Scientific Data Systems

Scientific Data Systems (often shortened to the acronym, SDS) was an early manufacturer of small mainframes, mostly for scientific/engineering work. They enjoyed some success with the 24-bit 930 and 940, running modest time-sharing systems (many descended from the Berkeley Timesharing System).

Their 32-bit Sigma 7 is notorious for being the first ARPANET host.

They were sold to Xerox and renamed Xerox Data Systems (XDS, likewise); Xerox was unable to make a success of the computer business, and XDS was eventually shut down (at a huge loss).

External links

• SDS - Bitsavers SDS collection
• The Sigma Family - marketing brochure from SDS
• The Computer That Will Not Die: The SDS Sigma 7 - also contains a history of SDS