Stories with Tag Sun Microsystems

• Joining Sun Microsystems – 40 years ago (2022)

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  Posted: 2025-04-30 14:57:31

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  Forty years ago, in 1982, the author joined Sun Microsystems, a startup at the time with only about 40 employees. Initially hired as a technical writer, the author quickly transitioned into a marketing role focused on the Sun-1 workstation, learning about the technology alongside the engineers. This involved creating marketing materials like brochures and presentations, attending trade shows, and generally spreading the word about Sun's innovative workstation. The author reflects fondly on this exciting period of growth and innovation at Sun, emphasizing the close-knit and collaborative atmosphere of a small company making a big impact in the burgeoning computer industry.

  In a reflective blog post titled "Joining Sun Microsystems – 40 years ago (2022)," published on May 3, 2022, author Andy Pugsley recounts his experience of commencing employment at Sun Microsystems four decades prior, in May 1982. He details the circumstances surrounding his initial contact with the burgeoning company, explaining that he had been working for a small consulting firm when he was approached by a recruiter. This recruiter, whom Pugsley identifies as a "headhunter," presented him with the opportunity to join a startup operating in the then-nascent workstation market. Intrigued, Pugsley agreed to meet with Andreas Bechtolsheim, one of Sun's founders, who made a compelling pitch regarding the company's vision and technological ambitions.

  Pugsley elaborates on the nascent nature of Sun Microsystems at the time, highlighting that it was operating out of a small office suite in Menlo Park and consisted of only about a dozen employees. He depicts the environment as dynamic and informal, a characteristic typical of Silicon Valley startups, emphasizing the pervading sense of excitement and potential. He describes his initial role within the company, which involved crafting microcode for a Multibus-based CPU board. This board, as Pugsley explains, was a critical component in the development of Sun's first workstation product.

  The author also recalls the rudimentary state of the technology available at the time, illustrating this by describing the use of a terminal connected to a VAX-11/780 at Stanford University for software development. He paints a vivid picture of the laborious process of writing code, compiling it remotely on the Stanford VAX, and then downloading the resulting binaries to the target hardware. This process, while cumbersome, was standard practice in the early days of computing.

  Pugsley expresses a palpable sense of nostalgia for this period, characterized by a pioneering spirit and rapid technological advancement. He reflects on the unique opportunity he had to be a part of a company that was instrumental in shaping the future of the computer industry. The blog post concludes with a retrospective appreciation for the experience, emphasizing the formative role it played in his professional development and the lasting impact Sun Microsystems had on the technological landscape. He subtly conveys a sense of pride in having contributed to the early success of such an influential company.

  • Sun Microsystems
  • History
  • Retrocomputing
  • workplace
  • 1980s
  • Silicon Valley
  • tech industry
  • startup
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • work anniversary
  • personal experience
  • memoir

  Summary of Comments ( 1 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43846187

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters discuss the author's apparent naiveté about Sun's business practices, particularly regarding customer lock-in through proprietary hardware and software. Some recall Sun's early open-source friendliness contrasting with their later embrace of closed systems. Several commenters share anecdotes about their own experiences with Sun hardware and software, both positive and negative, highlighting the high cost and complexity, but also the power and innovation of their workstations. The thread also touches on the cultural shift in the tech industry since the 80s, noting the different expectations and pace of work. Finally, some express nostalgia for the era and the excitement surrounding Sun Microsystems.

  The Hacker News post "Joining Sun Microsystems – 40 years ago (2022)" has generated a modest number of comments, offering various perspectives and anecdotes related to Sun Microsystems.

  Several commenters reflect on the legacy of Sun, expressing nostalgia for its innovative culture and the impact it had on the computing industry. One commenter mentions their time at Sun, highlighting the camaraderie and the sense of being part of something significant. Another recalls the excitement surrounding Sun's technologies, particularly during its heyday.

  Some comments delve into specific aspects of Sun's history, such as its open-source contributions and the development of technologies like NFS and Java. One commenter discusses the challenges Sun faced towards the end of its existence, including the dot-com bust and competition from companies like Microsoft.

  A couple of comments touch upon the acquisition of Sun by Oracle, with differing opinions on the impact of this event. One commenter expresses disappointment with Oracle's stewardship of Sun's technologies, while another offers a more neutral perspective.

  Overall, the comments paint a picture of Sun Microsystems as a company that played a vital role in the evolution of computing, fostered a strong engineering culture, and left a lasting impression on those who were involved with it. The comments are largely reminiscent and respectful of Sun's legacy, while also acknowledging the complexities of its later years and eventual acquisition. There isn't a single "most compelling" comment as they each contribute a small piece to the overall narrative.

• NetBSD on a JavaStation

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  Posted: 2025-03-05 03:11:54

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  The post details the author's successful, albeit challenging, experience installing NetBSD 9.0 on a Sun JavaStation Network Computer (NC). The JavaStation's limited resources and unusual architecture, including its use of a microSPARC IIep processor and a small amount of RAM, presented various hurdles. These included needing to create custom boot floppies and finding compatible network drivers. Despite these difficulties, the author achieved a functional NetBSD installation, showcasing the operating system's portability and the author's persistence. The experience also highlighted the resourcefulness required to repurpose older hardware and the satisfaction of breathing new life into vintage computing platforms.

  This blog post, titled "NetBSD on a JavaStation," details the author's successful, albeit somewhat arduous, journey of installing and running the NetBSD operating system on a Sun JavaStation Network Computer (NC). The JavaStation, a legacy system designed primarily for running Java applications over a network, presented a unique challenge due to its specialized hardware and limited resources. The author's motivation stemmed from a desire to repurpose this obsolete hardware and explore its capabilities beyond its intended use.

  The process began with acquiring the necessary hardware, including the JavaStation itself, a compact flash adapter, and a null modem cable for initial console access. The author outlines the specific models used, emphasizing the importance of choosing compatible components. The initial setup involved configuring the JavaStation's OpenBoot PROM, a firmware interface, to enable booting from the compact flash adapter. This required precise commands entered through the serial console, highlighting the low-level nature of the installation.

  The author encountered and overcame several obstacles throughout the installation process. The JavaStation's limited memory posed a significant challenge, requiring the author to create a custom, minimal NetBSD installation image. This involved carefully selecting and compiling only essential packages to fit within the constrained memory footprint. Further complications arose due to the JavaStation's unusual framebuffer configuration, necessitating specific kernel modifications to enable proper video output. The author meticulously documents these customizations, providing detailed instructions and explanations for each step.

  After numerous attempts and adjustments, the author successfully booted NetBSD on the JavaStation. The post includes a screenshot of the NetBSD login prompt displayed on the JavaStation's monitor, showcasing the culmination of their efforts. While acknowledging the limited practical applications of running NetBSD on such a resource-constrained system, the author expresses satisfaction in successfully completing the challenge. The post concludes by emphasizing the educational value of the experience, highlighting the insights gained into low-level system administration, hardware interaction, and the adaptability of the NetBSD operating system. The author’s narrative conveys a sense of accomplishment and reinforces the spirit of experimentation and exploration within the retrocomputing community.

  • NetBSD
  • JavaStation
  • Java
  • Operating System
  • Retrocomputing
  • Sun Microsystems
  • SPARC
  • Installation
  • unix
  • Embedded Systems

  Summary of Comments ( 53 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43262188

  Verbose tl;dr

  Commenters on Hacker News largely expressed nostalgia for JavaStations and Sun hardware, reminiscing about their quirks and limitations. Several appreciated the author's dedication to getting NetBSD running on such an unusual and constrained platform. Some discussed the challenges of working with the JavaStation's architecture, including its small amount of RAM and unusual graphics setup. Others shared their own experiences using JavaStations and similar thin clients, with some mentioning their use in educational settings. A few commenters also delved into technical details, discussing the specifics of NetBSD's compatibility and the process of getting X11 functioning.

  The Hacker News post titled "NetBSD on a JavaStation" (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43262188) has a moderate number of comments, generating a discussion around the original author's experience installing NetBSD on a JavaStation network computer.

  Several commenters express nostalgia for JavaStations and similar thin client devices of the era, recalling their unique architectures and limitations. One commenter specifically mentions working with JavaStations in an enterprise setting, highlighting their (at the time) impressive graphics capabilities for thin clients.

  A key point of discussion revolves around the JavaStation's unusual architecture and the challenges it presented for running a traditional operating system like NetBSD. Commenters discuss the specifics of the microSPARC IIep processor, its lack of a traditional MMU, and the workarounds required to make NetBSD function correctly. This leads to a broader conversation about operating system design and the complexities of supporting diverse hardware.

  Some commenters delve into the history of JavaStations, explaining their initial purpose as network computers intended to run Java applications exclusively. They discuss Sun Microsystems' vision for these devices and how it ultimately failed to gain widespread adoption. This ties into the broader theme of revisiting and repurposing older hardware.

  There's also a technical discussion about the benefits of NetBSD, particularly its clean codebase and portability. One commenter praises NetBSD's ability to run on a wide range of hardware, showcasing its flexibility and robustness. Another comment mentions the active NetBSD community and their dedication to maintaining and improving the operating system.

  Several commenters express admiration for the original author's efforts in getting NetBSD running on such an unusual platform, highlighting the technical skill and dedication required for such a project. This sparks a brief discussion about the joy of tinkering with older hardware and exploring its potential.

  Finally, some comments touch on the modern relevance of thin clients and their resurgence in certain contexts. One commenter draws parallels between the original concept of JavaStations and contemporary cloud computing models, suggesting that the idea of centralized computing has enduring appeal.