Headcount for Fiscal year:  2

• Computer scientists, Len Bosack and Sandy Lerner, from Stanford University found Cisco Systems®. The company is named for San Francisco, gateway to the Pacific Rim. (Dec 84)
• Beginning to experiment with connecting detached networks, Bosack and Lerner run network cables between two different buildings on the Stanford campus, connecting them first with bridges, and then routers.
• Bosack and Lerner, with the expertise of Greg Satz and Kirk Lougheed, work to enable disparate networks to talk with each other and share information reliably. But in order for the networks to be truly interconnected, a technology has to be invented that can deal with the disparate local area protocols. With that idea in mind, the multi-protocol router is born.

• The Domain Name System (DNS) is introduced. Moderated newsgroups are introduced on USENET.
• William Gibson coins the term "cyberspace" in his novel Neuromancer.
• JUNET (Japan Unix Network) established using UUCP and JANET (Joint Academic Network) established in the UK.