Nexenta OS is a free and open source operating system combining the OpenSolaris kernel with GNU application userland.

Nexenta OS is a free and open source operating system combining the OpenSolaris kernel with GNU application userland.

Nexenta OS runs on Intel/AMD 32-/64-bit hardware and is distributed as a single installable CD.

Upgrades and binary packages not included on the CD can be installed from Nexenta OS repository using Advanced Packaging Tool.

In addition, source based software components can be downloaded from network repositories available at Debian/GNU Linux and Ubuntu Linux.

Updates (via Distrowatch):

Anil Gulecha has announced the release of Nexenta Core Platform 3.0.1, a server operating system combining the OpenSolaris kernel with GNU application userland: "On behalf of the Nexenta project, I'd like to announce the availability of the Nexenta Core Platform 3.0.1. Over the NCP 3.0, this release includes fixes to nexenta-zones and additional backports from ON to b134. Features" based on OpenSolaris build 134+ backports and fixes from later releases; ZFS deduplication support; Crossbow support; over 13,000 packages in the repository; based on Ubuntu 8.04 LTS 'Hardy Heron' repository; this includes latest dpkg/APT, GCC, Binutils, Coreutils, Perl, Python, Ruby, Qt libraries, GTK+ libraries; SMF support added to server applications like Apache, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Exim...."

Here is the brief release announcement.

Download (MD5): nexenta-core-platform_3.0.1-b134_x86.iso.zip (539MB).

Recent releases:

• 2010-09-17: Distribution Release: Nexenta Core Platform 3.0.1
• 2010-08-20: Distribution Release: Nexenta Core Platform 3.0
• 2010-07-29: Development Release: Nexenta Core Platform 3.0 RC3
• 2010-07-01: Development Release: Nexenta Core Platform 3.0 RC2
• 2010-05-24: Development Release: Nexenta Core Platform 3.0 RC1
• 2010-04-26: Development Release: Nexenta Core Platform 3.0 Beta 3

Version 1.0 of the NexentaOS was released in February 2008, building previous release candidates. Nexenta OS is the first distribution that combines the GNU C library and userland with the OpenSolaris kernel. The Nexenta OS supplies capabilities such as transactional upgrades and an open source packaging capability to the Linux / Debian community, enabling the simple creation of software appliances. An additional purpose of Nexenta OS is to provide a kernel allowing proprietary closed source hardware drivers to be produced for inclusion in an open source operating system. Nexenta Systems, Inc. initiated the project and sponsors its continued development.

Repositories.

There were initially two official APT repositories: "testing" and "unstable", totalling over 9000 packages. A third "stable" was added for the first official release. Nexenta OS is available as InstallCD and VMware images. A Live CD is also available, but only for releases up to alpha 5.

Nexenta repositories follow the general Debian structure (main contrib non-free). Stable releases use a subset of this structure. Packages originate from Debian GNU/Linux.

Development.

Since Nexenta OS does not use the Linux kernel, and Sun recently began releasing the code of their Solaris operating system as free and open source software, it supports less diverse hardware than other Debian variants. Proprietary Solaris versions have been known to be more compatible with Sun's own SPARC-based hardware, while x86 support fell short[citation needed]. But this has rapidly changed now that most of the Solaris code base is licensed under Sun's Common Development and Distribution License[citation needed] and there is support for binary drivers on top of a stable application binary interface. This makes it possible for hardware manufacturers to release device drivers without source code.

The Nexenta OS team has decided to focus on a minimal GNU/OpenSolaris effort called the Nexenta Core Platform (NCP) which forms the basis of the NexentaStor NAS storage solution. Version 1.0 of Nexenta Core Platform was released on February 10, 2008.

Releases.

* NexentaCP 2.0 is now available. This release includes packages based on Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron" LTS.
o NexentaCP 3.0 Beta 1 (Unstable) with support of deduplication is now available.

* Nexenta 1.0 is a basic distro with a toolchain and other packages and repositories built on top of it. Nexenta 1.0 features
o ZFS root/boot
o zones integrated with dpkg/apt-get
o brandz with preconfigured support for Debian and Ubuntu
o stable toolchain
o server/storage software support
o Xen DomU/Dom0

Screenshots: