DIGITAL creates the first Internet firewall and establishes http://gatekeeper.dec.com as a major FTP site on the Internet.

January:
Introduction of the top-of-the-line VAX 8800 and the midrange VAX 8300 and VAX 8200.

January:
The VAX 8800, VAX 8300 and VAX 8200 were the first VAX systems to support dual processors. Each machine incorporated a new high-performance I/O bus, the VAXBI. The high-performance VAX 8800 achieved application throughput of two to three times the VAX 8600.

February:
Announcement of DECconnect wiring strategy and related products and services extends DIGITAL's networking leadership.

Standard Network Packages combined hardware, software and services into a complete package that provided a simplified way of solving customer interconnect and networking problems. Shown here is the DECconnect exhibit at DECworld '86.

April:
DIGITAL occupies its first built-for-remote services facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The building was designed with redundant power supplies, battery backup, emergency generators and multiple telephone lines to assure the highest level of customer service availability.

September:
Introduction of the VAXmate, a networked personal computer combining the resources of the VAX-VMS and MS-DOS operating systems.

The VAXmate was DIGITAL's second-generation personal computer and pioneered the concept of a disk-less, network-connected PC.

November:
DIGITAL introduces Local Area VAXcluster systems, extending distributed computing to the work group.

Local Area VAXcluster systems extended VAXcluster technology to Ethernet, bringing the software advantages of the VAXcluster environment to the MicroVAX II and VAXstation II systems.