Corvus Systems
Corvus Systems was a Silicon Valley computer company known for early hard-disk storage, tape backup, local-area networking, and integrated computer systems.
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Overview
Corvus Systems was a San Jose, California computer technology company that operated during the formative period of personal computing. Founded in 1979 by Michael D'Addio and Mark Hahn, it initially concentrated on peripherals and software that expanded the capabilities of emerging microcomputers, especially the Apple II. Its products addressed practical limitations of early personal-computer systems: floppy disks offered little storage, backup methods were inconvenient, and computers in schools and offices were difficult to connect and share. The company became particularly notable for adapting Winchester hard-disk technology to systems such as the Apple II. Its early 5 MB and 10 MB drives were substantially faster and larger than floppy disks, although their initial prices made them expensive equipment. Corvus supplied the interface hardware and software needed to use its storage products with a range of platforms, including the Apple II, TRS-80, Atari 8-bit computers, S-100 systems, the DEC Rainbow, IBM PC, Macintosh, and Sony SMC-70. The company also developed backup products. Mirror used a videocassette recorder to back up a Corvus hard disk, while The Bank provided a later network-connected tape-backup format. In 1980, Corvus introduced Omninet, a relatively inexpensive local-area network using twisted-pair cabling and add-in cards. Omninet allowed multiple computers to share a Corvus hard disk and supported file serving, printer and serial-device sharing, and electronic mail. This combination of shared storage, backup, and networking proved especially attractive in primary and secondary education, where a classroom could connect many Apple II workstations to a common file server. Omninet was an important early alternative to the costly, heavy-cable Ethernet installations common at the time. Corvus went public in 1981 and traded on NASDAQ. In April 1982 it broadened its ambitions with the Corvus Concept, a Motorola 68000-based computer with a distinctive pizza-box enclosure and a 15-inch display that could automatically rotate between portrait and landscape orientations. The Concept integrated Omninet connectivity and supported Corvus software, Unix configurations, the UCSD p-System, Pascal, FORTRAN, BASIC, and a limited CP/M emulator. Its bundled Edword word processor and text-oriented interface were distinctive, but the machine did not achieve broad adoption, in part because it was not compatible with the IBM PC standard. In 1985, Corvus acquired Onyx & IMI, including International Memories Incorporated, the Cupertino manufacturer associated with Corvus hard-disk production. The same year, the founders departed as the remaining board pursued entry into the PC-clone market. That move placed Corvus in a crowded and increasingly price-sensitive segment, while Ethernet was gaining ground as the preferred local-area networking technology. Corvus discontinued hardware manufacturing in 1986. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1987, and two senior executives also left that year. D'Addio and Hahn subsequently founded Videonics. Corvus is remembered for combining affordable networking with shared disk storage at a time when those capabilities were unusual in personal-computer environments.
History
Corvus Systems was established in 1979 in San Jose by Michael D'Addio and Mark Hahn. It entered personal computing at a time when most microcomputers relied on small, slow floppy disks and had little built-in support for networking or centralized administration. Corvus addressed those gaps with hard-disk products, interface software, backup equipment, and networking devices. Its early storage systems used 5 MB and 10 MB Winchester drives manufactured by International Memories Incorporated in Cupertino. Corvus modified Apple DOS so Apple II computers could use the drives, and later supplied interfaces for TRS-80, Atari 8-bit, S-100, DEC Rainbow, IBM PC, Macintosh, and Sony SMC-70 systems. The drives were initially sold for several thousand U.S. dollars, but their capacity and speed made them useful to software developers, offices, and educational institutions. A major practical advantage was the ability to share one expensive drive among many computers. Corvus developed backup technology alongside storage. Mirror used a VCR as the recording mechanism, allowing a hard disk to be backed up at approximately one megabyte per minute. A later Omninet-connected product, The Bank, used specialized tape media and served as a dedicated backup unit. These products helped make centralized storage more manageable for schools and small organizations. Introduced in 1980, Omninet was a one-megabit-per-second LAN that used twisted-pair cable and comparatively inexpensive computer interface cards. It supported Corvus file servers, shared printers and serial devices through the Utility Server, and electronic mail. The system could support up to 64 addressed devices on a network. Its education use was especially significant: classrooms could connect Apple II computers to a central disk and backup system, allowing students to log in and retrieve their work. Corvus became publicly traded on NASDAQ in 1981. In April 1982 it launched the Corvus Concept, an ambitious Motorola 68000 computer with a 15-inch display that automatically switched between portrait and landscape orientation. The system included an Omninet port and could boot from local floppy media, a Corvus hard disk, or the network. Its software ecosystem included the CCOS operating system, Edword word processing, Paint, ISYS integrated applications, Unix versions, the UCSD p-System, Pascal, FORTRAN, BASIC, and a limited CP/M emulator. The Concept offered unusual design and serviceability, but its lack of IBM PC compatibility restricted its market prospects. In 1985, Corvus acquired Onyx & IMI; IMI had manufactured hard disks used in Corvus products. Around the same time, D'Addio and Hahn left the company and later founded Videonics. The remaining board chose to pursue PC clones. Corvus discontinued hardware manufacturing in 1986, while Ethernet became increasingly established as the standard LAN technology for PCs and the clone market became highly competitive. In 1987, Corvus filed for Chapter 11 protection, and two senior executives departed. The company’s collapse reflected both external market change and an unsuccessful attempt to move away from its earlier storage-and-networking specialization.
- 1987
Chapter 11 filing
[1]Corvus filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
- 1986
Hardware manufacturing discontinued
[1]Corvus ended its hardware manufacturing activities.
- 1985
Onyx & IMI acquired
[1]Corvus acquired Onyx & IMI, including the hard-disk manufacturer International Memories Incorporated.
- 1982
Corvus Concept launched
[1]The company launched the Motorola 68000-based Corvus Concept computer with a rotatable full-page display and integrated Omninet connectivity.
- 1981
Public offering
[1]Corvus became publicly traded on NASDAQ.
- 1980
Omninet introduced
[1]Corvus introduced Omninet, an early commercially successful local-area network using twisted-pair cabling.
- 1979
Company founded
[1]Michael D'Addio and Mark Hahn founded Corvus Systems in San Jose, California.
Products and positioning
Early personal-computing infrastructure provider focused on shared storage, data protection, networking, and integrated computer systems for schools, offices, and specialized users.
Computer storage · 1979
Corvus hard-disk systems
Corvus supplied early Winchester hard-disk systems, initially in 5 MB and 10 MB capacities, together with the hardware and software required to connect them to several microcomputer platforms. The drives greatly expanded storage beyond Apple II floppy disks and could be shared by many computers through Omninet, making them useful in classrooms and offices despite their high initial price.
Local-area networking · 1980
Omninet
Omninet was Corvus’s one-megabit-per-second LAN. It used twisted-pair wiring and user-installable interface cards for computers such as the Apple II and IBM PC/XT. Omninet connected workstations to shared Corvus file servers and supported printer, serial-device, and electronic-mail functions.
Data backup
Mirror
Mirror was a Corvus backup system that used a videocassette recorder to copy hard-disk data to tape. Its recording rate was approximately one megabyte per minute, allowing typical five- or ten-minute backups for the company’s early 5 MB and 10 MB drives.
Network backup
The Bank
The Bank was a later standalone backup device connected to Omninet. It used custom tape media and was designed to back up files from Corvus network storage systems.
Personal computer · 1982
Corvus Concept
The Corvus Concept was a Motorola 68000-based computer launched in 1982. Its unusual 15-inch display automatically rotated between portrait and landscape modes, and the system included an Omninet port, expandable memory, removable motherboard access, and a text-oriented operating environment with applications such as Edword. Versions supporting Unix and other programming environments were also offered.
Brand decisions
1985
Move into the PC-clone marketStrategyBackground
Following the departure of founders Michael D'Addio and Mark Hahn, Corvus faced a changing computer market and pressure from competing networking and hardware standards.
Action taken
The remaining board chose to enter PC-clone manufacturing rather than continue focusing primarily on storage and Omninet infrastructure.
Aftermath
The move placed Corvus in a crowded, low-margin market. Hardware manufacturing ended in 1986, and the company filed for Chapter 11 in 1987.
1982
Launch the Corvus ConceptProduct launchBackground
Corvus sought to extend its storage and networking expertise into a complete computer system.
Action taken
It introduced the Motorola 68000-based Corvus Concept with a distinctive rotatable display, integrated Omninet support, and a proprietary software environment.
Aftermath
The Concept offered innovative hardware and software but did not gain broad adoption, partly because it was not compatible with the IBM PC standard.
Recent events
- 1987
Corvus Systems files for Chapter 11[1]
Bankruptcy
Corvus sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid strategic difficulties and competitive pressure in networking and PC hardware.
- 1986
Corvus discontinues hardware manufacturing[1]
Other
Corvus ended hardware manufacturing as its PC strategy struggled and Ethernet increasingly displaced Omninet in PC local-area networking.
- 1985
Corvus acquires Onyx & IMI[1]
M&A
The company acquired Onyx & IMI, including International Memories Incorporated, a manufacturer associated with Corvus hard-disk production.
- 1985
Corvus enters the PC-clone market[1]
Leadership change
After the founders left, the board directed Corvus toward PC-clone manufacturing, a strategy that exposed the company to an increasingly crowded and unprofitable market.
- 1981
Corvus Systems becomes a publicly traded company[1]
Other
Corvus went public and its shares traded on NASDAQ during the company’s early expansion in personal-computer hardware and networking.
Sources2 sources
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