MV/Wiki

A Generation Ago

Timeline

DG MV/Family Minicomputer Timeline

  • 1980 - MV/8000 ‘Eagle’ as documented in The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder.
  • 1981 - MV/6000
  • 1982 - MV/4000
  • 1983 - MV/8000 Model II, MV/10000
  • 1984 - MV/4000 SC
  • 1985 - MV/4000 DC, MV/2000 DC
  • 1986 - MV/7800 (several models), MV/5000, MV/7800 C, MV/20000 Model 1, DS/7500 & DS/7700 Graphics Workstations
  • 1987 - MV/7800 XP and MV/7800 DCX, MV/15000 Models 8, 10 & 20, MV/1400 DC
  • 1988 - MV/2500 DC, MV/40000 HA (several models)
  • 1989 - MV/1000 DC, MV/18000 Model 1 and Model 2 (1 and 2 CPUs respectively) - AViiON range launched
  • 1990 - MV/3500 DC, MV/5500 DC, MV/9500, MV/30000 (several models)
  • 1991 - MV/5600 DC, MV/9300, MV/9600
  • 1992 - MV/3200, MV/3600 DC & RM, MV/35000 (several models), MV/60000 HA (several models)
  • 1993
  • 1994 - MV/9800, MV/25000
  • 1995 - According to SEC filing: over 19000 MVs are installed with active service contracts worldwide
  • 1999 - DG bought by EMC
  • 2001 - EMC discontinues support for DG hardware
  • 2016 - EMC bought by Dell

As can be seen from the above, consistency was not a priority when naming machines and the meaning of the acronyms attached to various models has been the subject of some debate. Here are the prefix and suffix meanings as I currently understand them…

  • MV Multiple Virtual - refers to multiprogramming and virtual memory (cf. DEC’s VAX).

  • C Chassis mount - designed for OEM applications (replaced by RM, see below).

  • C Compact - reduced size cabinetry

  • DC Departmental Computer - these machines were generally packaged to go beside, under or on a desk and did not require special environmental controls (cf. DEC’s MicroVAX).

  • DS Design Station (or Distributed System) - similar to DC range but with integrated graphics and intended for CAD/CAM.

  • HA High Availability - enterprise-class machines with some degree of redundancy built-in (cf. Tandem’s NonStop).

  • RM Rack Mount - several models were also available in standard (17 inch) rackmount versions.

  • SC Small Cluster - predecessor of the DC range

  • XP ?

See also US University CS Page - http://people.cs.clemson.edu/~mark/330/eagle.html

Last updated on 21 Jun 2022
Published on 17 Sep 2020