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Digital Technical Journals - the online archive

This is a machine-readable archive of all the Digital Technical Journals, scanned from the paper originals.

It is a remarkable collection of information and it still hugely relevant today in understanding why things work as they do. Much of this describes in detail the very first time that any of these things were designed and implemented. What's more, the articles are written by the people who did it and who have taken the time and effort to describe what, how and why they did it the way they did.

One of the many things that DEC was renowned for was the architectural approach to design. It works. Components of systems have changed significantly; CPU performance, memory, disc space have all changed massively, yet the original principles still hold true. More importantly, systems and software (such as OpenVMS itself) have been able to evolve without compromising the basic design principles and while maintaining an astonishing level of backwards compatability.

To those of us familiar with these products we expect things to work and we have trouble understanding why other products don't "just work". The difference is simply that inferior products just don't have enough good people behind them who have taken sufficient time and effort to "do it right".

This archive is a tribute to the outstanding engineering capabilities of Digital Equipment Corporation and to the people who worked there - and who in both culture and spirt still do so.

To mis-quote a well known slogan: "Digital had it then". A company so far ahead of it's time that the rest are still trying to catch up.

This document archive project would not have been possible without the assistance of many people, especially Sue Skonetski, Nic Clews, Paul Dolan, Dave Foddy, Ian Miller and all those kind enough to donate copies. My grateful thanks to them all.

One of the things I've also discovered and enjoyed while doing this is the carefully thought-out artwork on the covers, both back and front.

Scanned with a Kodak i65 scanner directly into Adobe Acrobat Professional V7.0.7, OCRed to make them searchable, bookmarked and indexed. Page thumbnails generated with Adobe Photoshop CS2.

Colin Butcher, April 2006.

Jump to: Top | Index | Vol. 1 | Vol. 2 | Vol. 3 | Vol. 4 | Vol. 5 | Vol. 6 | Vol. 7 | Vol. 8 | Vol. 9 | Vol. 10

Cumulative Index to Volumes 1 through 6

DTJ Cumulative Index 1985-1994 (Volumes 1 to 6) (PDF, 2.22MB)

Cumulative Index 1985-1994

Preface
Subject Index
Volume Listing
Author Listing
Acronym Glossary

Jump to: Top | Index | Vol. 1 | Vol. 2 | Vol. 3 | Vol. 4 | Vol. 5 | Vol. 6 | Vol. 7 | Vol. 8 | Vol. 9 | Vol. 10

Numbers 1 - 9, 1985 - 1989

DTJ Number 1 August 1985 (PDF, MB)

VAX 8600 Processor

An Overview of the VAX 8600 System
The VAX 8600 I Box, A Pipelined Implementation of the VAX Architecture
The F Box, Floating Point in the VAX 8600 System
Packaging the VAX 8600 Processor
Signal Integrity in the VAX 8600 System
Cooling the VAX 8600 Processor
Designing reliability into the VAX 8600 System

DTJ Number 2 March 1986 (PDF, MB)

MicroVAX II System

The MicroVAX 78032 Chip, A 32-Bit Microprocessor
The MicroVAX 78132 Floating Point Chip
Developing the MicroVAX II CPU Board
The Evolution of the Custom CAD Suite Used on the Micro VAX 11 System
The Making of a MicroVAX Workstation
The RQDX3 Design Project
The Evolution of Instruction Emulation for the MicroVAX Systems
The TK50 Cartridge Tape Drive
Porting ULTRIX Software to the MicroVAX System

DTJ Number 3 September 1987 (PDF, 11.8MB)

Networking Products

Digital Network Architecture Overview
Performance Analysis and Modeling of Digital's Networking Architecture
The DECnet/SNA Gateway Product - A Case Study in Cross Vendor Networking
The Extended Local Area Network Architecture and LANBridge 100
Terminal Servers on Ethernet Local Area Networks
The DECnet-VAX Product-An Integrated Approach to Networking
The DECnet-ULTRIX Software
The DECnet-DOS System
The Evolution of Network Management Products
The NMCC/DECnet Monitor Design

DTJ Number 4 February 1987 (PDF, 9.88MB)

VAX 8800 Family

An Overview of the Four Systems in the VAX 8800 Family
The VAX 8800 Microarchitecture
The CPU Clock System in the VAX 8800 Family
Aspects of the VAX 8800 C Box Design
The Memory System in the VAX 8800 Family
Floating Point in the VXX 8800 Family
The VAX 8800 Input/Output System
The V D I Bus - A Randomly Configurable Design
A Logical Grounding Scheme for the VAX 8800 Processor
The Simulation of Processor Performance for the VAX 8800 Family
VMS Multiprocessing on the VAX 8800 Systems
A Parallel Implementation of the Circuit Simulator SPICE on the VAX 8800 System
The Impact of VAX 8800 Design Methodology on CAD Development
On-line Manufacturing Data Access on the VAX 8800 Project

DTJ Number 5 September 1987 (PDF, 7.55MB)

VAXcluster Systems

The VAXcluster Concept: An Overview of a Distributed System
The System Communication Architecture
The VAX/VMS Distributed Lock Manager
The Design and Implementation of a Distributed File System
Local Area VAXcluster Systems
VAXcluster Availability Modeling
System Level Performance of VAX 8974 and 8978 Systems
CI Bus Arbitration Performance in a VAXcluster System

DTJ Number 6 February 1988 (PDF, MB)

Software Productivity Tools

VAX/VMS Software Development Environment
Software Productivity Measurements
Language-Sensitive Editor
VAX SCAN: Rule-based Text Processing Software
Softare Productivity Features Provided by the Ada Language and the VAX Ada Compiler
Programmer Productivity Aspects of the VAX GKS and VAX PHIGS Products
The VAX RALLY System - A Relational Fourth-Generation Language
VTX and VALU - Software Productivity Tools for Distributed Applications Development
Pragmatics in the Development of VAX Ada
Development of a Graphical Program Generator
Project Management of the VAX DEC/Test Manager Software Version 2.0
Development of tbe VAX NOTES System
Software Usability Engineering

DTJ Number 7 August 1988 (PDF, MB)

CVAX-based Systems

An Overview of the VAX 6200 Family of Systems
The Architectural Definition Process of the VAX 6200 Family
Interfacing a VAX Microprocessor to a High-speed Multiprocessing Bus
The Role of Computer-aided Engineering in the Design of the VAX 6200 System
VMS Symmetric Multiprocessing
Perfomance Evaluation of the VAX 6200 Systems
Overview of the Micro VAX 3500/3600 Processor Module
Design of the MicroVAX 3500/3600 Second-level Cache
The CVAX 78034 Chip, a 32-bit Second-generation VAX Microprocessor
Development of the CVAX Floating Point Chip
The System Support Chip, a Multifunction Chip for CVAX Systems
Development of the CVAX Q22-bus Interface Chip
The CVAX CMCTL - A CMOS Memory Controller Chip

DTJ Number 8 February 1989 (PDF, MB)

Storage Technology

The Hierarchical Storage Controller, A Tightly Coupled Multiprocessor as Storage Server
Performance Aspects of the HSC Controller
VAXsimPLUS, A Fault Manager Implementation
Disk Drive Technology Improvements in the RA90
Control Systems Technology in Digital's Disk Drives
Magnetic Domain Observations in Thin-film Heads Using Kerr Microscopy
Margin Analysis on Magnetic Disk Recording Channels
High Availability Mechanisms of VAX DBMS Software
A Relational Database Management System for Production Applications

DTJ Number 9 June 1989 (PDF, 7728KB)

Distributed Systems

Development of the VAX Distributed Name Service
Design and Implementation of the VAX Distributed File Service
Remote System Management in Network Environments
The Evolution of the MAILbus
VAX/VMS Services for MS-DOS
The WAVE Tools Base for Protocol Testing
Performance Evaluation of Distributed Applications and Services in the DECnet Environment
Measurement and Analysis Techniques for DECnet Products
Modeling and Analysis of the DECnet/SNA Gateway

Jump to: Top | Index | Vol. 1 | Vol. 2 | Vol. 3 | Vol. 4 | Vol. 5 | Vol. 6 | Vol. 7 | Vol. 8 | Vol. 9 | Vol. 10

Volume 2, 1990

DTJ Volume 2 Number 1 1990 (PDF, 5966KB) -

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DTJ Volume 2 Number 2 Spring 1990 (PDF, 8.66MB)

VAX 6000 Model 400 System

Vector Processing on the VAXvector 6000 Model 400
The VAX 6000 Model 400 Scalar Processor Module
An Overview of the VAX 6000 Model 400 Chip Set
VAX 6000 Model 400 Physical Technology
VAX 6000 Model 400 CPU Chip Set Functional Design Verification
Test and Qualification of the VAX 6000 Model 400 System
Development of the DECstation 3100
Compiler Optimization in RISC Systems

DTJ Volume 2 Number 3 1990 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 2 Number 4 1990 (PDF, 5966KB)

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Jump to: Top | Index | Vol. 1 | Vol. 2 | Vol. 3 | Vol. 4 | Vol. 5 | Vol. 6 | Vol. 7 | Vol. 8 | Vol. 9 | Vol. 10

Volume 3, 1991

DTJ Volume 3 Number 1 1991 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 3 Number 2 1991 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 3 Number 3 1991 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 3 Number 4 1991 (PDF, 5966KB)

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Jump to: Top | Index | Vol. 1 | Vol. 2 | Vol. 3 | Vol. 4 | Vol. 5 | Vol. 6 | Vol. 7 | Vol. 8 | Vol. 9 | Vol. 10

Volume 4, 1992

DTJ Volume 4 Number 1 1992 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 4 Number 2 1992 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 4 Number 3 1992 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 4 Number 4 Special Edition 1992 (PDF, 16.2MB)

Alpha AXP Architecture and Systems

Alpha AXP Architecture
A 200-MHz 64-bit Dual-issue CMOS Microprocessor
The Alpha Demonstration Unit: A High-performance Multiprocessor for Software and Chip Development
Design and Performance of the DEC 4000 AXP Departmental Server Computing Systems
Technical Description of the DEC 7000 and DEC 10000 AXP Family
Porting OpenVMS from VAX to Alpha AXP
The GEM Optimizing Compiler System
Binary Translation
Porting Digital's Database Management Products to the Alpha
DECnet for OpenVMS AXP: A Case History
Using Simulation to Develop and Port Software

Jump to: Top | Index | Vol. 1 | Vol. 2 | Vol. 3 | Vol. 4 | Vol. 5 | Vol. 6 | Vol. 7 | Vol. 8 | Vol. 9 | Vol. 10

Volume 5, 1993

DTJ Volume 5 Number 1 1993 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 5 Number 2 1993 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 5 Number 3 1993 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 5 Number 4 1993 (PDF, 5966KB)

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Jump to: Top | Index | Vol. 1 | Vol. 2 | Vol. 3 | Vol. 4 | Vol. 5 | Vol. 6 | Vol. 7 | Vol. 8 | Vol. 9 | Vol. 10

Volume 6, 1994

DTJ Volume 6 Number 1 1994 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 6 Number 2 1994 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 6 Number 3 1994 (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 6 Number 4 1994 (PDF, 5966KB)

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Jump to: Top | Index | Vol. 1 | Vol. 2 | Vol. 3 | Vol. 4 | Vol. 5 | Vol. 6 | Vol. 7 | Vol. 8 | Vol. 9 | Vol. 10

Volume 7, 1995 - Tenth Anniversary

Engineering Milestones in Digital's History - insert (PDF, 5966KB)

Engineering Milestones in Digital's History

Digital Equipment Corporation was founded in 1957. Since then, Digital's engineers have consistently delivered outstanding computer systems, network products, software, peripherals, storage subsystems, and semiconductor devices. This special section in the tenth anniversary issue of the Digital Technical Journal chronicles the engineering milestones in Digital's history from 1957 to May 1995. Many industry "firsts" can be found in this chronology, beginning with the PDP1 minicomputer through the record-breaking Alpha microprocessor. The milestones noted here represent a range of products and many years of computer engineering design and development.

DTJ Volume 7 Number 1 1995 Tenth Anniversary Special Edition (PDF, 5966KB)

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DTJ Volume 7 Number 2 1995 (PDF, 6.83MB)

Graphical Software Development, Systems Engineering

DEC FUSE: Building a Graphical Software Development Environment from UNIX Tools
Adding a Data Visualization Tool to DEC FUSE
Multivendor Integration Architecture: Standards, Compliance Testing, and Applications
Integrating Applications with Digital's Framework-based Environment
Project Gabriel: Automated Software Deployment in a Large Commercial Network

DTJ Volume 7 Number 3 1995 (PDF, 7.87MB)

High Performance Fortran in Parallel Environments, Sequoia 2000 Research

Compiling High Performance Fortran for Distributed-memory Systems
Design of Digital's Parallel Software Environment
An Overview of the Sequoia 2000 Project
The Sequoia 2000 Electronic Repository
Tecate: A Software Platform for Browsing and Visualizing Data from Networked Data Sources
High-performance I/0 and Networking Software in Sequoia 2000

DTJ Volume 7 Number 4 1995 (PDF, 9.06MB)

Audio and Video Technologies, UNIX Available Servers, Real-time Debugging Tools

DECtalk Software: Text-to-Speech Technology and Implementation
The J300 Family of Video and Audio Adapters: Architecture and Hardware Design
The J300 Family of Video and Audio Adapters: Software Architecture
Software-only Compression, Rendering, and Playback of Digital Video
Integrating Video Rendering into Graphics Accelerator Chips
Technical Description of the DECsafe Available Server Environment
Parasight: Debugging and Analyzing Real-time Applications under Digital UNlX

Jump to: Top | Index | Vol. 1 | Vol. 2 | Vol. 3 | Vol. 4 | Vol. 5 | Vol. 6 | Vol. 7 | Vol. 8 | Vol. 9 | Vol. 10

Volume 8, 1996

DTJ Volume 8 Number 1 1996 (PDF, 5.83MB)

Digital UNIX Clusters, Object Modification Tools, eXcursion for Windows Operating Systems, Network Directory Services

Design of the TruCluster Multicomputer System for the Digital UNlX Environment
Delivering Binary Object Modification Tools for Program Analysis and Optimization
Design of eXcursion Version 2 for Windows, Windows NT, and Windows 95
Integrating Multiple Directory Services
Design of the Common Directory Interface for DECnet/OSI