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{{short description|American computer manufacturer}}

'''Convex Computer''' was a company that produced a number of [[Vector processor|vector]] [[minisupercomputer]]s, [[supercomputer]]s for small-to-medium-sized businesses. Their later '''Exemplar''' series of [[parallel computing]] machines were based on the [[Hewlett-Packard]] [[PA-RISC]] CPU series, and in 1995, HP bought the company. Exemplar machines were offered for sale by HP for some time, and Exemplar technology was used in HP's '''V-Class''' machines.

{{Original research|date=November 2010}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Convex Computer Corporation

| logo = File:Convex Computer logo.svg

| type = [[Private company|Private]]

| industry = Supercomputers

| founded = {{Start date and age|1982}} in [[Richardson, Texas]]

| founder = {{ubl|Bob Paluck|[[Steve Wallach]]}}

| defunct = {{End date|1995}}

| fate = Acquired by [[Hewlett-Packard]]

| key_people =

| products =

| num_employees =

| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->

}}

'''Convex Computer Corporation''' was a company that produceddeveloped, amanufactured numberand ofmarketed [[Vector processor|vector]] [[minisupercomputer]]s, and [[supercomputer]]s for small-to-medium-sized businesses. Their later '''Exemplar''' series of [[parallel computing]] machines were based on the [[Hewlett-Packard]] (HP) [[PA-RISC]] CPU series[[microprocessor]]s, and in 1995, HP bought the company. Exemplar machines were offered for sale by HP for some time, and Exemplar technology was used in HP's '''V-Class''' machines.

==History==

Convex was formed in [[1982]] by Bob Paluck and Steve Wallach in [[Richardson, Texas]]. It was originally named '''Parsec'''. They planned on producing a machine very similar in architecture to the [[Cray Research]] [[vector processor]] machines, with a somewhat lower performance, but with a much better [[price/performance ratio]]. In order to lower costs, the Convex designs were not as technologically aggressive as Cray's, and were based on more mainstream chip technology, attempting to make up for the loss in performance in other ways.

Convex was formed in [[1982]] by Bob Paluck and [[Steve Wallach]] in [[Richardson, Texas]]. It was originally named '''Parsec''' and early prototype and production boards bear that name. They planned on producing a machine very similar in architecture to the [[Cray Research]] [[vector processor]] machines, with a somewhat lower performance, but with a much better [[price/performanceprice–performance ratio]]. In order to lower costs, the Convex designs were not as technologically aggressive as Cray's, and were based on more mainstream chip technology, attempting to make up for the loss in performance in other ways.

Their first machine was the '''C1''', released in 1985. The C1 was very similar to the [[Cray-1]] in general design, but used a slower memory and main CPU. They offset this by increasing the capabilities of the vector units, including 128 64-bit registers, double that of the Cray. It also used [[virtual memory]] as opposed to the '''statically paged memory''' system of the Cray machines, which improved programming. It was based on [[CMOS]] chips, and generally rated at 20 MFLOP/s peak for double precision (64 bits), and 40 MFLOP/s peak for single precision (32 bits), about 1/5th the normal speed of the Cray-1. They also invested heavily in advanced automatic vectorizing [[compiler]]s in order to gain performance when existing programs were ported to their systems. The machines ran a [[BSD]] version of [[Unix]] known as '''ConvexOS'''.

[[File:Convex C-1 (1985) - Computer History Museum (2007-11-10 22.58.44 by Carlo Nardone).jpg|thumb|165px|Convex C-1 (1985)]]

The '''C2''' was a crossbar-interconnected [[multiprocessor]] version of the C1, with up to 4 CPUs, released in 1988. It used newer [[ECL]] chips for a boost in clock speed from 10 MHz to 25 MHz, and rated at 50 MFLOPS peak for double precision per CPU (100 MFLOPS peak for single precision). It was Convex's most successful product.

Their first machine was the '''C1''', released in 1985. The C1 was very similar to the [[Cray-1]] in general design, but its [[CPU]] and main memory was implemented with slower but less expensive [[CMOS]] technology. They offset this by increasing the capabilities of the vector units, including doubling the vector registers' length to 128 [[64-bit]] elements each.<ref>{{cite web | date=Fall 1996 |page=8| first= David A. |last=Patterson | title = Lecture 6: Vector Processing | url = http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/~pattrsn/252F96/Lecture06.pdf | access-date = 2011-04-29 | author-link = David Patterson (scientist)}}</ref> It also used [[virtual memory]] as opposed to the static memory system of the Cray machines, which improved programming. It was generally rated at 20 [[MFLOPS]] peak for double precision (64-bit), and 40 MFLOPS peak for single precision ([[32-bit]]), about one fifth the normal speed of the Cray-1. They also invested heavily in advanced automatic vectorizing [[compiler]]s in order to gain performance when existing programs were ported to their systems. The machines ran a [[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]] version of [[Unix]] known initially as '''Convex Unix''' then later as '''ConvexOS''' due to trademark and licensing issues. ConvexOS has DEC [[OpenVMS|VMS]] compatibility features, known by the product name of COVUE (CONVEX-to-VAX User Environment),<ref name="convex_covue">{{ cite book | url=https://classic.technology/convex-covue/ | title=COVUE Product Overview | publisher=Convex Computer Corporation | date=1990 | access-date=12 May 2024 }}</ref> as well as Cray Fortran features. Their Fortran compiler went on to be licensed to other computers such as [[Ardent Computer]] and Stellar (and merged Stardent).

[[File:BSC-Convex-240.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Convex 240 supercomputer (1988))]]

The '''C2''' was followed by the '''C3''' in 1991, being essentially similar to the C2 but with a faster clock and support for up to 8 CPUs. Various configurations of the C3 were offered, with between 50 to 240 MFLOPS per CPU. However, the C3 and the Convex business model were overtaken by changes in the computer industry. The arrival of RISC Microprocessors meant that it was no longer possible to develop cost-effective high performance computing as a standalone small low-volume company. While the C3 was delivered late, which resulted in lost sales, it was still not going to be able to compete with commodity high-performance computing in the long run.

The '''C2''' was a crossbar-interconnected [[multiprocessor]] version of the C1, with up to 4four CPUs, released in 1988. It used newer 20,000-gate CMOS and 10,000-gate [[ECLemitter-coupled logic]] chips(ECL) gate arrays for a boost in clock speed from 10 &nbsp;MHz to 25 &nbsp;MHz, and rated at 50 MFLOPS peak for double precision per CPU (100 MFLOPS peak for single precision). It was Convex's most successful product.

The '''C2''' was followed by the '''C3''' in 1991, being essentially similar to the C2 but with a faster clock and support for up to 8eight CPUs implemented with low-density GaAs FPGAs. Various configurations of the C3 were offered, with between 50 to 240 MFLOPS per CPU. However, the C3 and the Convex business model were overtaken by changes in the computer industry. The arrival of [[RISC]] Microprocessorsmicroprocessors meant that it was no longer possible to develop cost-effective high -performance computing as a standalone small low-volume company. While the C3 was delivered late, which resulted in lost sales, it was still not going to be able to compete with commodity high-performance computing in the long run.

Another speed boost was planned in the '''C4''', which moved the hardware implementation to [[GaAs]]-based chips, following an evolution identical to that of the Cray machines, but the effort was too little, too late. Some considered the whole C4 program to be nothing more than chasing a business in decline. By this time, Convex was losing money.

Another speed boost was plannedused in the '''C3''' and '''C4''', which moved the hardware implementation to [[Gallium arsenide|GaAs]]-based chips, following an evolution identical to that of the Cray machines, but the effort was too little, too late. Some considered the whole C4 program to be nothing more than chasing a business in decline.{{sayswho|date=July 2017}} By this time, even though Convex was the first vendor to ship a GaAs based product, they were losing money.

In 1994, Convex introduced an entirely new design, known as the '''Exemplar'''. Unlike the C-series '''vector computer''', the Exemplar was a parallel-computing machine based on off-the-shelf HP-PA [[RISC]] chips, connected together using [[Scalable Coherent Interconnect|SCI]]. First dubbed '''MPP''', these machines were later called '''SPP''' and '''Exemplar'''. The expectation was that a software programing model for parallel computing could draw in customers. But the type of Customers Convex attracted believed in fortran and brute force rather than sophisicated technology. The Operating System also had terrible performance problems which could not easily be fixed. Eventually, Convex established a working partnership with HP's hardware and software divisions. Initially it was intended that the Exemplar would be binary-compatible with HP's HPUX. But eventually it was decided to port HPUX to the platform and sell the platform as standalone servers.

In 1994, Convex introduced an entirely new design, known as the '''Exemplar'''. Unlike the C-series '''vector computer''', the Exemplar was a parallel-computing machine basedthat on off-the-shelfused HP-PA [[RISCPA-7200]] chipsmicroprocessors, connected together using [[Scalable Coherent Interconnect|SCI]]. First dubbed '''MPP''', these machines were later called '''SPP''' <ref>{{cite conference|first1=R. |last1=Cataneda|first2= Xiaodong |last2=Zhang|first3= J. M. Jr. |last3=Hoover|title=A comparative evaluation of hierarchical network architecture of the HP-Convex Exemplar|conference=IEEE International Conference on Computer Design|year= 1997|doi=10.1109/ICCD.1997.628877}}</ref> and '''Exemplar''' and sold under the '''SPP-1600''' moniker. The expectation was that a software programingprogramming model for parallel computing could draw in customers. But the type of Customerscustomers Convex attracted believed in fortran[[Fortran]] and brute force rather than sophisicatedsophisticated technology. The Operatingoperating Systemsystem also had terrible performance problems which could not easily be fixed. Eventually, Convex established a working partnership with HP's hardware and software divisions. Initially it was intended that the Exemplar would be [[binary-compatible]] with HP's HPUX.[[HP-UX]] Butoperating system but eventually it was decided to port HPUXHP-UX to the platform and sell the platform as standalone servers.

In 1995, Hewlett-Packard bought Convex. HP sold Convex Exemplar machines under the '''S-Class''' and '''X-Class''' titles, and later incorporated some of Exemplar's technology into the '''V-Class''' machine.

[[File:BSC-HP-V-Class.JPG|right|thumb|250px|HP V-Class computer.]]

==Culture==

In 1995, Hewlett-Packard bought Convex. HP sold Convex Exemplar machines under the '''S-Class''' (MP) and '''X-Class''' (CC-NUMA) titles, and later incorporated some of Exemplar's technology into the '''V-Class''' machine, which was released running the HP-UX 11.0 release instead of the SPP-UX version which was sold with the S- and X-Class products.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weissmann |first=Paul |date=2024 |title=OpenPA.net PA-RISC Book |url=https://www.openpa.net/print.html |access-date=2024-12-08}}</ref>

According to most former employees, Convex was a very fun place at which to work. For some time, there were beer parties every Friday, and an annual Convex Beach Party. There was a fitness center and other recreational facilities on-site.

==References==

Bob Paluck strived to maintain an atmosphere the promoted dedication and hard work but also emphasized fun and creativity.

<references />

Convex had an unusually thorough interview process, which, for technical positions, included a grilling by a group of engineers. This ensured only the best got to work there. The extensive interview process carried over to other departments as well, where the key people who would be working with the prospective employee each interviewed the candidate, then met in roundtable to discuss whether or not to hire.

This resulted in a very dedicated relatively young employee base who spent most of their waking hours ensuring Convex's success.

The culture was one of creativity. Especially in the first few years new hires were brought in and given much creative license. New ideas were encouraged and the management generally suceeded in generating an atmosphere where employees considered themselves a vital part of the team.

Banners hung throughout the building, extolling such slogans as "What have you done for the customer today?"

Convex lasted longer than most [[supercomputer]] companies, and to celebrate this, Convex had a graveyard of former supercomputer companies on its property.

Ex-employees of Convex jokingly refer to themselves as ''ex-cons''. There is a [http://www.ex-convex.org mailing list] of Convex ex-employees, as well as frequent reunions.

==Famous People at Convex==

Some famous names in [[Computing]] worked at Convex.

* '''Brian Berliner''' developer of the current [[Concurrent Versions System]] system is also an ExCon.

* '''Tom Christiansen''' of [[Perl]] fame worked at Convex in the Technical Assistance Center and then on a project called '''Convex Meta Series''', which was an attempt to create cheap [[Computer_cluster|cluster computers]].

* '''Dan Connolly''' of [[HTML]] and [[W3C]] fame worked at Convex on the documentation tools team.

* '''Mark Lutz''' author of several [[Python programming language]] books worked at Convex.

* '''Frank Marshall''' who led [[Cisco Systems]] to great success in the 1990s was VP of engineering at Convex during its peak years.

* [[Robert_Tappan_Morris, Jr.|'''Robert Morris''']] of [[Morris worm]] fame worked as a summer intern at Convex.

==External links==

* [http://www.ex-convex.org/ Convex ex-employees website]

*[ {{cite web |last=Faught |first=Danny |url=http://www.tejasconsulting.com/newsletter/2003April-May.html#feature |title=Convex is Dead, Long Live Convex] |at=Feature Article |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030806052446/http://www.tejasconsulting.com/newsletter/2003April-May.html |archive-date=2003-08-06}}

{{Hewlett-Packard}}

[[Category:1995 mergers and acquisitions]]

[[Category:American companies established in 1982]]

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[[Category:Companies based in Richardson, Texas]]

[[Category:Computer companies established in 1982]]

[[Category:Computer companies disestablished in 1995]]

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[[Category:SupercomputersDefunct computer hardware companies]]

[[Category:Defunct computer systems companies]]

[[Category:Hewlett-Packard acquisitions]]

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[[Category:Vector supercomputers]]