Based in SiliconValley, SunMicrosystems was formed by ex-Stanford students. Hence the name, Stanford Users Network (I think). They are known for their hardware business, but also as the makers of Java and the Solaris OperatingSystem.
Java is now GPL. Solaris was once commercial, but is now FreeSoftware. SunMicrosystems used to sell mainly SPARC-based hardware, but are now deep in the x86 market like everyone else.
