View source for Onyx Systems

{{Short description|Computer company (1979–1985)}}
{{Infobox company
| name           = Onyx Systems, Inc.
| logo           = File:Onyx Systems wordmark.svg
| fate           = Acquired by [[Corvus Systems]]
| foundation     = {{start date and age|1979}}
| defunct        = {{end date|1985}}
| location       = [[Cupertino, California|Cupertino]], [[United States]]
| key_people     = Bob Marsh, Kip Myers, [[Scott McNealy]]
| industry       = {{unbulleted list|[[Computer hardware]]|[[Computer software]]}}
| products       = C8000/C8001, C8002, C5002A, C8002A, Sundance I, Sundance II, Sundance-16
| revenue        =
| num_employees  =
| homepage       =
}}

'''Onyx Systems, Inc.''' was a computer hardware and software company founded in [[Cupertino, California]] in 1979 by Bob Marsh and Kip Myers,<ref>{{ cite web | title=Board of Directors | website=Appscio, Inc. | url=http://www.avidence.com/directors | access-date=3 June 2010 }}</ref> former managers in [[Zilog]]'s systems group.<ref name="computerbusinessnews19791203_onyx">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_micro-marketworld_1979-12-03_2_49/page/n2/mode/1up | title=Onyx Plans to Market Z8000-Based Microsystem | magazine=Computer Business News | last1=Greitzer | first1=John | date=3 December 1979 | access-date=28 February 2023 | pages=3–4 }}</ref> It was one of the earliest vendors of microprocessor-based [[Unix]] systems.<ref>[[Cornelia Boldyreff]], ACM SIGSMALL Newsletter archive, v.7 #1 (February 1981), pp.7-8, {{ISSN|0272-720X}}</ref><ref name=groklaw>[[Peter H. Salus]], "The Daemon, the GNU and the Penguin" [http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20050525231654621&query=onyx]</ref><ref name="fiedler198310">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1983-10/1983_10_BYTE_08-10_UNIX#page/n133/mode/2up | title=The Unix Tutorial / Part 3: Unix in the Microcomputer Marketplace | work=BYTE | date=October 1983 | accessdate=30 January 2015 | author=Fiedler, Ryan | pages=132}}</ref>

== Products ==

The company's first product, the C8000, was a [[Zilog]] [[Zilog Z80|Z80]]-based micro running the [[CP/M]] OS, with a hard disk, and a tape drive for backups.<ref>"New Onyx CP/M 2.0 Operating System", ''[[InfoWorld]]'' (then ''Intelligent Machines Journal''), 2 Nov 1979, [https://books.google.com/books?id=LD4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=onyx.systems+bob.marsh&pg=PA4 p.4]</ref><ref>"Onyx System Packs 8-inch Winchester", ''[[InfoWorld]]'' (then ''Intelligent Machines Journal''), 9 May 1979, [https://books.google.com/books?id=DT0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=onyx.systems+C8000&pg=PA8 p.8]</ref>  It included IBM terminal emulation and a [[COBOL]] compiler, with a Z8000-based CPU add-in board to follow.<ref>"COBOL & IBM 2780/3780 Emulator for Winchester-based Micros", ''[[InfoWorld]]'' (then ''Intelligent Machines Journal''), 3 Oct 1979, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Jz4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=onyx.systems+C8000&pg=PA2 p.2]</ref>

Later known as the C8001, thus establishing the broader notion of the C8000 series of products, the Z80-based product could be equipped with up to four 64&nbsp;KB RAM cards for a total of 256&nbsp;KB. The machine was designed to be upgraded to the subsequent [[16-bit]] model in the range, the C8002, by adding a Z8000 processor card to supplement the existing Z80 card, and for an additional 256&nbsp;KB of RAM to be added on its own card. Onyx licensed Unix from [[Western Electric]] and quoted four-user and eight-user licences costing $1,500 and $2,500 respectively.<ref name="computerworld19800211_onyx">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_computerworld_1980-02-11_14_6/page/67/mode/1up | title=Western Electric Licenses Unix To Maker of Micro Systems | magazine=Computerworld | last1=Beeler | first1=Jeffry | date=11 February 1980 | access-date=28 February 2023 | pages=67 }}</ref>

In 1980, Onyx introduced the C8002 based on the [[Zilog Z8000|Z8000]]. Its price of {{USD|20000|1980|round=-2}} was half the cost of any other computer capable of running Unix,{{r|fiedler198310}} and included [[Bell Labs]]' recent [[Version 7 Unix]],<ref name="bass1999">{{ cite web | url=http://www.dmsd.com/Onyx.history.html | first1=John L. | last1=Bass | date=1999 | title=More about Onyx Systems | website=DMS Design | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021210134507/http://www.dmsd.com/Onyx.history.html | archive-date=2002-12-10 }}</ref> this having been adapted for the Z8000 with a "rewritten nucleus and several new compilers", renamed ONIX, but otherwise being "exactly the same system" as the Western Electric product available for the DEC [[PDP-11]] family.<ref name="onyx_c8002">{{ cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_onyxc8002O_7368856/page/n9/mode/2up | title=Onyx C8002 Computer System | publisher=Onyx Systems Incorporated | page=8 }}</ref> Instead of electing to use Zilog's own Z8001 product to offer a system with [[memory management]], Onyx instead chose to use the Z8002 in conjunction with its own memory management hardware, thus avoiding the delays experienced by other manufacturers who had chosen to base their designs around the Z8001 and its accompanying memory management chip. Onyx's hardware implemented a 2&nbsp;KB [[Page (computer memory)|page]] size and allowed the system to access up to 1&nbsp;MB of memory, although processes were limited to 64&nbsp;KB - imposed by the limitations of the Z8002 itself - for each of their program and data sections. These limitations were less onerous that those imposed by various 16-bit [[minicomputer]]s where the 64&nbsp;KB limit applied to the combined size of the program and data sections, with the PDP-11/23 noted as an example.<ref name="pcw198103_onyxc8002"/>

Alongside the Z8002, the C8002 also provided an [[Am9511/9512|Am9512]] [[floating-point unit]]. Mass storage was supported by a dedicated Z80A processor with 64&nbsp;KB of its own RAM, this hosting the disk and tape control software along with a [[disk sector]] cache. Data transfers between the disk system and main memory were performed using [[direct memory access]] (DMA). Pricing in the United Kingdom started at around £12,000 (£{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK|12000|1981|r=-2}}}} adjusted for inflation) for a four-user system with 256&nbsp;KB of RAM and 10&nbsp;MB hard drive.<ref name="pcw198103_onyxc8002">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1981-03/page/52/mode/2up | title=Onyx C8002 | magazine=[[Personal Computer World]] | last1=Eisenbach | first1=Sue | date=March 1981 | access-date=26 February 2023 | pages=52–53,55–57 }}</ref>

In late 1982, Onyx announced models running [[Unix System III]] in the form of the Sundance-16, C5002A and C8002A.<ref name="computerworld19821122_onyx">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld1647unse/page/63/mode/1up | title=Onyx Unveils Stand-Alone, 16-Bit Micros for Unix III | magazine=Computerworld | date=22 November 1982 | access-date=2 March 2023 | pages=63 }}</ref> Featuring the Z8001 processor running at 6&nbsp;MHz and 256&nbsp;KB of RAM, expandable to 512&nbsp;KB, the Sundance-16 was fitted with a 7&nbsp;MB, 14&nbsp;MB or 21&nbsp;MB hard drive and a [[tape drive]]. Two models of the Sundance-16 were offered with variation in the capabilities of the product's built-in display: the Model 80 supported 80-column text, whereas the Model 132 could be switched between 80-column and 132-column modes and permitted double-height and double-width characters.<ref name="onyx_sundance16">{{ cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_onyxbrochuoductDescriptionOct82_2791970/mode/2up | title=Sundance-16 Product Description | publisher=Onyx Systems Inc. | date=October 1982 | access-date=2 March 2023 }}</ref> The C5002A and C8002A also featured the Z8001 but were focused on a [[terminal server]] role, with the former supporting up to five users and the latter up to eleven users, and both being expandable to 1&nbsp;MB of RAM. The C5002A was offered with the 14&nbsp;MB or 21&nbsp;MB hard drive choices also offered for the Sundance-16, whereas the C8002A was supplied with a choice of larger hard drives: 20&nbsp;MB or 40&nbsp;MB. Additional drives could be connected: one for the C5002A and three for the C8002A.<ref name="onyx_c5002a">{{ cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_onyxbrochuProductDescriptionFeb83_2404879/mode/2up | title=C5002A, C8002A Series Product Description | publisher=Onyx Systems Inc. | date=February 1983 | access-date=3 March 2023 }}</ref> A 60&nbsp;MB drive option for the C8002A was also referenced in publicity.<ref name="computerworld19821122_onyx"/>

Similar upgrades to Onyx's Z80-based system were also introduced, with the Sundance II being announced in mid-1982 as a multi-user version of the base Sundance model, having 256&nbsp;KB of RAM instead of the 64&nbsp;KB of the single-user model. An upgrade between models could be performed.<ref name="computerworld19820614_onyx">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld1624unse/page/4/mode/1up | title=Microcomputers Leave Back Seat for Center Stage | magazine=Computerworld | last1=Scannell | first1=Tim | date=14 June 1982 | access-date=2 March 2023 | pages=4 }}</ref> These Z80-based models were offered with a choice of CP/M, MP/M and the [[THEOS|OASIS]] operating system.<ref name="onyx_sundance">{{ cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_onyxbrochuundanceIIProductDescriptionOct82_2967994/mode/2up | title=Sundance and Sundance II Product Description | publisher=Onyx Systems Inc. | date=October 1982 | access-date=2 March 2023 }}</ref>

== Legacy and fate ==

Codata Systems Corporation was established by former Onyx Systems employees in 1979,<ref name="usdoc198310">{{ cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/Considerations_For_Use_Of_Microcomputers_In_Developing_Country_Statistical_Offic/page/n210/mode/1up | title=Considerations for Use of Microcomputers in Developing Country Statistical Offices | publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce | date=October 1983 | access-date=4 March 2023 | pages=198–199 }}</ref> introducing a similar Z8000-based product to that of Onyx Systems, the CTS-200 running [[Xenix]], before following up with a product based on the [[Motorola 68000]], the CTS-300, running its own Unix variant, Unisis, developed in conjunction with [[UniSoft]].<ref name="cbn19811116_codata">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_micro-marketworld_1981-11-16_4_46/page/n49/mode/1up | title=Codata Weds 68000-Based System With Unix OS | magazine=Computer Business News | last1=Greitzer | first1=John | date=16 November 1981 | access-date=4 March 2023 | pages=48,50 }}</ref> Unisis was based on Version 7 Unix, and Codata claimed to have been "the first to offer a [[microcomputer]]-based Unix on the M68000" and to have supplied 500 systems by early 1983.<ref name="byte198301_vrolyk">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-01-rescan/page/n15/mode/1up | title=No Shortage of Multiuser Unix Systems | magazine=Byte | last1=Vrolyk | first1=Beau | date=January 1983 | access-date=4 March 2023 | pages=14 }}</ref> Codata later released the Codata 3300 system employing an 8&nbsp;MHz 68000 and having 320&nbsp;KB of RAM, upgradeable to 1.5&nbsp;MB, a 12&nbsp;MB, 33&nbsp;MB or 84&nbsp;MB hard drive, and a floppy drive, priced at £8,900 for the entry-level model in the UK,<ref name="pcn19830513_codata">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews009-13May1983/page/n4/mode/1up | title=Codata 3300 tackles micro big league | magazine=Personal Computer News | date=13 May 1983 | access-date=4 March 2023 | pages=3 }}</ref> $9,600 in the US.<ref name="computerworld19821227_codata">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld1652unse/page/103/mode/1up | title=Codata Announces Unix-Based Micro | magazine=Computerworld | date=27 December 1982 | access-date=4 March 2023 | pages=103 }}</ref> The system employed the IEEE 796 [[Multibus]] standard.<ref name="usdoc198310"/>

Onyx's first Unix-based system was the first platform for the [[Informix]] [[relational database]] system.<ref name="johnson2005">{{ cite web | url=http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/Oral_History/Sippl_Roger/Sippl_Roger_1.oral_history.2005.102658001.pdf | title=Oral History of Roger Sippl | website=Computer History Museum | date=2005 | access-date=12 March 2023 | pages=12,16 }}</ref>

Former [[Harvard University|Harvard]] economics professor [[William Raduchel]] recruited [[Scott McNealy]] to manage manufacturing at Onyx.  McNealy left Onyx to become a co-founder of [[Sun Microsystems]].<ref>"Scott McNealy and Sun Microsystems", Center for Management Research, Case Code LDEN039, 2006 [http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/LDEN039.htm]</ref><ref name=javaman>{{cite web
  |url = https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1997/10/13/232510/index.htm
  |title = JAVAMAN THE ADVENTURES OF SCOTT MCNEALY TODAY'S EPISODE HIS FIGHT TO SAVE THE WORLD WIDE WEB FROM THE EVIL EMPIRE
  |accessdate = 2008-03-17
  |author = Brent Schlender
  |date = October 13, 1997
  |work = [[Fortune Magazine]]
  |quote =
}}</ref>

Onyx was acquired by [[Corvus Systems]] in 1985.<ref name="unigramx19850719_corvus">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/unigram_x_1986_0034_0058/page/n12/mode/1up | title=Corvus, Onyx team up at NCC as merger nears approval | work=Unigram/X | date=27 July 1985 | access-date=19 July 2024 | pages=1 }}</ref> Corvus discontinued US sales of the Onyx product lines in early 1986, having reportedly pledged to continue manufacturing for foreign markets,<ref name="unigramx19860131_corvus">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/unigram_x_1986_0034_0058/page/n98/mode/1up | title=Corvus "set to discontinue entire Onyx computer line" | work=Unigram/X | date=31 January 1986 | access-date=19 July 2024 | pages=5 }}</ref> eventually selling off the rights to some of its product lines and, in 1987, exiting the microcomputer business altogether.<ref name="nw1988">{{ cite magazine | title=Spring finds Corvus making a profit | magazine=[[Network World]] | last1=Petrosky | first1=Mary | date=18 April 1988 | access-date=19 July 2024 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yxMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=onyx+computer+corvus&pg=PA41 | pages=17, 40}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:1985 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1979]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 1985]]
[[Category:Computer companies established in 1979]]
[[Category:Computer companies disestablished in 1985]]
[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Defunct computer systems companies]]