[Info-vax] OpenVMS I64 on IA-64, and x86-64 nomenclature history (was: Re: VMware)

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2019-12-12 16:24:58 +0000, Robert A. Brooks said:

> On 12/12/2019 11:18 AM, Grant Taylor wrote:
>> On 12/12/19 8:17 AM, John Reagan wrote:
>>> From the current set of Intel docs:
>>> 
>>> "IA-32" is the traditional 32-bit i386 architecture.
>>> 
>>> "Intel 64" is the 64-bit x86-64 architecture.

"Intel 64" is one of various names for processor products from Intel, 
and the one that Intel is currently using for its 64-bit derivatives of 
the x86 processor family.

Other names that Intel and AMD and various other folks have been using 
for this architecture include x86-64, x86_64, x64, Intel IA-32E, Intel 
EM64T, AMD64, and probably a few others. Variously x86, generically.

Intel has settled on Intel 64 as its name for its version of the 64-bit 
architecture that AMD now calls AMD64.

Of all of the names around that aren't otherwise brand-entangled, 
x86-64 is probably the most commonly-used generic name.

IA-64 and I64 are used to reference Itanium on OpenVMS.

The no-pun-intended core of Intel 64 and of AMD64 is the same, though 
there are increasingly divergent and vendor-specific extensions to both 
available.

As for these extensions, OpenVMS port was reportedly still dependent on 
what is currently an Intel-specific extension (PCID) to Intel 64.

...

> I suspect there are other places where "I64" is used on an IA64 system.

The explanation from some of the folks that are no longer involved with 
these and other related product naming decisions was that I64 was 
permissible within a then-HP product name.  And IA-64 and IA64 could be 
used to reference the Intel Itanium product, but not as part of a 
non-Intel product name.  But using OpenVMS IA64 as a product name was 
viewed as conflicting with an Intel trademark.

VSI seemingly hasn't picked a product name for the x86-64 port, 
which'll probably make it "fun" for the development folks in the run-up 
to the V9.0 release.



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