Linux Solutions

HP has announced that its Tru64 Unix Advanced File System (AdvFS) source code will be open to the Linux community. According to HP, access to this code will provide capabilities that increase uptime, enhance security and help ensure maximum performance of Linux file systems.

The AdvFS source code will provide the Linux community with reference implementation for an enterprise Linux file system. This includes design documentation, test suites and engineering resources.

According to HP, their code contribution provides Linux kernel developers with a comprehensive foundation to improve today’s Linux file system functionality. HP is making the source code available under the terms of General Public License Version 2 for compatibility with the Linux kernel.

Doug Small, director of global alliance marketing for HP said, “a lot of work is going on to bring the Linux operating system to the next level.”

HP developed AdvFS as a file system that has been used for over 16 years by enterprise all over the world. HP say’s it simplifies file and storage management, enables online system backups and increases data availability.

The integration of key AdvFS features also accelerates the road map of future solutions deigned to strengthen Linux for enterprise customers. Small believes this will be a “big advantage to core operations at data centres.”

“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 of business critical systems at 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.”

Over the years, HP has made several contributions to the Linux community, Small explained. For example, HP engineers worked on scalability and management issues. In January HP launched its software governance initiative to help companies address the legal, financial and security risks faces when adopting free and open source software (FOSS).

“HP’s contribution of the Advanced File System code, coupled with its overall resource commitment to Linux, will greatly accelerate the development and commercial availability of improved system functionality for Linux,” said Jim Zemlin, executive director of Linux Foundation. “The technology and engineering resources being made available for next-generation file system projects are proof that HP is a true open source community leader.”

“Business demands are driving the Linux kernel development community to focus on the advancement of file system functionality. Currently, file systems are being developed through an open community process. HP’s contribution expedites these efforts,” said Small.

Bdale Garbee, chief technologist for open source and Linux at HP said, “The existing file system matches many of the workloads used in enterprise today. But many more workloads are more demanding and need a more advanced open source file system associated with Linux.”

“For example, increasing the size of the partition and volume can let users do tasks with one command instead of having to use several,” he said. There is an ever-increasing demand to increase the size.

“Improvements to the file system will benefit more than just high-end enterprise Linux users,” Garbee said. “For instance, some of these enterprise features - like taking a snapshot of the file system while the application is still running - can be useful on the desktop.”

“We hope that this will bring overall functionality for desktop users as well. Our target is the enterprise user at this point,” said Garbee.