Finding processor information on OpenVMS VAX

[Vineet Deshpande]

Hi,

I am running the command show cpu/full on OpenVMS VAX 7.2 and getting this information:-

STAR72, a MicroVAX 3100-90
Multiprocessing is DISABLED. Uniprocessing synchronization image loaded.

PRIMARY CPU = 00

CPU 00 is in RUN state
Current Process: DISCOVERY PID = 00001CAD
Capabilities of this CPU:
PRIMARY QUORUM RUN
Processes which can only execute on this CPU:
*** None ***

I want to find the Processor Clock Speed and Model information.

Is there any way I can do that? Any other command?

Thanks,

Vineet

[Mike Kier]

I don't believe there is any information that will give you the clock speed (although there may be some programs that try to determine it from timing loops), there is a large amount of information that can be attained from the DCL lexical functions, particularly f$GetSYI.

See HELP LEXICAL for some of that information.

Fortunately folks have already put many procedures together to get and format much of that information in various ways, including as HTML output which can be served to any browser if you have a web server or a Pathworks or other shared file system area.

Some are at http://dcl.OpenVMS.org and others are in the various freeware collections, starting with http://h71000.www7.hp.com/openvms/freeware/ and http://mvb.saic.com/

For the published clockspeed, once you have nailed down the exact model (and I think the MV3100-90 may be it; I don't recall if there were any variants), then I would do a Google or similar search for the specifications.

[Robert Gezelter]

Vineet,

Why does the speed matter?

For completeness, it is worth noting that emulated or simulated environments often report the identification of a real machine. Thus, performance, particularly in terms of CPU speed, may differ significantly from that of the reported processor.

One can use Google to determine the measured performance of a MicroVAX 3100-90, if the machine is indeed what is being reported.

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com

[Dave Gudewicz]

Some performance data is here, but in VUPs rather than clock speed.

http://h18002.www1.hp.com/alphaserver/performance/perf_tps.html

[Hoff]

The specific model is listed on the sticker on the box. Thie model, and serial number and related details are there.

As for the answer to your question on clock speed, there's always Google and Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroVAX

The answer to your clock speed question is included in Wikipedia, BTW. 72 MHz.

VAX systems generally do not have machine-readable serial numbers. (Some do have something similar, but you can set the value reported to the operating system to most anything you want.)

[Vineet Deshpande]

Hi All,

Thanks for your answers. I was wondering why don't we get information from show cpu/full on VAX because I am getting a whole lot of information when I run this command on a machine running OpenVMS Alpha. This is the output on Alpha:-

System: CPQMEG, AlphaServer GS80 6/731

SMP execlet = 3 : Enabled : Streamlined.
Config tree = Version 6
Primary CPU = 0
HWRPB CPUs = 32
Page Size = 8192
Revision Code =
Serial Number = G2FHHP
Default CPU Capabilities:
System: QUORUM RUN
Default Process Capabilities:
System: QUORUM RUN

CPU 0 State: RUN CPUDB: 81842000 Handle: 00001B40
Owner: 00000600 Current: 00000600 Partition 0 (CPQMEG)
ChgCnt: 1 State: Present, Primary, Hotswap
Process: * None *
Capabilities:
System: PRIMARY QUORUM RUN RAD0
Slot Context: 8506E180
CPU - Type...........: EV67, Pass 2.3
Speed..........: 730 Mhz
State..........: RC, PA, PP, CV, PV, PMV, PL
Variation......: VAX FP, IEEE FP, Primary Eligible
Serial Number..: SM02102574
Revision.......:
Halt Request...: 0
Software Comp..: 8.4
PALCODE - Revision Code..: 1.98-01
Compatibility..: 2
Max Shared CPUs: 32
Memory Space..: Physical = 00000000.00000000 Length = 0
Scratch Space..: Physical = 00000000.00000000 Length = 0
Bindings:
NETACP PID = 2040021B Reason: PRIMARY Capability
Fastpath: * None *
Features:
Autostart - Enabled.
Fastpath - Selection enabled as Preferred CPU.

Thanks,

Vineet

[John Gillings · Accepted solution]

Vineet,

The difference between VAX and Alpha reflects differences in the architeture. You can get more information directly from an Alpha chip than a VAX, so more & different information can be displayed by the SHOW CPU command.

In particular there is no mechanism for determining the clock speed from a VAX chip itself (short of deducing it by timing the execution of a known sequence of instructions).

You'll see a different set of information displayed on an I64 system.

Since the last VAX chips were produced last century, and they literally smashed the dies, this isn't something that will ever change!