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                                                                    Exhibit 23.3

              CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Sun Summary Selected
Consolidated Financial Data" and "Experts" in Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement (Form S-4) of Sun Microsystems, Inc. for the registration
of shares of its common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of
our reports dated July 19, 2000, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements of Sun Microsystems, Inc. incorporated by reference in its Annual
Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 30, 2000 and the related financial
statement schedule included therein, filed with the Securities Exchange
Commission.


                                                           /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Palo Alto, California
October 30, 2000