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HP 9000

From Alfawiki
HP 9000
Company typeProduct line
IndustryComputer hardware
Founded1984
FounderHewlett-Packard
FateDiscontinued; replaced by Integrity Servers and HP Z series
ProductsWorkstations, servers
OwnerHewlett-Packard

HP 9000 represents a series of workstation and server products developed by Hewlett-Packard (HP). The majority of HP 9000 machines operate on HP-UX, an operating system derived from UNIX System V.

Launched in 1984, the HP 9000 brand consolidated several technical workstation models from the early 1980s, initially built around the Motorola 68000 series and HP’s proprietary FOCUS architecture. By the mid-1980s, the lineup transitioned to HP’s exclusive PA-RISC processor design, with later models incorporating IA-64 processors during the 2000s.

HP discontinued the HP 9000 server range in 2003, replacing it with Integrity Servers that run HP-UX on Itanium CPUs. The workstation segment was phased out in 2009 and succeeded by the Z series.

History

The earliest HP 9000 offerings featured Series 200 and Series 500 lines, which were essentially rebranded existing hardware: Series 200 included various Motorola 68000-based workstations such as the HP 9826 and HP 9836; Series 500 was based on HP’s FOCUS microprocessor architecture exemplified by the HP 9020 workstation. Later Series 300 and 400 systems also utilized 68k processors. From the mid-1980s onward, HP adopted its PA-RISC microprocessors for the Series 600, 700, and 800 families. Subsequent releases employed either PA-RISC or its successor IA-64 architecture.

Except for the early Series 200 models—which ran standalone applications or environments like Basic Workstation and Pascal—all HP 9000 systems operated versions of HP-UX. Following HP’s acquisition of Apollo Computer in 1989, the Series 400 (Apollo 400) was introduced, capable of running both HP-UX and Apollo’s Domain/OS.

During the early 1990s, numeric series designations were replaced by alphabetical Class identifiers. In 2001, server nomenclature evolved once more: A-class became rp2400s, L-class turned into rp5400s, and N-class changed to rp7400s—where rp signified PA-RISC platforms while rx identified IA-64-based servers later rebranded as Integrity Servers.

In 2003, HP launched the xw series workstations featuring x86 processors running Windows. This product line remained available until it was replaced by the HP Z series in 2009.

On April 30, 2008, HP declared it would cease sales of PA-RISC-based HP 9000 systems. The last date to place orders was December 31, 2008, with final deliveries completed by April 1, 2009. Support for these machines was guaranteed through at least 2013.

This discontinuation marked HP’s withdrawal from the Unix workstation market. Although Integrity workstations running either HP/UX or Windows were briefly offered during the transition from PA-RISC to Itanium processors, they were rapidly phased out without successors—primarily due to IA-64’s lack of competitiveness on desktops and absence of x86-64 support for HP/UX. Instead, HP encouraged adoption of desktop Linux as an alternative platform.

Workstation models

Before January 1985 (see also HP 9800 series):

  • Series 200: models such as the HP 9816 (16), HP 9920 (20), HP 9826 (26), and HP 9836 (36)
  • Series 500: including the HP 9020 (20), HP 9030 (30), and HP 9040 (40)

Post-1985:

  • Series 200: models like the HP 9816 (216), HP 9817 (217), HP 9920 (220), HP 9826 (226), HP 9836 (236), and HP 9837 (237)
  • Series 300: comprising models such as the 310, 318, 319, 320, 322, 330, 332, 340, 345, 350, 360, 362, 370, 375,380,382,and385
  • Series400(HPApollo9000Series400): including400dl,400s,400t,425dl,425e,425s,425t,433dl,433s,and433t
  • Series500: models like520(HP9020),530(HP9030),540(HP9040),550,and560
  • Series600: including635SVand645SV
  • Series700: a broad range covering705–755series
  • B-class: spanning B132L through B2600 series
  • C-class: ranging from C100 to C8000 series
  • J-class: covering J200 up to J7000 series

Series 200

The origins of the Series 200 workstations predate the formal adoption of the "Series" designation. Early units included the HP 9826A and HP 9836A, followed by a color version (9836C) and a rack-mounted model (9920A). All these systems utilized the Motorola 68000 processor. Variants labeled with 'S' came with bundled memory, while 'U' models introduced HP-UX running on the Motorola 68012 CPU. Subsequent additions to this line were the 9816, 9817, and 9837 models. Over time, these machines developed into the HP Series 200 family and eventually integrated into the HP 9000 Series 200 lineup.

A distinctive portable model named Integral (HP9807) incorporated a MC68000 CPU, ROM-based HP-UX, a floppy disk drive, an inkjet printer, keyboard, mouse, and an electroluminescent display. Unlike other Series 200 units produced in Fort Collins, Colorado, this portable was manufactured in Corvallis, Oregon.

Series 300/400

The Series 300 workstations were built around Motorola 68000-series processors, ranging from the 68010 (Model 310 introduced in 1985) up to the 68040 (Models in the 38x range released in 1991). The Series 400, launched in 1990 to succeed Apollo/Domain workstations, offered compatibility with Apollo Domain/OS and were marketed under the "HP Apollo" brand. These systems employed Motorola 68030 and 68040 processors. The suffixes 's' and 't' denoted "Side" and "Top" desktop configurations respectively. Model numbers corresponded to CPU clock speeds measured in MHz—for instance, Model 433 operated at 33 MHz. Due to initial unavailability of MC68040 CPUs at release, early units included an MC68030 emulator card; customers could upgrade to MC68040 for $5,000 once available. Both Series 300 and Series 400 shared the same I/O interface as Series 200, utilizing a DIO-II bus capable of data rates up to approximately 6 MB/s.

Series 500

The Series 500 line was based on the HP FOCUS microprocessor architecture and initially launched as HP models 9020, 9030, and 9040. These were later renamed to HP Series 500 Models 20, 30, and 40 respectively, and eventually became known as HP 9000 Models 520, 530, and 540. The Model 520 was a fully integrated workstation featuring a built-in keyboard and display, a 5.25-inch floppy drive, an optional thermal printer, and a hard disk of five megabytes; it supported both BASIC and HP-UX operating systems. The Model 530 was designed as a rackmount unit running exclusively HP-UX with a serial console interface. The Model 540 was essentially a cabinet-mounted version of the Model 530 that included a serial multiplexer (MUX). Later iterations such as Models 550 and 560 introduced redesigned chassis and enhanced graphics processor connectivity. Original processors operated at frequencies around 20 MHz delivering performance up to one million instructions per second (MIPS), comparable to the VAX-11/780 benchmark. Networking capabilities allowed these workstations to connect with Series 200 and Series 300 systems through Shared Resource Manager (SRM).

Because of their processing power, export controls limited distribution of Series 500 units primarily to Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; shipments to other countries required special government authorization.

Series 700

Debuting on March 26, 1991, the Series 700 comprised Models 720, 730, and 750—nicknamed "Snakes"—which utilized PA-7000 microprocessors running at clock speeds of 50 MHz for the Model 720 and up to 66 MHz for Models 730 and 750. Instruction cache sizes ranged from128 KB on Models720 and730 up to256 KB on Model750; all featured256 KB of data cache. Memory capacities varied from16 to64 MB on lower-end models extending up to192 MB on the high-end Model750. Onboard SCSI functionality was managed by an NCR53C700 controller. Graphics options included greyscale GRX and color CRX for two-dimensional rendering as well as Personal VRX and Turbo GRX for advanced three-dimensional graphics.

In January1992, HP rolled out cost-effective diskless workstations: Model705 ("Bushmaster Snake") priced under $5,000 with a32 MHz PA-7000 processor; and Model710 ("Bushmaster Junior") costing less than $10,000 featuring a50 MHz CPU.

By November1992, initial models were superseded by Models715/33,715/50,725/50 targeting entry-level segments; alongside higher-end Models735/99,735/125,755/99,and755/125. September1993 saw introduction of Models715/75 and725/75 equipped with faster75 MHz PA-7100 processors.

Entry-level Models712/60 and712/80i ("Gecko") launched in January1994 aimed at competing with Sun Microsystems’ UNIX workstations. These featured PA-7100LC CPUs running at60 MHz and80 MHz respectively; notably the712/80i had its floating-point unit disabled. Memory support ranged between16 MB up to128 MB.

In May1994 several models including715/64 through725/100 focused on graphics applications using PA-7100LC processors with memory capacity extending up to512 MB on Model725/100.

June1995 introduced Model712/100 ("King Gecko"), an entry-level workstation housing a100 MHz PA-7100LC processor with256 KB cache alongside mid-range715/100 XC equipped with1 MB cache.

Models712 and715 incorporated the Lasi ASIC connected via the GSC bus integrating components such as NCR53C710 SCSI controller, Intel Apricot10 Mbit Ethernet interface, CD-quality audio support plus PS/2 keyboard/mouse ports along with serial and parallel connections. Except for the712 series these workstations also utilized the Wax ASIC which provided EISA adapter support along with additional peripheral ports.

The earlier Series700 machines employed the SGC bus (System Graphics Connect), which offered functionality comparable to PCI with32-bit data width operating at33 MHz delivering roughly100 MB/s bandwidth.

The SAIC Galaxy1100 is a ruggedized portable PA-RISC workstation based on the HP9000/712 platform developed in the1990s by SAIC specifically for military and intelligence purposes. It weighs approximately16 pounds and features a10.4-inch LCD supporting resolutions up to1024×768 pixels.

VME Industrial Workstations

Models 742i, 743i, 744, 745/745i, 747i, 748i.

B, C, J class

The C100, C110, J200, J210, and J210XC systems incorporate the PA-7200 CPU interfaced through the UTurn IOMMU using the Runway bus. Among these, the C100 and C110 are configured with a single processor, whereas the J200 and J210 feature dual processors. These platforms continue to employ the Lasi and Wax ASIC components.

Workstations such as the B132L (released in 1996), B160L, B132L+, B180L, C132L, C160L, and C180L utilize the PA-7300LC processor—an advancement of the PA-7100LC that integrates cache memory and a GSC bus controller. The standard graphics solution is the Visualize EG. These models adopt the Dino GSC to PCI bridge, which supplies an additional serial port in place of Wax; Wax EISA adapters remain optional.

The first generation of 64-bit HP workstations based on the PA-8000 processor and Runway/GSC architecture includes the C160, C180, C180-XP, J280, and J282.

Performance enhancements are evident in models like the C200, C240, and J2240 through the use of the PA-8200, while the C360 is powered by the PA-8500 processor.

The B1000, B2000, C3000, J5000, and J7000 also run on PA-8500 CPUs but shift to a distinct architecture that replaces U2/Uturn IOMMU and GSC buses with an Astro IOMMU connected via Ropes to Elroy PCI host adapters.

Upgrades to the PA-8600 processor are found in B2600, C3600, and J5600 models; notably, the rack-mountable J6000 supports tower configurations as well.

Models such as C3650, C3700, C3750, J6700, and J6750 are built around the PA-8700 processor.

At the high end, the C8000 workstation features dual-core PA-8800 or PA-8900 processors utilizing a bus architecture shared with Itanium's McKinley/Madison processors alongside a common zx1 chipset. Mercury PCI-X adapters have supplanted Elroy PCI adapters here; additionally, an AGP 8x Quicksilver graphics adapter is included.

Server models

  • 800 Series: 807, 817, 822, 825, 827, 832, 835, 837, 840, 842, 845, 847, 850, 855, 857, 867, 877, 887, 897
  • 1200 FT Series: 1210, 1245, 1245 PLUS
  • A-class: A180, A180C (Staccato), A400, A500
  • D-class: D200 through D390 (various models)
  • E-class: E25, E35, E45, E55
  • F-class: F10, F20, F30 (Nova)
  • G-class: G30 to G70 (Nova / Nova64)
  • H-class: H20 to H70
  • I-class: I30 to I70
  • K-class: K100 to K580 (multiple models)
  • L-class: L1000 to L3000
  • N-class: N4000 to N4006
  • R-class: R380, R390
  • S-class: rebadged Convex Exemplar SPP2000 (single-node)
  • T-class: T500 to T600
  • V-class: V2200 to V2600
  • X-class: rebadged Convex Exemplar SPP2000 (multi-node)

Previously designated classes were rebranded under the rp-series:

  • rp2400 (variants of A400), rp3400 (supporting up to two PA-8800/8900 CPUs), rp4400 (up to eight CPUs), rp5400 (formerly L-class), rp7400 (formerly N-class), rp7405 series (up to sixteen CPUs), rp8400 series (up to thirty-two CPUs)

The top-tier HP 9000 Superdome accommodates configurations up to SD-128 with PA-8900 processors.

D-class (Codename: Ultralight)

The D-class line serves as entry-level and mid-range servers that succeeded earlier E-, G-, H-, and I-class models. Debuting in January 1996 with models D200, D210, D250, D310, and D350—the D200 and D210 were single-processor units featuring PA-7100LC microprocessors at 75 MHz and 100 MHz respectively. They supported up to 512 MB RAM alongside five EISA/HP-HSC expansion slots. Dual-processor variants like the D250 and D350 operated with dual 100 MHz PA-7100LC CPUs and allowed for up to 768 MB memory; notably the D350 included eight slots. The D310 was a single-processor system equipped with eight slots and specifications comparable to those of the D210.

In September of that year HP launched the D270 (single CPU) and D370 (dual CPU) models powered by a faster 160 MHz 64-bit PA-8000 processor. These supported memory capacities ranging from 128 MB up to 1.5 GB targeting entry-level server applications.

January 1997 marked the introduction of lower-end models including D220, D230 for uniprocessor setups and D320 plus D330 for dual processors—these utilized PA-7300LC processors clocked at either 132 or 160 MHz.

With architectural similarities to K-class servers and tower chassis design supporting up to two CPUs per system—the D-class servers were typically shipped vertically mounted within large cabinets containing power supplies and multiple disk drives optimized for efficient cooling.

R-class

The R-class servers are rack-mounted variants derived from the D-class but do not support hot-swappable disk drives. They are designed for scenarios where space-efficient server installations are needed without the requirement for sophisticated storage capabilities.

N-class

The N-class is a 10U rackmount system capable of accommodating up to eight processors and twelve PCI expansion slots. It utilizes two Merced buses, each servicing four CPU slots, and provides uniform memory access across all processors. However, input/output access is uneven because each bus has a single Ike IOMMU, causing some CPUs to have more direct connections to specific I/O slots.

Although promoted as "Itanium-ready," no official upgrade to Itanium processors was ever issued. The N-class made use of the Merced bus architecture by connecting PA-8x00 processors via a DEW adapter.

During its production run, the N4000 series saw incremental CPU enhancements with models such as the N4000-36, N4000-44, and N4000-55, corresponding to processor speeds of 360 MHz, 440 MHz, and 550 MHz respectively. In 2001, this line was renamed the rp7400 series.

L-class

L-class servers are 7U rackmount units supporting up to four CPUs and equipped with twelve PCI slots—though only seven slots are active in the entry-level L1000 model. Two PCI slots are occupied by factory-installed cards, which restricts the scope for user expansion of input/output options.

The L1000 and L2000 models, built on Astro/Elroy architecture, initially shipped with PA-8500 CPUs running at 360 MHz and 440 MHz, later upgraded to 540 MHz PA-8600 processors. The L3000 shares similarities with the N4000 series and is based on the DEW/Ike/Elroy platform; it was exclusively offered with 550 MHz PA-8600 CPUs.

In 2001, the L-class was rebranded under the rp5400 series designation.

A-class

The A180 and A180C models were compact 2U servers featuring a single 32-bit PA-7300LC processor alongside Lasi and Dino ASICs.

The A400 and A500 series were 64-bit servers available in single-processor and dual-processor configurations within a 2U chassis. These systems utilized Astro IOMMU components and Elroy PCI adapters. Variants included A400-36/A500-36 with 360 MHz PA-8500 CPUs, A400-44/A500-44 with 440 MHz processors, A500-55 equipped with a 550 MHz PA-8600 CPU, and A500-75 featuring a 750 MHz PA-8700 processor.

In 2001, the A-class lineup was renamed as the rp2400 series.

S/X-class

Following HP’s acquisition of Convex Computer in 1995, the S-class and X-class servers were rebranded versions of Convex’s Exemplar SPP2000 supercomputers. The S-class supported up to sixteen processors within a single node configuration, while the X-class extended scalability to multi-node setups accommodating as many as 512 processors. Both classes operated using Convex’s proprietary SPP-UX operating system.

V-class

Derived from the multiprocessor technology of the S/X-class systems, V-class servers include models such as the V2200 and V2250 supporting up to sixteen CPUs, and larger systems like the V2500 and V2600 capable of handling up to thirty-two processors. These substantial machines demand advanced cooling solutions and three-phase electrical power supply. They served as an intermediate platform bridging earlier T-class systems and HP’s later Superdome offerings.

Operating systems

A variety of HP 9000 systems are compatible with operating environments including HP-UX, Domain/OS (specifically on the Series 400), and Linux. Certain PA-RISC platforms also support NeXTSTEP.

BSD Unix was adapted into HPBSD for these architectures; its developments contributed code to the 4.4BSD release. Contemporary BSD distributions such as NetBSD and OpenBSD provide support for multiple HP 9000 models spanning both Motorola 68k and PA-RISC architectures.

During the early 1990s, several research initiatives focused on porting OSF/1 and Mach-based operating systems to PA-RISC hardware. Projects led by HP Labs or academic institutions notably replaced core components of HP-UX’s virtual memory management and process handling with Mach-based implementations. This resulted in a Mach-enhanced version of HP-UX that investigated performance improvements aligned with PA-RISC’s cache design characteristics.

See also

External links

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