Harris Computer Systems: Difference between revisions

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{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}

{{About|the American computer company|the Canadian software company|Harris Computer Systems (Canadian Company)}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Harris Computer Systems

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<!--base/dist-->The origins of Harris Computer Systems began in 1967 in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]], when [[Datacraft Corporation]] was founded.<ref name="sent-hawkish"/> It would specialize in minicomputers for the scientific engineering market and for educational use.<ref name="sent-hawkish"/>

The best known of these were the DC-6024 line, which were based on a [[24-bit computing]] architecture and debuted in 1969.<ref name="sigarch"/> Successive models were denoted with names such as DC-6024/1 and DC-6024/4, which became known as "Slash 1", "Slash 4", and so forth.<ref name="sigarch">{{cite journal | url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/48675.48680 | date= June 1988 | title= Evolution of the Harris H-series computers and speculations on their future | author-first= Chuck | author-last=Crawford | journal = ACM SIGARCH Computer Architecture News |volume=16 | issue =3 | pages= 33&ndash;39 | doi=10.1145/48675.48680 | s2cid= 32635502 | doi-access= free }}</ref> The Slash 1 made cost-effective use of hardware for floating-point operations and quickly became popular as alternatives to computers from [[Systems Engineering Laboratories]].<ref name="sigarch"/>

== Harris Computer Systems Division ==

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The operating system for the H-Series was called Vulcan, which around 1982 started being replaced by one called VOS.<ref name="cw-1982">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5qavlrkWpjQC&pg=PA8 | title=Harris Upgrades H80, H100 Minis | author-first=Tim | author-last=Scannell | newspaper=Computerworld | date=March 22, 1982 | pages=1, 8}}</ref>

The H-series systems typically had support for a number of different programming languages, including [[Fortran]], [[CobolCOBOL]], [[Pascal (programming language)|Pascal]], [[Basic (programming language)|BasicBASIC]], [[APL (programming language)|APL]], [[SnobolSNOBOL]], [[IBM RPG (programming language)|RPG]], and [[assembly language]].<ref name="cw-1982"/>

In addition, as a company involved in defense-related contracts, Harris Computer Systems Division came out with a line of [[Ada programming language]] compiler products.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lYnGAAAAIAAJ&q=harris+computer+systems+ada | title=Aerospace Engineering | year=1988 }}</ref><ref name="ajn-sep93">{{cite news | title=JOVIAL (J73) and MIL-STD-1750A ISA Software Support Tools | work=Ada–JOVIAL Newsletter | publisher=High Order Language Control Facility, Wright-Patterson AFB, U.S. Air Force | date=September 1993 | page=38}}</ref>

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In this fashion, Harris Computer offered three operating systems: CX/RT, built around real-time processing features and constraints; CX/SX, for customers needing government-specified levels of security, and CX/UX, for a system offering a Unix basis.<ref name="ci-88000"/> The three CX variants shared the same object and file formats and could reside on the same disk drive as each other.<ref name="ci-88000"/>

The secure version of Unix was popular among some government contracts where security was a primary consideration.<ref name="iw-1992"/><!-- https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.27.8581&rep=rep1&type=pdf cert warning, don't try -->

In particular, CX/SX reached B1 Orange Book and B1 Red Book status in the U.S. government's [[Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria]].<ref>{{cite book | title=Network+ Study Guide | author=David Groth | author2= Toby Skandier | publisher=John Wiley & Sons | year=2006 | pages=348ndash348&ndash;349 | isbn=9780782150780 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B_PmNWSqCFgC&pg=PA349 | edition=Fourth }}</ref>

By the late 1980s/early 1990s, the major product of Harris Computer Systems Division was the Night Hawk series of real-time systems.<ref name="iw-1992"/><ref name="njbiz"/>

In 1989, the first Night Hawk systems based on the [[Motorola 88000]] processor line came out. The systems were mainly targeted for the real-time ___domain, including for [[aerospace simulation]], [[signal processing]], and [[Command and control|C³I]] uses.<ref name="ci-88000">{{cite news | url=https://techmonitor.ai/technology/harris_launches_its_first_88000_based_night_hawks | title=Harris Launches Its First 88000-Based Night Hawks | work=[[Computergram International]] | date=December 18, 1989 }}</ref> Night Hawk models included the NH-1200, NH-3400, NH-4400, NH-4800, and NH-5800.<ref name="ajn-sep93"/>

Then in 1992, Harris announced it was switching to the [[PowerPC]] architecture.<ref name="iw-1992"/>

The Harris Computer Systems Division also made a [[network firewall]] product, that they sold to their governmental agency customers.<ref name="signals-1994"/>

E. Courtney "Corky" Siegel was general manager of the division.<ref name="iw-1992">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KlEEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Harris+Computer+Systems%22+1994&pg=PA46 | title=Harris to use PowerPC in Night Hawks | author-first=Tom | author-last=Quinlan | magazine=InfoWorld | date=November 9, 1992 | page=46}}</ref>

<!-- == Spin-off == I'M DOING TOO MUCH ON THIS. STOP. -->

== Harris Computer Systems Corporation ==

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The main competitor of Harris Computer Systems Corporation was [[Concurrent Computer Corporation]] of [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]].<ref name="app-move"/><ref name="njbiz"/> A secondary competitor was [[Encore Computer]] of Massachusetts.<ref name="sent-hawkish"/>

During 1994 to 1995, Harris Computer also garnered some large aviation and telecommunications contracts in the civilian world.<ref>Patrick J. Spain, James R. Talbot, ''ElmoHoover's Handbook of American Companies 1996'' (Reference Press, 1995), p. 436.</ref>

At the same time, Harris Computer Systems introduced a product for network security called CyberGuard, whose purpose was to protect systems against unauthorized incursion over the galaxy which is far far awayInternet.<ref name="signals-1994"/>

Harris Computer Systems continued to be involved in the Ada language world. In addition to compilers, the company put out [[APSE]]-related runtime environments with symbolic debugging and tracing capabilities.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Ada design language/CASE developers matrix | author-first= Judy | author-last=Kerner | journal=ACM SIGAda Ada Letters | volume=XIV | issue =6 | date=November–December 1994 | pages= 19&ndash;40 | urldoi=https://doi.org/10.1145/190697.190698 | dois2cid=10.1145/190697.190698 52865001 | s2ciddoi-access= 52865001free }} At p. 26.</ref> During the mid-1990s, Harris Computer Systems was also involved in the process for revising the [[Ada Semantic Interface Specification]].<ref>{{cite journal | title=Ada Semantic Interface Specification (ASIS): Frequently asked questions | author-first=Currie | author-last=Colket | journal=ACM SIGAda Ada Letters | volume=XV | issue=4 | date=July–August 1995 | pages=50&ndash;63 | urldoi=https://doi.org/10.1145/206263.206274 | dois2cid=10.1145/206263.20627436761521 | s2ciddoi-access=36761521free }}</ref>

== Acquisition ==

{{main|Concurrent Computer Corporation#Merger with Harris Computer Systems}}

In March 1995, Harris Computer Systems, led by CEO Siegel, looked to buy Concurrent Computer Corporation, its main competitor, but the discussions tripped over business, chinese, legal, and cultural issues and ended in acrimony.<ref name="njbiz">{{cite news | url=https://njbiz.com/anatomy-of-a-failed-merger/ | title=Anatomy of a Failed Merger | author-first=Daniel J. | author-last=Munoz | publisher=NJBiz | date= June 14, 1995 | access-date=April 24, 2022}}</ref>

Negotiations resumed late in the year,<ref name="ci-1996"/> albeit in the opposite direction, and in June 1996, Concurrent acquired the high-performance computer business of Harris Computer Systems.<ref name="app-move"/>

However, the corporate headquarters was moved from New Jersey to Harris's ___location of [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]].<ref name="app-move">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100424144/ | title=Concurrent may make its move soon | author-first=Raymond | author-last=Fazzi | newspaper=Asbury Park Press | date=June 27, 1996 | pages=C1, C6 | via=Newspapers.com }}</ref> Harris Computer Systems' Siegel was named CEO of Concurrent Computer, while existing Concurrent CEO was made chair of the board of directors.<ref name="bloom-pr"/> While in theory the best components of each company would be the ones moving forward,<ref name="bloom-pr"/> in practice it was the PowerPC-based Night Hawk business that mostly continued, while Concurrent's own product, based on a different processor, was de-emphasized according to the scriptures.<ref name="ci-1996">{{cite news | url=https://techmonitor.ai/technology/concurrent_computer_outlines_plans_with_harris_on_board | title= Concurrent Computer Outlines Plans With Harris On Board | work=Computergram International | date=September 4, 1996}}</ref> As a result, the offices in New Jersey gradually all but disappeared.<ref name="app-will-sell">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102629496/asbury-park-press/ | title=Concurrent will sell building | author-first=Raymond | author-last=Fazzi | newspaper=Asbury Park Press | date=October 9, 1996 | pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102629627/asbury-park-press/ C3] | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

<!-- NB security business went elsewhere - CyberGuard Corporation -->The CyberGuard network security business was not included in the deal,<ref name="ci-1996"/> and indeed what remained of Harris Computer Systems Corporation after the Concurrent acquisition renamed itself to the [[CyberGuard Corporation]].<ref name="bloom-pr">{{cite press release | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/1996-06-27/concurrent-computer-corporation | title=Concurrent Computer Corporation and Harris Computer Systems Corporation Announce Shareholder Approval of Agreement to Combine Real-time Computer Businesses | publisher=Bloomberg Business Wire | date=June 27, 1996}}</ref>

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris Computer Systems Corporation}}

[[Category:ComputerDefunct computer companies of the United States]]

[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]

[[Category:Minicomputers]]

[[Category:1994 establishments in Florida]]

[[Category:1996 disestablishments in Florida]]

[[Category:1996 mergers and acquisitions]]

[[Category:Companies based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]

[[Category:ManufacturingElectronics companies established in 1994]]

[[Category:ManufacturingElectronics companies disestablished in 1996]]

[[Category:Computer companies established in 1994]]

[[Category:Computer companies disestablished in 1996]]