VAXELN
| Company type | Software / Operating system |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer software |
| Founder | Dave Cutler |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
| Products | Real-time operating system for VAX and MicroVAX computers |
| Parent | Digital Equipment Corporation (later part of Compaq, then SMART Modular Technologies) |
VAXELN (pronounced "VAX-elan") was a real-time operating system created by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) specifically for the VAX series of computers, which has since been discontinued.
The development of VAXELN was headed by Dave Cutler, known for his work on RSX-11 and VMS. The project originated within DECwest Engineering Group located in Seattle, marking DEC's first engineering facility outside the New England region. Initially, the operating system targeted backplane interconnect machines such as the V-11 family. Subsequently, support expanded to include the MicroVAX I, DEC’s inaugural VAX microcomputer, enabling embedded applications to operate on a compact single-board VAX system.
Originally, the software was written in Pascal, with subsequent versions introducing compatibility for programming languages like C, Ada, and Fortran. Its functionality was further enhanced by an optional relational database component called VAX Rdb/ELN. Later iterations incorporated an X11 server named EWS (VAXELN Window Server), which facilitated devices such as the VT1300 X terminal and transformed older VAXstation units into X terminals.
From version 4.3 onward, VAXELN added support for TCP/IP networking protocols and partial compliance with the POSIX API, improving its ability to operate within networked systems.
Designed with embedded system applications in mind, VAXELN allowed standalone programs to execute directly on VAX and MicroVAX hardware without requiring a host operating system. Early demonstrations highlighted a variety of uses ranging from composing music to solving robotic puzzles.
The operating system was never adapted for the DEC Alpha platform. Instead, DEC provided support for a port of VxWorks that included a compatibility layer mimicking the VAXELN API on Alpha-based systems. In 1999, SMART Modular Technologies acquired the embedded systems division from Compaq (formerly Digital), which encompassed VAXELN.
Origin of name
The initial proposed name for the system was Executive for Local Area Network (ELAN). However, DEC discovered at a late stage that "Elan" was already a registered trademark in Europe, where DEC intended to market the product. The trademark belonged to Slovenian sports equipment manufacturer Elan. To avoid infringement issues, DEC altered the name to VAXELN by removing the letter A, despite dissatisfaction among developers. Some early promotional materials still bore the ELAN name and have since become prized memorabilia among the original development team.