Ultras is a unique version of the original Unix processor that was created by DEC to ensure that it could expand its operations on the computer market. They had many new ideas that they wanted to try, and they were interested in branching into things such as mini computers that were used by scientists and in the manufacturing and testing industries. The company attempted to maintain both the Unix and the Ultrix brand at the same time, and they eventually gave way to Unix because it had more potential. The Ultrix platform is still around because there are systems that run well on it, and it did have Y2K additions that ensured it could be used after the implementation of Y2K protocols even after it had been discontinued. The company wanted to be as diverse as possible, and that is where Ultrix was born.
The Purpose
Ultras was developed internally as a system that could be set iced and supported more easily than others. The company was using inter-processor communications that allowed for better services, and they were creating many versions of Ultrix that would be pared down over time as they learned what their customers wanted. There were many variations in the beginning, and they began referring to their final few versions as combined names. This was to ensure that the customers who used their products knew what they were getting. Ultras had very specific purposes in many parts of the computing world, and the company was hoping to create something that could be serviced and supported for many years with very few upgrades or additions. They were running on multiple processors to ensure that there was more storage space, and they were hoping to mirror much of what was going on with Unix. This parallel would come to an end when Ultrix had its last release in 1995, but it did not die out completely.
The Last Version
4.5 came out in 1995 with some extra additions that were made to patch holes for Y2K, and this was the point at which Unix had become Digital Unix and later the Tru64 Unix that came later. Ultras has not died out completely because there are many companies that trusted the brand for many years. Anyone who wants to have access to any sort of information on Ultrix must go through HP because the company took over Compaq which took over DEC and has all the pertinent information on the system. It was innovative for its time, and it inspired people to use multiple processors to ensure that they could have expanding storage that would come along with things such as RAID systems and many others.