Try Avanti™ Virtual Alpha for Free!
FreeAXP is a free Avanti Virtual Alpha technology demonstrator. It provides a virtual AlphaServer 400 equipped with 1 CPU, 128MB memory, 7 disk drives, two NICs, and two virtual serial ports. It is hosted on Microsoft Windows 64-bit operating systems. Usage is unrestricted. FreeAXP provides unlimited deployment of virtual Alpha environments without commitment to purchase products or services.
Virtual Alpha's developed using FreeAXP are fully compatible with Avanti. FreeAXP configurations transfer to Avanti without modification. FreeAXP is suitable to replace hobbyist and non-critical Alpha systems. Clients requiring additional performance and capabilities can easily upgrade to the more powerful Avanti product.
FreeAXP Features
- Binary Compatibility: Alpha application source code not required.
- Supported O/S: OpenVMS, Digital UNIX, Tru64 UNIX.
- Cost: Free for commercial & personal use!
- Registration: None required.
- Expiration: None.
- Simple: To configure and operate.
- Portability: Run a virtual Alpha on a laptop, desktop, or server.
- VM's: Supported on VMware, Microsoft Hypr-V, Oracle VirtualBox, Apple Boot Camp & others.
- Support: Free user forum or paid annual support.
- Power Management: Auto-Idle feature reduces host CPU and power utilization when virtual Alpha is idle.
FreeAXP Components
FreeAXP provides the following user configurable components:
- 32 - 128MB of virtual memory
- Up to seven storage devices
- One physical CD-ROM
- Up to two NICs
- Two virtual serial ports (1 console, 1 terminal)
FreeAXP Support
FreeAXP is provided free of charge without warranty or dedicated support. Commercial users requiring dedicated support can request a fee-based contract via our
The FreeAXP User Forum is hosted on the OpenVMS Hobbyist web site. Use the FreeAXP forum to report issues and exchange ideas with the FreeAXP community. Migration Specialties monitors the forum. FreeAXP questions and bug reports should be filed on the forum and will be addressed as time permits. We thank the folks at OpenVMS Hobbyist for providing this service and encourage you to browse the site for OpenVMS information.
FreeAXP Links
- Avanti V5.0.0.702 - 2023/02/13 - 64-bit; Auto-Idle; Auto-Exit; Additional Auto-Idle signatures
- Virtual Alpha User Guide
- FreeAXP Release Notes
- FreeAXP User Forum - Sponsored by OpenVMS Hobbyist.
- FreeAXP SPD
- Avanti, AvantiFlex and FreeAXP License
- MIM: Make Image. Provided by Enrico Granata, copyright © 2010. MIM is a command line utility that allows quick creation of container files used with virtual VAX and Alpha systems. MIM is intuitive to use. Simply run MIM at the command line to obtain usage instructions.
- mktape Utility: A utility to create virtual tapes in the SimH vtape format from real tapes using a real SCSI tape drive on a Windows-based system.
- Tru64 Disks: Provided by John Manger of Caponier Ltd., the following empty disk image files are available for download to support OSF/1 and Tru64 Unix users. These are empty RZ disk images that have been correctly formatted with appropriate Unix disk-labels. They can be used to support authentic DEC RZ-style volumes of the correct size. The canned disks facilitate migrations and early versions of OSF/1 and Tru64.
- Older versions
- Avanti V4.0.0.679 - 2023/02/13 - 64-bit; Auto-Idle; Auto-Exit; Additional Auto-Idle signatures
- Avanti V4.0.0.671 - 2023/02/13 - 64-bit; Auto-Idle; Auto-Exit; Additional Auto-Idle signatures
- Avanti V4.0.0.670 - 2022/05/24 - 64-bit; Auto-Idle; Auto-Exit
- Avanti V4.0.0.669 - 2022/04/21 - 64-bit; Auto-Idle; Auto-Exit
- avanti V4.0.0.665 - 2021/08/31 - 64-bit; Auto-Idle; Auto-Exit
- Avanti V4.0.0.653 - 2020/12/21 - 64-bit; Auto-Exit
- Avanti V4.0.0.649 - 2020/08/03 - 64-bit; Auto-Exit
- Avanti V4.0.0.646 - 2020/05/12 - 64-bit; Auto-Exit
- FreeAXP V3.0.0.620 - 2018/09/06 - Last standalone FreeAXP KIT & last kit with built-in 32-bit support. This kit will not run under Windows 8 or Windows 10 32-bit.
