As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 1996

                                                       Registration No. 33-56577

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                            ------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           --------------------------

                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

              DELAWARE                                 94-2805249
      (State of Incorporation)                      (I.R.S. Employer
                                                 Identification Number)

                               2550 Garcia Avenue
                            Mountain View, CA 94043
                                 (415) 960-1300
   (Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                          ---------------------------

                       1990 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                      1990 LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                           (Full Title of the Plans)

                      -------------------------------------

                                Scott G. McNealy
                                   President
                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
                               2550 Garcia Avenue
                            Mountain View, CA 94043
                                 (415) 960-1300
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                      -------------------------------------

                                    Copy to:

                               Judith M. O'Brien
                       WILSON, SONSINI, GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            Professional Corporation
                               650 Page Mill Road
                        Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
<TABLE>

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Proposed         Proposed
                                                              Amount          Maximum           Maximum            Amount of
                                                               to be       Offering Price      Aggregate         Registration
 Title of Securities to be Registered                        Registered      Per Share       Offering Price           Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                      <C>                     <C>              <C>      
Common Stock, $.00067 par value, to be issued: .........
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to the 1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ......  7,800,000 shares   $49.9375(1)   $  389,512,500.00(1)  $134,314.66
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to the 1990 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan ... 24,200,000 shares   $49.9375(1)   $1,208,487,500.00(1)  $416,719.83
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Total ....................................... 32,000,000 shares   $49.9375(1)   $1,598,000,000.00(1)  $551,034.49
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<FN>

(1)       Estimated  in  accordance  with Rule 457 (c) solely for the purpose of
          calculating  the  registration  fee on the basis of the average of the
          high and low price for the  Common  Stock as  reported  on the  Nasdaq
          National Market System on March 1, 1996.
</FN>
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

        The  contents of the  Registrant's  Forms S-8  Registration  Statements,
Registration  No.'s 33-38220 and 33-56577,  dated December 14, 1990 and November
23, 1994,  respectively,  relating to the 1990 Employee  Stock Purchase Plan and
the 1990 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan are incorporated herein by reference.

PART II: INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8.  Exhibits

        Exhibit
        Number          Documents
        ------          ---------
         4.1    1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

         4.2    1990 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan

         5.1    Opinion of Counsel as to legality of securities being registered

        23.1    Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

        23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

        24.1    Power of Attorney (see page II-3)



                                      II-1

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant,  Sun Microsystems,  Inc., a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware,  certifies that it has reasonable  grounds to
believe  that it meets all of the  requirements  for  filing on Form S-8 and has
duly  caused  this  Registration  Statement  to be signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of Mountain View, State of
California, on this 5th day of March, 1996.

                                     SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.


                                     By:        /s/ MICHAEL E. LEHMAN
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                         Michael E. Lehman, Vice President
                                            and Chief Financial Officer






                                      II-2
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each person  whose  signature
appears below  constitutes  and appoints Scott G. McNealy and Michael E. Lehman,
jointly  and  severally,  his or her  attorneys-in-fact,  each with the power of
substitution,  for him or her in any and all capacities,  to sign any amendments
to this  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with exhibits
thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that each of said
attorneys-in-fact,  or his or her substitute or substitutes,  may do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

        Signature                      Title                        Date
        ---------                      -----                        -----

  /s/  SCOTT G. McNEALY         Chairman of the Board            March  5, 1996
-----------------------------   of Directors, President
       (Scott G. McNealy)       and Chief Executive Officer
                                (Principal Executive Officer)
                                

  /s/  MICHAEL E. LEHMAN        Vice President and               March 5, 1996
-----------------------------   Chief Financial Officer
       (Michael E. Lehman)      (Principal Financial Officer)
                                

  /s/  GEORGE REYES             Vice President and               March 5, 1996
-----------------------------   Controller (Principal
       (George Reyes)           Accounting Officer)
                                

  /s/  L. JOHN DOERR            Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (L. John Doerr)

  /s/  ROBERT J. FISHER         Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (Robert J. Fisher)
     
  /s/  JUDITH L. ESTRIN         Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (Judith L. Estrin)

  /s/  ROBERT L. LONG           Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (Robert L. Long)

  /s/  M. KENNETH OSHMAN        Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (M. Kenneth Oshman)

  /s/  A. MICHAEL SPENCE        Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (A. Michael Spence)



                                      II-3




<PAGE>



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549





                            ------------------------

                                    EXHIBITS

                            ------------------------



                       Registration Statement on Form S-8

                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

                                 March 5, 1996

<PAGE>

                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS

        Exhibit
        Number          Description
        ------          -----------

         4.1    1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

         4.2    1990 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan

         5.1    Opinion of Counsel as to legality of securities being registered

        23.1    Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

        23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

        24.1    Power of Attorney (contained in page II-3)
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10074}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0000709519", "assigned-sic": "7373", "irs-number": "942805249", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-01459", "film-number": "96531483"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2550 GARCIA AVE", "city": "MOUNTAIN VIEW", "state": "CA", "zip": "94043-1100", "phone": "4159601300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2550 GARCIA AVENUE", "city": "MOUNTAIN VIEW", "state": "CA", "zip": "94043-1100"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 1996

                                                       Registration No. 33-56577

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                            ------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           --------------------------

                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

              DELAWARE                                 94-2805249
      (State of Incorporation)                      (I.R.S. Employer
                                                 Identification Number)

                               2550 Garcia Avenue
                            Mountain View, CA 94043
                                 (415) 960-1300
   (Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                          ---------------------------

                       1990 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                      1990 LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                           (Full Title of the Plans)

                      -------------------------------------

                                Scott G. McNealy
                                   President
                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
                               2550 Garcia Avenue
                            Mountain View, CA 94043
                                 (415) 960-1300
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                      -------------------------------------

                                    Copy to:

                               Judith M. O'Brien
                       WILSON, SONSINI, GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            Professional Corporation
                               650 Page Mill Road
                        Palo Alto, California 94304-1050

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Proposed         Proposed
                                                              Amount          Maximum           Maximum            Amount of
                                                               to be       Offering Price      Aggregate         Registration
 Title of Securities to be Registered                        Registered      Per Share       Offering Price           Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.00067 par value, to be issued: .........
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to the 1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ......  7,800,000 shares   $49.9375(1)   $  389,512,500.00(1)  $134,314.66
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to the 1990 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan ... 24,200,000 shares   $49.9375(1)   $1,208,487,500.00(1)  $416,719.83
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Total ....................................... 32,000,000 shares   $49.9375(1)   $1,598,000,000.00(1)  $551,034.49
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)       Estimated  in  accordance  with Rule 457 (c) solely for the purpose of
          calculating  the  registration  fee on the basis of the average of the
          high and low price for the  Common  Stock as  reported  on the  Nasdaq
          National Market System on March 1, 1996.
The  contents of the  Registrant's  Forms S-8  Registration  Statements,
Registration  No.'s 33-38220 and 33-56577,  dated December 14, 1990 and November
23, 1994,  respectively,  relating to the 1990 Employee  Stock Purchase Plan and
the 1990 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan are incorporated herein by reference.

PART II: INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8.  Exhibits

        Exhibit
        Number          Documents
        ------          ---------
         4.1    1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

         4.2    1990 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan

         5.1    Opinion of Counsel as to legality of securities being registered

        23.1    Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

        23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

        24.1    Power of Attorney (see page II-3)

                                      II-1
SIGNATURES

        Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant,  Sun Microsystems,  Inc., a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware,  certifies that it has reasonable  grounds to
believe  that it meets all of the  requirements  for  filing on Form S-8 and has
duly  caused  this  Registration  Statement  to be signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of Mountain View, State of
California, on this 5th day of March, 1996.

                                     SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

                                     By:        /s/ MICHAEL E. LEHMAN
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                         Michael E. Lehman, Vice President
                                            and Chief Financial Officer

                                      II-2
POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each person  whose  signature
appears below  constitutes  and appoints Scott G. McNealy and Michael E. Lehman,
jointly  and  severally,  his or her  attorneys-in-fact,  each with the power of
substitution,  for him or her in any and all capacities,  to sign any amendments
to this  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with exhibits
thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that each of said
attorneys-in-fact,  or his or her substitute or substitutes,  may do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

        Signature                      Title                        Date
        ---------                      -----                        -----

  /s/  SCOTT G. McNEALY         Chairman of the Board            March  5, 1996
-----------------------------   of Directors, President
       (Scott G. McNealy)       and Chief Executive Officer
                                (Principal Executive Officer)
                                

  /s/  MICHAEL E. LEHMAN        Vice President and               March 5, 1996
-----------------------------   Chief Financial Officer
       (Michael E. Lehman)      (Principal Financial Officer)
                                

  /s/  GEORGE REYES             Vice President and               March 5, 1996
-----------------------------   Controller (Principal
       (George Reyes)           Accounting Officer)
                                

  /s/  L. JOHN DOERR            Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (L. John Doerr)

  /s/  ROBERT J. FISHER         Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (Robert J. Fisher)
     
  /s/  JUDITH L. ESTRIN         Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (Judith L. Estrin)

  /s/  ROBERT L. LONG           Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (Robert L. Long)

  /s/  M. KENNETH OSHMAN        Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (M. Kenneth Oshman)

  /s/  A. MICHAEL SPENCE        Director                         March 5, 1996
-----------------------------
       (A. Michael Spence)

                                      II-3
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                            ------------------------

                                    EXHIBITS

                            ------------------------

                       Registration Statement on Form S-8

                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

                                 March 5, 1996
SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS

        Exhibit
        Number          Description
        ------          -----------

         4.1    1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

         4.2    1990 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan

         5.1    Opinion of Counsel as to legality of securities being registered

        23.1    Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

        23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

        24.1    Power of Attorney (contained in page II-3)