iXsystems Introduces TrueNAS SCALE: The Future of Storage is Here
iXsystems, the creators of groundbreaking storage solutions like FreeNAS and TrueNAS, have recently unveiled their latest project – TrueNAS SCALE. This innovative offering is poised to revolutionize the storage landscape with its advanced capabilities that were not available in previous products.
The Missing Piece in iXsystems’ Storage Portfolio
TrueNAS SCALE was designed specifically to fill a crucial gap in iXsystems’ storage portfolio. While their flagship product, ZFS, is built for scale-up solutions, the market trend is moving towards scale-out storage. With TrueNAS SCALE, iXsystems finally has an answer for this changing landscape.
Furthermore, this project also marks a significant shift in the company’s focus away from FreeBSD, a major contributor to the project. TrueNAS SCALE is a Debian Linux-based solution that brings a host of new and powerful features to the table.
The Power of TrueNAS SCALE
One of the main highlights of this solution is its ability to handle scale-out storage, Linux containers, and converged infrastructure. While iXsystems has made efforts to incorporate FreeBSD features for virtualization, the larger ecosystem of KVM and Linux containers cannot be ignored.
In addition, the company’s new offering aligns with the model used by major players like VMware, Microsoft, and Nutanix in the enterprise space. This decision also draws parallels with another open-source project, Proxmox VE, which has followed a similar approach for years. However, TrueNAS SCALE is not merely a copy of Proxmox VE, making it an interesting development in the Linux storage space.
Reading Between the Lines
It’s evident that iXsystems is keen on shifting away from FreeBSD with their recent announcements. The rebranding of FreeNAS to TrueNAS is a clear indication of this move. In the long run, this could completely remove the strong association between FreeBSD and FreeNAS, paving the way for a future that is based on Linux.
As it stands, the company’s platforms are predominantly built on Debian Linux, including their FreeBSD-based solutions that now use ZFS on Linux as the underlying technology. This raises questions about the need for FreeBSD at all in iXsystems’ ecosystem.
One of the biggest competitors of TrueNAS SCALE is Proxmox VE, which has been a popular choice for years. However, with iXsystems offering a similar range of features on a Linux platform, the competition is sure to intensify. The major advantage of Proxmox VE has always been its simple user and share management, but TrueNAS SCALE could level the playing field.
Sad News for the FreeBSD Community
It’s a bittersweet moment for the FreeBSD community as one of their biggest advocates, iXsystems, is now looking beyond the operating system. The company’s decision to move to Linux is not a good sign for the future of FreeBSD, especially when we consider that another major FreeBSD-based project, pfSense, is also shifting to Linux.
While FreeBSD still has a significant user base, this shift by their most notable supporters is not a good omen for the operating system’s future.
The Final Take
Officially, iXsystems will continue to extend support for FreeBSD. However, it’s clear that the company is moving towards a future where FreeBSD is not their primary focus. This shift might not happen overnight, but the signs are there, and users should keep themselves updated with the latest developments in the storage world.
