Spider Systems

Spider Systems Ltd. was a Scottish computer-network products company founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by several former ICL employees. The founders had previously worked at ICL's Scottish Development Centre at Dalkeith Palace, which closed earlier that year. Spider Systems emerged during a period when business computing was becoming increasingly dependent on interconnection among terminals, servers, personal computers, and heterogeneous operating systems. Its product range addressed several layers of networking, including terminal servers, routers, network bridges, network analysers, and software implementations of network protocols. The company was notable for combining networking equipment with software intended to make different computer systems communicate. Its products included network protocol stacks for multiple operating systems, and the company's TCP/IP implementation was used in Microsoft Windows NT 3.1. This placed Spider Systems' technology within the early commercial development of mainstream TCP/IP networking on Microsoft server and workstation platforms, although the available reference material does not identify the specific commercial terms or scope of that relationship. Spider Systems was acquired by Shiva Corporation in 1995 and became Shiva Europe Ltd. The acquisition brought the original business into Shiva's corporate structure and ended Spider Systems' existence as an independent company under its original name. Shiva Corporation was subsequently acquired by Intel in 1998. The former Spider operation continued within the resulting corporate structure for a limited period, but Shiva Europe Ltd. was liquidated in 1999. The Spider name was revived in 1996 when the network software division of the business was bought back from Shiva by one of the founders. The revived operation was renamed Spider Software Ltd., creating a separate continuation of the software-oriented part of the earlier business while the original company had become part of Shiva. Spider Software was later sold to Artesyn Technologies in 2000. Artesyn subsequently became part of Emerson Electric Company. The former Spider Software site did not remain a long-term independent operation under Emerson. On 9 October 2008, Emerson began the process of closing the site, and the office closed at the end of October 2009. Spider Systems is therefore best understood as a defunct Scottish networking technology business whose activities continued through several corporate owners and successor entities. Its historical significance rests on its contribution to network infrastructure and protocol software during the formative period of commercial TCP/IP adoption, rather than on a currently active consumer brand.

Spider Systems was established in Edinburgh in 1983 by several former ICL employees. Before forming the company, the founders had worked at ICL's Scottish Development Centre at Dalkeith Palace, which closed earlier in the year. Their new company entered the computer-networking field, supplying products intended to connect terminals and computers, route traffic, bridge different network segments, analyse network activity, and provide protocol support across operating systems. The company's portfolio reflected the needs of enterprise computing during the transition from isolated or proprietary systems toward interconnected networks. Hardware products included terminal servers, routers, network bridges, and network analysers. Spider Systems also developed network protocol software stacks for various operating systems. Among the technologies associated with the company was a TCP/IP stack used in Microsoft Windows NT 3.1, linking Spider's work to the growing adoption of Internet-derived networking standards in commercial operating systems. In 1995, Shiva Corporation acquired Spider Systems. The business subsequently operated as Shiva Europe Ltd., ending the original company's independent corporate identity. Shiva itself was acquired by Intel in 1998. Shiva Europe Ltd. was liquidated in 1999, closing the corporate route through which the original Spider Systems operation had continued. The Spider name nevertheless returned in 1996 through a management or founder-led buyback of the network software division from Shiva. One of the company's founders acquired that division and renamed it Spider Software Ltd. This successor concentrated on the software heritage of the earlier business rather than restoring Spider Systems as the same independent company. Spider Software was sold to Artesyn Technologies in 2000. Artesyn later became part of Emerson Electric Company. The former Spider Software site eventually disappeared as an operating location. Emerson started the closure process on 9 October 2008, and the office closed at the end of October 2009. The sequence of acquisition, buyback, resale, and final site closure means that Spider Systems has no current operating presence identified in the available reference material. Its historical record is that of a specialist Scottish networking company whose technology covered both network appliances and protocol software during an important phase of enterprise TCP/IP development.

• 2009

  Former office closed

  [1]Spider Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  The former Spider Software office closed at the end of October.

• 2008

  Closure process initiated

  [1]Spider Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Emerson began the process of closing the former Spider Software site on 9 October.

• 2000

  Spider Software sold to Artesyn Technologies

  [1]Spider Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  The successor software company was sold to Artesyn Technologies, later associated with Emerson Electric Company.

• 1999

  Shiva Europe liquidated

  [1]Spider Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Shiva Europe Ltd. was liquidated following the changes in ownership surrounding Shiva Corporation.

• 1998

  Shiva acquired by Intel

  [1]Spider Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Intel acquired Shiva Corporation, whose European operation included the former Spider Systems business.

• 1996

  Spider brand revived as Spider Software

  [1]Spider Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  One of the founders bought back the network software division from Shiva and renamed it Spider Software Ltd.

• 1995

  Acquisition by Shiva Corporation

  [1]Spider Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Spider Systems was acquired by Shiva Corporation and became Shiva Europe Ltd.

• 1983

  Spider Systems founded in Edinburgh

  [1]Spider Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Several former ICL employees founded Spider Systems after the closure of ICL's Scottish Development Centre at Dalkeith Palace.

A specialist business-to-business networking technology provider focused on connecting heterogeneous computer systems through network hardware, diagnostic tools, and protocol software.

• Network access hardware

  Terminal servers

  Spider Systems produced terminal servers for connecting terminals and other serial-access devices to computer networks. These products formed part of the company's enterprise networking portfolio and addressed the need to make traditional terminal-based systems accessible through network infrastructure.

• Network infrastructure hardware

  Routers

  Routers were among Spider Systems' network hardware products. They supported the company's broader role as a supplier of equipment for moving traffic between network environments, although the available reference does not specify individual models, protocols, or release dates.

• Network infrastructure hardware

  Network bridges

  Spider Systems made network bridges for linking network segments. The products complemented its routers and terminal servers and reflected the company's focus on practical enterprise connectivity across different systems and network architectures.

• Network management and diagnostics

  Network analysers

  Network analysers were part of Spider Systems' product range for examining network operation and traffic. The reference material does not identify particular analyser models or technical specifications, but places these tools alongside the company's infrastructure and protocol products.

• Networking software

  Network protocol software stacks

  Spider Systems developed protocol software stacks for multiple operating systems. The best-documented example is a TCP/IP stack used in Microsoft Windows NT 3.1, illustrating the company's role in supplying networking software during the expansion of standards-based enterprise connectivity.

• 2008

  Closure of the former Spider Software siteStrategy

  Background

  The former Spider Software operation was part of the corporate structure associated with Emerson Electric Company.

  Action taken

  Emerson began the process of closing the site on 9 October 2008.

  Aftermath

  The office closed at the end of October 2009, ending the identified operating presence of the former Spider Software site.

  Source

• 2000

  Sale of Spider Software to Artesyn TechnologiesM&A

  Background

  Spider Software was operating as the successor to the network software division bought back from Shiva.

  Action taken

  The company was sold to Artesyn Technologies.

  Aftermath

  Artesyn later became part of Emerson Electric Company, which subsequently initiated closure of the former Spider Software site.

  Source

• 1996

  Buyback of the network software divisionM&A

  Background

  After the acquisition by Shiva, the network software division remained identifiable as a separate part of the former business.

  Action taken

  One of Spider Systems' founders bought the division back from Shiva and renamed it Spider Software Ltd.

  Aftermath

  The Spider name continued through a software-focused successor company, which was later sold to Artesyn Technologies.

  Source

• 1995

  Sale to Shiva CorporationM&A

  Background

  Spider Systems was operating as a specialist supplier of network hardware and protocol software.

  Action taken

  Shiva Corporation acquired the company and integrated it as Shiva Europe Ltd.

  Aftermath

  The original Spider Systems identity was replaced within Shiva's European structure, which was later affected by Intel's acquisition of Shiva.

  Source

1. 1Spider Systemsen.wikipedia.org