Open source storage is the phrase used to describe any storage system based on open source platforms or technologies. The phrase is commonly used to mean open source storage software that’s used to create the storage system.
Much like proprietary storage products, open source storage software is available for a number of business needs, including array clustering, file and print services, encryption, network-attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN).
Businesses might use open source storage software because upfront costs are typically lower and features are comparable to proprietary storage software. Another benefit to using open source is that the source code is freely available for in-house development.
Open source storage software is typically available as a free download with an investment in a commercial open source product required to obtain additional protection and customer service.
Examples of open source storage software include The FreeNAS Project, OpenStack, Lustre, OpenAFS, and Openfiler.
See also enterprise storage.
