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                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.9

                            CERTIFICATE OF REDUCTION

                                       OF

         CLASS C CUMULATIVE, REDEEMABLE AND EXCHANGEABLE PREFERRED STOCK

                                       OF

                  ALPHA MICROSYSTEMS, a California corporation

                         PURSUANT TO THE SECTION 401(c)

            OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA


         Douglas J. Tullio, and Richard E. Mahmarian certify that:

         FIRST: They are the president and secretary, respectively, of ALPHA
MICROSYSTEMS, a California corporation (the "Company").

         SECOND: The number of outstanding shares of the Company's Class C
Cumulative, Redeemable and Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the "Class C Preferred
Stock") is zero (0) shares.

         THIRD: That the Board of Directors of the Company, pursuant to the
authority so vested in the Articles of Incorporation of the Company and in
accordance with Section 401 (c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of
California, duly adopted the following resolutions reducing the number of
authorized shares of the Class C Preferred Stock to zero (0) shares (the
"Reduction") since the Reduction solely reduces the number of shares
constituting series of the Company's capital stock that were designated by the
Board of Directors pursuant to the Certificate of Determination of Rights and
Preferences of Class A Cumulative, Redeemable and Exchangeable Preferred Stock,
Class B Cumulative, Redeemable and Exchangeable Preferred Stock, Class C
Cumulative, Redeemable and Exchangeable Preferred Stock and Voting Preferred
Stock of Alpha Microsystems filed on August 25, 1998 (the "Certificate of
Determination") and because none of the Class C Preferred Stock is outstanding.

         FOURTH: That resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Company are as follows:

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                  "...RESOLVED, that the Certificate of Determination filed
                  August 25, 1998 be amended to reduce the number of authorized
                  shares of Class C Preferred Stock thereunder to zero.

                  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers of this Corporation
                  are hereby authorized and directed to execute and file with
                  the Secretary of State an amendment to the Certificate of
                  Determination filed August 25, 1998 to reduce the number of
                  authorized shares of Class C Preferred Stock thereunder to
                  zero, in such form as is necessary or appropriate and
                  consistent with carrying out the intent and purposes of this
                  and the foregoing resolutions and recitals, the execution and
                  delivery of the foregoing documents or the doing of any act or
                  thing being conclusive evidence as to the appropriateness
                  thereof and of the authority of the party executing or doing
                  the same to so execute and deliver any such documents and to
                  do any such act and thing."

         We further declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State
of California that the matters set forth in this Certificate are true and
correct of our own knowledge.


         DATE: November 18, 1999


                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  DOUGLAS J. TULLIO, President



                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  RICHARD E. MAHMARIAN, Director