Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0287
Expires: January 31, 2005
Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
DOERR L JOHN
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC [SUNW]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
4150 NETWORK CIRCLE
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
11/10/2004
(Street)

SANTA CLARA, CA 95054
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock               3,038,496 D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 1474 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Director Stock Option (Right to Buy) (1) $ 50.1563               (2) 11/08/2005 Common Stock 20,000   20,000 D  
Director Stock Option (Right to Buy) (1) $ 12.59               (3) 11/07/2006 Common Stock 10,000   10,000 D  
Director Stock Option (Right to Buy) (1) $ 3.4               (4) 11/07/2007 Common Stock 10,000   10,000 D  
Director Stock Option (Right to Buy) (1) $ 4.208               (5) 11/13/2008 Common Stock 10,000   10,000 D  
Director Stock Option (Right to Buy) (1) $ 4.6 11/10/2004   A   10,000     (6) 11/10/2009 Common Stock 10,000 (7) 10,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
DOERR L JOHN
4150 NETWORK CIRCLE
SANTA CLARA, CA 95054
  X      

Signatures

 /s/ Irma Villarreal, Attorney-in-Fact   11/10/2004
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Option granted under Sun Microsystems, Inc. 1988 Director's Stock Option Plan.
(2) Shares vested and became exercisable in four equal annual installments of 5,000 shares beginning November 7, 2001.
(3) A total of 7,500 shares are fully vested and exercisable with the remaining 2,500 shares becoming exercisable with the fourth of four equal annual installments on October 26, 2005.
(4) A total of 5,000 shares are fully vested and exercisable with the remaining 5,000 shares becoming exercisable in two equal annual installments of 2,500 shares on October 26, 2005 and November 2, 2006.
(5) A total of 2,500 shares are fully vested and exercisable with the remaining shares becoming exercisable in three equal annual installments of 2,500 shares on October 26, 2005, November 2, 2006 and the earlier of November 13, 2007 or the date of the 2007 annual shareholders meeting.
(6) Shares vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments of 2,500 shares as follows: first anniversary- October 26, 2005; second anniversary- November 2, 2006; third anniversary will be the earlier of November 10, 2007 or the date of the 2007 annual shareholders meeting; and fourth anniversary will be the earlier of November 10, 2008 or the date of the 2008 annual shareholders meeting.
(7) The price of the derivative security will be determined at a future date.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.