PC client revenue was up 2 percent, but the real action was in the company's server business.

"We're real happy with our server business," he said.

Mr. Bryant, the chief financial officer, said the company's server business led growth during the third quarter.

Analysts said the gains in Microsoft's server business indicated a strengthening corporate market.

But Sun moved increasingly into the server business and thrived through the 1990's.

Mr. Dell, 37, is hoping that his new server business will power results next year.

The server business was sold off to private equity investors within months, following the Lucent deal.

The strategy appears to be working in Sun's crucial server business, which has lost market share in recent years.

He may be most known for building Microsoft's server business.

The server business saw substantial growth during this period of time.