HAL Computer Systems

HAL Computer Systems, Inc. was a computer manufacturer based in Campbell, California, established in 1990 by Andrew Heller, a principal designer of IBM's original POWER architecture. Heller created the company to develop commercially oriented computers built around reduced instruction set computing (RISC) technology. The name was inspired by the fictional computer HAL 9000 in Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey, although the company itself was focused on engineering rather than entertainment branding. HAL's central technical ambition was to design high-performance processors and systems using the SPARC architecture. The company initially operated as an independent venture and kept its product plans notably confidential. Its first systems were planned for introduction in 1994, and the business was assembling a substantial engineering organization by the time it entered into a strategic relationship with Fujitsu. In 1991, Fujitsu invested $40.2 million in HAL in exchange for a 44 percent stake. The arrangement gave HAL access to Fujitsu manufacturing capabilities, patents, and semiconductor fabrication. Fujitsu also agreed to manufacture some HAL computers and market them in Asia, while HAL provided Fujitsu access to the technology it was developing. By that stage, HAL had approximately 140 employees. The relationship allowed a relatively small American processor company to pursue complex 64-bit designs with the resources of a major Japanese technology group. HAL's most important engineering achievement was the SPARC64 processor family. Designed to meet the 64-bit SPARC V9 specification, the processors combined out-of-order execution with reliability, availability, and serviceability features associated with large mainframe systems. The original SPARC64 became the first commercially produced SPARC V9 microprocessor, preceding Sun Microsystems' UltraSPARC I by several months. HAL subsequently developed the SPARC64 II, previously referred to as SPARC64+, and the SPARC64 III. A later design, SPARC64 V, was cancelled when Fujitsu closed the subsidiary, although Fujitsu subsequently developed a processor using the same designation. The company underwent leadership and ownership changes during 1993. Andrew Heller resigned as chairman and chief executive officer in mid-1993 and became a consultant to Fujitsu. Scott Metcalf, who had been chief operating officer, became president. Contemporary accounts associated Heller's departure with his growing involvement in technology roadmaps for Fujitsu and its subsidiaries, including ICL and Amdahl, while also reporting speculation that Fujitsu was dissatisfied with HAL's development progress. HAL did not publicly comment on that speculation. In November 1993, Fujitsu acquired the remaining 56 percent of HAL for more than $50 million, making HAL a wholly owned subsidiary. The business remained closely associated with Fujitsu's wider computing strategy, and most of its sales were directed toward the Japanese market. Fujitsu ultimately closed HAL Computer Systems in mid-2001. HAL therefore operated for roughly a decade, but its processor work influenced Fujitsu's SPARC-based server technology and represented an early commercial implementation of the SPARC V9 generation.

HAL Computer Systems was founded in 1990 in Campbell, California, by Andrew Heller, an engineer associated with the original IBM POWER architecture. Its purpose was to bring RISC-based, high-performance computing into the commercial computer market. The company's name alluded to HAL 9000, the computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey. HAL's work was nevertheless centered on processor architecture, system engineering, and enterprise computing rather than consumer electronics. The company's principal project was a family of processors and systems based on the SPARC architecture. HAL kept its product plans private during its years as an independent company and initially targeted a 1994 system launch. To support its semiconductor and system ambitions, HAL entered a major strategic and financial relationship with Fujitsu in 1991. Fujitsu invested $40.2 million for 44 percent of HAL and agreed not to increase that ownership at the time. In addition to capital, Fujitsu offered access to patents, chip fabrication, machine manufacturing, and Asian distribution. HAL in turn gave Fujitsu access to the technology it was developing. The company had about 140 employees during this period. HAL's engineering program produced the SPARC64 family, designed for the 64-bit SPARC V9 specification. The architecture combined out-of-order execution, intended to improve processor performance, with reliability, availability, and serviceability characteristics associated with mainframe systems. The first SPARC64 became the first SPARC V9 microprocessor to be produced, arriving several months before Sun Microsystems' UltraSPARC I. HAL later developed SPARC64 II, previously known as SPARC64+, and SPARC64 III. It also worked on SPARC64 V, but that processor was cancelled when Fujitsu shut the company down; Fujitsu later used the same name for a processor of its own. Leadership changed in mid-1993 when Heller resigned as chairman and chief executive officer to become a Fujitsu consultant. HAL stated that he had already been developing roadmaps for Fujitsu and related companies, including ICL and Amdahl, and had become less involved in HAL's daily activities. Some reports suggested that Fujitsu was unhappy with HAL's development pace and the absence of systems using its planned 64-bit processor, although Fujitsu did not publicly explain the change. Scott Metcalf, previously the chief operating officer, became president. In November 1993, Fujitsu bought the remaining 56 percent of HAL for more than $50 million. HAL consequently became a wholly owned Fujitsu subsidiary. Its commercial activity was oriented heavily toward Japan, where Fujitsu could provide manufacturing, distribution, and systems-market support. HAL also operated a software division, HAL Software Systems. That division initially developed a Distributed Computing Environment management tool and later introduced the Olias Browser, Olias Build Tools, Olias Remote Information Broker, and Olias Filter Development Kit in March 1994. The Olias products addressed SGML, World Wide Web documents, and relational database information. In the middle of 1996, Fujitsu arranged for HAL Software Systems to become Chisholm Technologies, a separately organized company financed by Fujitsu and focused on intranet administration tools. HAL Computer Systems itself continued as a hardware and processor operation until Fujitsu closed the subsidiary in mid-2001. The company's independent life was relatively short, but its SPARC64 work made it an important contributor to the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit SPARC computing and to Fujitsu's broader server-processor development.

• 2001

  Fujitsu closes the subsidiary

  [1]HAL Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Fujitsu closed HAL Computer Systems in mid-2001.

• 1996

  Software division is spun off

  [1]HAL Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  HAL Software Systems became Chisholm Technologies, a Fujitsu-financed company focused on intranet administration tools.

• 1994

  Olias software products are introduced

  [1]HAL Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  HAL Software Systems introduced a group of tools for browsing, building, brokering, and filtering SGML, Web, and relational-database information.

• 1993

  Leadership transition and full Fujitsu ownership

  [1]HAL Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Andrew Heller left the chief executive role, Scott Metcalf became president, and Fujitsu acquired the remaining 56 percent of HAL later that year.

• 1991

  Fujitsu becomes a strategic investor

  [1]HAL Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Fujitsu invested $40.2 million for a 44 percent stake and committed manufacturing, semiconductor, patent, and Asian marketing support.

• 1990

  HAL Computer Systems is founded

  [1]HAL Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Andrew Heller founded HAL Computer Systems in Campbell, California, to develop commercial computers using RISC architecture.

High-performance commercial computing based on 64-bit RISC and SPARC technology, with an emphasis on mainframe-style reliability, availability, and serviceability.

• 64-bit microprocessor

  SPARC64

  HAL's SPARC64 was a 64-bit processor design compliant with the SPARC V9 specification. It combined out-of-order execution with reliability, availability, and serviceability features intended for demanding commercial and enterprise systems. The processor was notable for becoming the first produced SPARC V9 implementation, ahead of Sun Microsystems' UltraSPARC I.

• 64-bit microprocessor

  SPARC64 II

  SPARC64 II was a later generation of HAL's 64-bit SPARC processor work and had previously been identified as SPARC64+. It extended the company's processor program for high-performance SPARC systems, although detailed commercial specifications and product availability are not established in the supplied material.

• 64-bit microprocessor

  SPARC64 III

  SPARC64 III was another processor generation designed by HAL for the SPARC64 line. It formed part of the company's progression toward increasingly capable 64-bit commercial systems before HAL was closed by Fujitsu.

• 64-bit microprocessor

  SPARC64 V

  SPARC64 V was a processor design associated with HAL's later development work. The project was cancelled when Fujitsu closed HAL Computer Systems. Fujitsu subsequently developed a processor using the same designation, but that later Fujitsu design should not be treated as a HAL product.

• Enterprise information-management software · 1994

  Olias software tools

  The Olias family included a browser, build tools, a remote information broker, and a filter development kit. These products were intended to help users browse and manage SGML and World Wide Web documents as well as information held in relational databases.

• 1996

  Separation of HAL Software SystemsStrategy

  Background

  HAL's software division had developed tools for distributed computing, SGML, Web documents, and relational databases.

  Action taken

  Fujitsu arranged for the software division to become Chisholm Technologies, financed by Fujitsu and focused on intranet administration tools.

  Aftermath

  The software activity continued separately from HAL's computer hardware and processor operation.

  Source

• 1993

  Fujitsu acquires full ownership of HALM&A

  Background

  Fujitsu already held 44 percent of HAL and was supporting its processor and computer-development program.

  Action taken

  Fujitsu purchased the remaining 56 percent of HAL for more than $50 million, turning the company into a wholly owned subsidiary.

  Aftermath

  HAL continued within the Fujitsu group, with most sales directed to Japan, until the subsidiary was closed in 2001.

  Acquisition consideration. More than $50 million (November 1993)

  Source

• 1991

  Strategic investment and manufacturing partnership with FujitsuStrategy

  Background

  HAL needed substantial semiconductor, manufacturing, patent, and distribution resources to pursue high-performance SPARC-based systems.

  Action taken

  Fujitsu invested $40.2 million for a 44 percent stake and agreed to fabricate HAL processors, provide patent access, manufacture some systems, and market them in Asia.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement strengthened HAL's ability to develop 64-bit SPARC technology and eventually led to Fujitsu acquiring full ownership.

  Fujitsu investment. $40.2 million (1991)

  Source

1. 1HAL Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org