HP Tru64 Goes Open Source With Linux

Hewlett-Packard has continued to advance its open-source offerings by making the source code for its Tru64 Unix Advanced File Sharing (AdvFS) System available to open-source developers. The code included on the AdvFS System is designed to help guarantee uptime and data security while enhancing the performance of an enterprise Linux file system.

The code for the AdvFS System is being released to comply with the terms of General Public License Version 2 for Linux compatibility, according to a release from HP.

In addition, HP will release design documentation, test suites and engineering resources for open-source developers. All of the materials will serve as a resource base that Linux developers can use to optimize existing software and create new tools to promote greater functionality and data security.

The AdvFS System has been deployed by HP for 16 years, according to the company. The goal is to simplify file storage management, enable online backup and increase data availability.

By allowing Linux developers to have access to the source code, HP hopes that enterprise customers will use the source code in enterprise environments and as a reference point to increase Linux file system compatibility.

"To ensure the highest levels of data security and availability, Linux customers need full and immediate access to established technology," said Martin Fink, senior vice president and general manager, Business Critical Systems, HP. "We continue to invest our engineering resources in the development of that technology, while working with the open-source community to ensure accessibility and seamless integration."

According to the HP release, HP ships a Linux server at the rate of one per minute.

The decision for HP to release its source code to Linux developers may be viewed as a move to cultivate an open-source environment, said Professor Giovanni Aloisio, CEO of the Italian Southern Partnership for Advance Computational Infrastructures (SPACI).

"HP's contribution accelerates the development of future Linux file systems, ensuring enhanced system performance to meet our increasingly demanding needs," said Aloisio.

The move also ensures that open-source developers have access to all the crucial information they need while designing a file system for their business. By contributing the code transparently, Linux developers will have a leg up in creating new systems.

In a separate statement issued by the Linux Foundation, developing open-source kernels was deemed key by a number of developers.

According to the foundation, Linux developers find closed-source kernels to be harmful. "We have repeatedly found them to be detrimental to Linux users, businesses, and the greater Linux ecosystem."

The Linux Foundation closed by exhorting vendors to continue developing open-source kernels, thereby enabling the open-source community to realize the most benefits

HPs Tru64 Unix AdvFS System meets the needs laid out by Linux users in their statement.

"HP's contribution of the Advanced File System code, coupled with their overall resource commitment to Linux, will greatly accelerate the development and commercial availability of improved system functionality for Linux," said Jim Zemlin, executive director, Linux Foundation.