OSfOM

The Sun Ultra 1: Ushering in the 64-bit Era 

November 1995 marked a significant turning point in Sun Microsystems' history with the introduction of the Ultra 1. This workstation was the first in the Ultra series and the first to feature Sun's new 64-bit UltraSPARC microprocessor, signaling a major leap forward from the 32-bit SPARC architecture that had powered the SPARCstation line. 

The Ultra 1 was built around the powerful UltraSPARC I processor, initially available at speeds of 143 MHz, 167 MHz, and 200 MHz. This new architecture not only offered 64-bit computing capabilities but also included the Visual Instruction Set (VIS) for accelerated multimedia and graphics processing, reflecting the growing importance of these areas. 

While the Ultra 1 adopted a new, more modern desktop chassis design compared to the earlier "pizza box" and "lunchbox" SPARCstations, it still maintained a focus on expandability. It featured SBus slots (though fewer than some earlier models) and introduced the UltraSPARC Port Architecture (UPA) slot for high-performance graphics cards like the Creator series. 

The Ultra 1 shipped with Solaris 2.5, the first version of Solaris to support the UltraSPARC architecture. It was targeted at demanding professional workloads, including high-end software development, mechanical design, scientific computing, and graphics-intensive applications. The Ultra 1, particularly models equipped with Creator graphics, became popular in fields requiring advanced visualization. 

The introduction of the Ultra 1 and the UltraSPARC architecture was a pivotal moment for Sun, positioning them at the forefront of 64-bit computing and high-performance workstations during the mid-to-late 1990s. It set the stage for a successful line of UltraSPARC-based systems that would power much of the internet infrastructure during the dot-com boom.