iXsystems, a provider of solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entry-level NAS, is looking to expand its footprint in Europe. This region is witnessing faster adoption of its systems compared to the US, attributed to a more advanced embrace of open-source data storage solutions.
TrueNAS: Open-Source Success
The company’s TrueNAS operating system has gained significant traction, with over 500,000 downloads. It operates on any server infrastructure, utilizing OpenZFS to deliver functionality typically reserved for pricier NAS systems. Brett Davis, a director at iXsystems, remarked on the impressive uptake of the community version, which often leads organizations to invest in their integrated hardware offerings, resulting in reduced costs compared to competitors. Furthermore, TrueNAS on iXsystems’ hardware includes features to safeguard against ransomware attacks.
Latest Innovations: TrueNAS H30 and Fangtooth OS
Earlier this year, iXsystems introduced the TrueNAS H30, a 2U array with high availability fault tolerance, supporting up to 720TB of storage. This system runs on the Fangtooth version 25.04 of its operating system, which aims to enhance performance through various improvements.
Fangtooth is currently available in beta, with an official launch slated for April 2025. Notable features include support for Remote Direct Memory Access (RoCE), which allows for direct memory access over networks, improving file sharing speeds. This OS also improves interaction between storage solutions and AI servers equipped with Nvidia GPUs, although this feature is slated for future updates.
Advanced Capabilities: Data Management and Container Support
The Fangtooth OS includes efficient data deduplication, external redundancy support for Fibre Channel shelves, and compatibility with containerized applications. Davis highlighted the growing demand for storage solutions tailored for Veeam backups and VMware virtual machines. The platform enables quicker access to copies of stored data without adding to capacity or creating excess traffic, boosting user operations significantly.
TrueNAS has evolved, moving from its FreeBSD-based version to a single focus on TrueNAS Scale, which is based on Debian Linux and incorporates the LXC Linux kernel container system. This change aims to streamline support and enhance container functionalities.
Comprehensive Array Solutions
The TrueNAS lineup consists of five families of storage arrays designed to meet various performance and capacity needs. The H30 marks a new generation featuring dual controllers primarily for failover rather than load distribution. Each controller is equipped with powerful specifications, including Xeon CPU cores and high throughput capabilities, allowing substantial scalability.
- The H series focuses on high availability with dual controllers.
- The F series targets high performance but does not support high availability.
- The M series emphasizes capacity, accommodating up to 25PB with external shelves.
- The R series features single-controller options that support HDD, NVMe, or hybrid setups, reaching about 5PB.
- The Mini series provides a compact desktop NAS solution with 10Gbps connectivity.
Davis expressed ambitions to develop arrays with up to 100PB capacity, exploring clustered systems with multiple controllers and enhancing individual controller power to support more drives.
In a dynamic data storage landscape, iXsystems is strategically positioning its offerings to cater to the evolving needs of European customers, leveraging its open-source roots and advanced technology to forge a strong market presence.