Linux/Alpha Introduction
The Linux Operating System
Linux is a powerful operating system that runs on many different
platforms (such as the DEC Alpha, Intel x86, PowerPC, Sun SPARC,
Motorola m68k). The Linux project was started by a Finish student
called Linus Torvalds and quickly grew into an international
development effort to produce a full-featured and robust operating
environment that is cheap to own. Not only that, but Linux also comes
with all source coded included!
The Alpha
Microprocessor
A good introductory (if somewhat dated) description of the DEC Alpha
processor can be found in the an article that appeared in the Communications
of the ACM. A very brief list of the major architectural
features:
- Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) architecture
- Designed for longevity: clock rates of 1+GHz will be achieved
before or around the turn of the millenium.
- Full 64 bit architecture.
- Designed to achieve high performance through high clock rates
(500+MHz).
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This page was last updated on Mon Jan 6 20:28:11 1997