdf/081899.pdf|title=SMART Modular Technologies, Inc. to Acquire Compaq's Embedded Computer Product Line|date=1999-08-19|access-date=2021-01-17|publisher=SMART Modular Technologies}}</ref> |
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==Origin of name== |
==Origin of name== |
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The system was originally supposed to be named |
The system was originally supposed to be named Executive for Local Area Network (ELAN), but DEC discovered at the last minute that the word ''Elan'' was [[trademark]]ed in a European country where DEC wished to conduct business. The company holding the trademark was the [[Slovenia]]n sports equipment manufacturer [[Elan (company)|Elan]]. To avoid litigation, DEC quickly renamed it to VAXELN by dropping the A, much to the disgruntlement of the developers. Some documentation and marketing material had already been printed referring to the product as ELAN, and samples of these posters were prized for many years by members of the original team. |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 11:36, 18 October 2021
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2008) |
Developer | Digital Equipment Corporation |
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Written in | Pascal (initial) C, Ada, Fortran (later options) |
Working state | Discontinued |
Source model | Closed source |
Initial release | 1982[1] |
Final release | 4.6 / May 1996[2] |
Marketing target | Embedded systems, real-time systems |
Available in | English |
Platforms | VAX family |
Kernel type | Monolithic |
Default user interface | Command-line interface |
License | Proprietary |
VAXELN is a discontinued real-time operating system for the VAX family of computers produced by the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) of Maynard, Massachusetts.
As with RSX-11 and VMS, Dave Cutler was the principal force behind the development of this operating system. Cutler's team developed the product after moving to the Seattle, Washington area to form the DECwest Engineering Group; DEC's first engineering group outside New England. Initial target platforms for VAXELN were the backplane interconnect computers such as the model code-named Scorpio. When VAXELN was well under way, Cutler spearheaded the next project, the MicroVAX I, the first VAX microcomputer. Although it was a low-volume product compared with the New England-developed MicroVAX II, the MicroVAX I demonstrated the set of architectural decisions needed to support a single-board implementation of the VAX computer family, and it also provided a platform for embedded system applications written in VAXELN.
The VAXELN team made the decision, for the first release, to use the programming language Pascal as its system programming language. The development team built the first product in approximately 18 months. Other languages, including C, Ada, and Fortran were supported in later releases of the system as optional extras. A relational database, named VAX Rdb/ELN was another optional component of the system.[3]
VAXELN allowed writing a self-contained embedded system application that would run on VAX (and later MicroVAX) hardware with no other operating system present. The system was debuted in Las Vegas in the early 1980s, with a variety of amusing application software written by the development team, ranging from a system that composed and played minuets to a robotic system that played and solved the Tower of Hanoi puzzle.
VAXELN was not ported to the DEC Alpha processor, and instead was replaced with a Digital-supported port of VxWorks to Alpha which included a VAXELN application programming interface (API) compatibility layer.[1][4] In 1999, SMART Modular Technologies acquired Compaq's (formerly Digital's) embedded systems division, which included VAXELN.[1][5]
Origin of name
The system was originally supposed to be named Executive for Local Area Network (ELAN), but DEC discovered at the last minute that the word Elan was trademarked in a European country where DEC wished to conduct business. The company holding the trademark was the Slovenian sports equipment manufacturer Elan. To avoid litigation, DEC quickly renamed it to VAXELN by dropping the A, much to the disgruntlement of the developers. Some documentation and marketing material had already been printed referring to the product as ELAN, and samples of these posters were prized for many years by members of the original team.
References
- ^ a b c "[Info-vax] History of VMS and related operating systems". 2015-01-31. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
- ^ "VAXELN Toolkit, Version 4.6". Digital. May 1996. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
- ^ "VAXELN 2.2 Brochure" (PDF). bitsavers.trailing-edge.com. 1986. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ "VxWorks Realtime Tools for Alpha, Version 3.2". Digital. July 1995. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
- ^ "SMART Modular Technologies, Inc. to Acquire Compaq's Embedded Computer Product Line" (PDF). SMART Modular Technologies. 1999-08-19. Retrieved 2021-01-17.