# Sun Microsystems

> defunct American computer hardware and software company

**Wikidata**: [Q14647](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14647)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Microsystems)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sun-microsystems

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Sun Microsystems** based on the provided source material:

---

## Summary  
Sun Microsystems was a defunct American company that developed computer hardware and software. Founded in 1982, it became known for its workstations, servers, and technologies like Java and Solaris. It was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2010.

## Key Facts  
- **Founded**: February 24, 1982  
- **Founders**: Vinod Khosla, Andy Bechtolsheim, Bill Joy, and Scott McNealy  
- **Headquarters**: Santa Clara, California, USA  
- **Acquired by Oracle**: January 27, 2010  
- **Key Products**: Java, Solaris, SunOS, and enterprise servers/workstations  
- **Employees**: 34,600 (as of 2007)  
- **Industry**: Computing, software development, computer hardware  
- **Stock Exchange**: Nasdaq (delisted after acquisition)  
- **Subsidiaries**: MySQL AB, Storage Technology Corporation  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Sun Microsystems known for?  
A: Sun Microsystems was best known for developing Java, the Solaris operating system, and high-performance workstations and servers for enterprise computing.  

### Q: When did Oracle acquire Sun Microsystems?  
A: Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems on January 27, 2010, integrating its technologies like Java and Solaris into Oracle's product lineup.  

### Q: Who were the key people behind Sun Microsystems?  
A: Co-founders included Scott McNealy, Bill Joy, Andy Bechtolsheim, and Vinod Khosla. Later CEOs included Jonathan I. Schwartz.  

## Why It Matters  
Sun Microsystems played a pivotal role in the development of modern computing, particularly in enterprise hardware and open-source software. Its creation of Java revolutionized cross-platform application development, while Solaris became a benchmark for Unix-based operating systems. The company's workstations and servers were widely adopted in academia and industry, influencing the evolution of networked computing. Sun's emphasis on open standards and innovation laid groundwork for later technologies in cloud computing and distributed systems.  

## Notable For  
- **Java**: A globally influential programming language and platform.  
- **Solaris**: A highly scalable Unix-based operating system.  
- **SPARC Architecture**: High-performance RISC processors for servers.  
- **Open-Source Contributions**: Key projects like OpenOffice and MySQL (via acquisition).  
- **Early Network Computing**: Pioneered the slogan "The Network is the Computer."  

## Body  
### Founding and Early Years  
- Founded on February 24, 1982, by four Stanford University affiliates.  
- Originally named after the **Stanford University Network (SUN)**.  

### Key Technologies  
- **Java**: Introduced in 1995, enabling "write once, run anywhere" applications.  
- **Solaris**: Unix-based OS for enterprise environments.  
- **Sun Workstations**: High-performance systems for engineering and scientific computing.  

### Acquisitions and Subsidiaries  
- Acquired **MySQL AB** (2008), a leading open-source database company.  
- Owned **Storage Technology Corporation (StorageTek)** for data storage solutions.  

### Acquisition by Oracle  
- Officially dissolved on January 27, 2010, after Oracle's purchase.  
- Key assets (Java, Solaris, hardware IP) integrated into Oracle's portfolio.  

### Legacy  
- Java remains one of the most widely used programming languages.  
- Solaris and SPARC technologies influenced enterprise computing standards.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Corporation",
  "name": "Sun Microsystems",
  "description": "Defunct American computer hardware and software company.",
  "url": "https://www.sun.com",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14647",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Microsystems"
  ],
  "foundingDate": "1982-02-24",
  "dissolutionDate": "2010-01-27",
  "founders": ["Vinod Khosla", "Andy Bechtolsheim", "Bill Joy", "Scott McNealy"],
  "industry": "Computing",
  "parentOrganization": {
    "@type": "Corporation",
    "name": "Oracle Corporation"
  }
}

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. CiNii Research
3. [Source](https://www.oracle.com/us/sun/030017.pdf)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. National Software Reference Library
6. [Source](http://www.linux-usb.org/usb.ids)
7. Quora
8. [Source](https://www.iana.org/assignments/enterprise-numbers/enterprise-numbers)
9. Wikirate