Harris Computer Systems
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Real-time computing |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Harris Corporation (as division), became independent in 1994 |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Fate | Acquired by Concurrent Computer Corporation |
| Headquarters | Fort Lauderdale, Florida , United States |
Area served | United States, government and commercial sectors |
Key people | E. Courtney "Corky" Siegel (CEO) |
| Products | Night Hawk computer systems, CyberGuard network security solutions, Ada compilers |
Number of employees | 480 (1994) |
Harris Computer Systems Corporation was a U.S.-based technology firm during the mid-1990s, specializing in real-time computing solutions for fields such as aerospace simulation, data acquisition, and signal processing. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the company originated as the Harris Computer Systems Division within Harris Corporation before becoming an independent entity in 1994. It was later purchased by Concurrent Computer Corporation in 1996.
Origins
The roots of Harris Computer Systems date back to 1967 with the establishment of Datacraft Corporation in Fort Lauderdale. Datacraft concentrated on producing minicomputers aimed at scientific, engineering, and educational uses. Its DC-6024 series, introduced in 1969, featured a 24-bit design and gained traction as an affordable alternative to rivals such as Systems Engineering Laboratories.
Harris Computer Systems Division
In 1974, Harris Corporation acquired Datacraft and created the Harris Computer Systems Division. This division developed the H-Series product lineup, including models like the H80 and H100, which focused on virtual memory capabilities and were designed for multiprocessing and real-time applications. These 24-bit machines ensured strong binary compatibility across successive generations. Later versions included the H800 and H1200 models.
The H-Series operated on Vulcan initially and later on VOS operating systems, supporting a broad range of programming languages including Fortran, COBOL, Pascal, BASIC, APL, SNOBOL, RPG, and assembly language. Additionally, Harris developed Ada compiler tools to meet defense industry requirements.
By 1984, Harris began integrating VOS with the Unix operating system. The shift from 24-bit to 32-bit architectures led to Unix-based platforms replacing Vulcan and VOS. Harris provided three distinct operating system variants: CX/RT tailored for real-time processing; CX/SX designed for government-level security; and CX/UX based on Unix. These systems shared common object and file formats and could coexist on a single storage device. The CX/SX version obtained B1 Orange Book and B1 Red Book certifications under the U.S. government's Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria, making it attractive to clients with stringent security needs.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the division's premier offering was the Night Hawk series of real-time computer systems. Launched in 1989 utilizing the Motorola 88000 processor, Night Hawk targeted real-time applications such as aerospace simulation, signal processing, and C³I (Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence). The series included models ranging from NH-1200 to NH-5800. In 1992, Harris announced plans to transition Night Hawk systems to the PowerPC architecture.
The division also produced network firewall solutions primarily marketed to government agencies. E. Courtney "Corky" Siegel held the position of general manager during this timeframe.
Harris Computer Systems Corporation
On October 7, 1994, Harris Computer Systems Corporation was separated from Harris Corporation and distributed to its shareholders. The newly independent company employed approximately 480 staff members and reported revenues near $60 million with earnings around $2 million in the previous fiscal year. John Hartley, then head of Harris Corporation, described it as a "well-established, profitable business" ready to expand as a standalone public company. CEO Siegel emphasized that operating independently would enhance access to capital markets essential for growth.
The corporation concentrated on delivering systems for real-time simulation, training simulators, data acquisition and control solutions, alongside secure computing platforms. Its headquarters remained in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Night Hawk computer system served as its flagship product—recognized for robust multiprocessing performance and real-time capabilities—targeting both government entities and commercial clients, particularly within the flight simulation industry. Key competitors included Concurrent Computer Corporation and Encore Computer.
Between 1994 and 1995, Harris Computer secured major contracts in aviation and telecommunications sectors within civilian markets. It also introduced CyberGuard, a network security solution engineered to defend against unauthorized Internet intrusions.
Harris Computer Systems continued its participation in the Ada programming language market by providing compilers and APSE-related runtime environments featuring symbolic debugging and tracing functionalities. During the mid-1990s, it contributed to updates of the Ada Semantic Interface Specification (ASIS).
Acquisition
In March 1995, under the leadership of CEO Siegel, Harris Computer Systems sought to purchase its primary rival, Concurrent Computer Corporation; however, the deal collapsed due to disagreements involving business strategy, legal matters, and corporate culture.
Later that year, negotiations resumed with roles reversed, culminating in June 1996 when Concurrent acquired Harris's segment focused on high-performance computing. Following this transaction, the company’s headquarters moved from New Jersey to Harris’s original location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Siegel took on the role of Concurrent’s CEO, while the former Concurrent CEO transitioned to chairman of the board. Although the objective was to combine the strongest offerings from both firms, Harris’s PowerPC-based Night Hawk product line became predominant, overshadowing Concurrent’s processor-based systems. As a result, operations in New Jersey were progressively discontinued.
The CyberGuard network security division was deliberately excluded from this acquisition. After the merger, the remaining Harris organization adopted the name CyberGuard Corporation.