TrueNAS Ditches FreeBSD for Linux in “Fangtooth” Release, Marking a New Era for Open Storage
Table of Contents
- 1. TrueNAS Ditches FreeBSD for Linux in “Fangtooth” Release, Marking a New Era for Open Storage
- 2. The End of a Branch: Unifying TrueNAS Under Linux
- 3. Technical Upgrades in TrueNAS 25.04
- 4. Enterprise-Focused Enhancements
- 5. The Rationale Behind the Shift
- 6. A Loss for FreeBSD Enthusiasts
- 7. Impact on U.S. Businesses
- 8. FAQ: TrueNAS and the Shift to Linux
- 9. What are teh specific advantages of Linux for TrueNAS, according to Evelyn Reed?
- 10. TrueNAS’s Linux Leap: A Deep Dive with Tech Analyst Evelyn Reed
- 11. Introduction
- 12. The Rationale Behind the Switch
- 13. Technical Deep Dive
- 14. impact on U.S. Businesses
- 15. The Future of Open storage
TrueNAS 25.04 “Fangtooth” unifies Core adn Scale platforms under a single Linux-based system, introducing performance enhancements and virtualization capabilities.
In a significant shift for the open-source storage community, IXsystems has announced that TrueNAS 25.04, code-named “Fangtooth,” will be exclusively based on GNU/Linux.This release marks the end of the FreeBSD-based TrueNAS Core, consolidating the platform around the Linux-based TrueNAS Scale.
The End of a Branch: Unifying TrueNAS Under Linux
According to IXsystems, this move represents a profound step in the evolution of the open-storage platform. “Merging” the previously separate TrueNAS Core (FreeBSD-based) and TrueNAS Scale (Linux-based) means that “the choice between a FreeBSD or a GNU/Linux basis will no longer exist: TrueNAS is only delivered as a monoculture with a Linux core and tool set.”
This decision has sparked debate within the open-source community, notably among long-time FreeBSD users who valued the stability and unique features of the FreeBSD-based Core version.
Technical Upgrades in TrueNAS 25.04
TrueNAS 25.04 boasts several key technical updates designed to enhance performance and functionality. The new release is built on the Linux kernel 6.12 and integrates OpenZFS 2.3.0. While the more recent OpenZFS 2.3.1, which fixes several known bugs, was not implemented, OpenZFS 2.3 introduces “Fast Deduplication,” a feature that enables significant storage space savings, particularly for nvme-based systems like the TrueNAS H30 and F100 series. This is particularly relevant for U.S. businesses facing increasing data storage demands.
Users can also look forward to the new OpenZFS capability to expand RAID-Z arrays, providing additional flexibility in managing storage capacity as needs evolve.
The previous FreeBSD variant of TrueNAS offered “super-fast jails (operating system container)” and the Bhyve hypervisor. With “Fangtooth” IXsystems now introduces “support for LXC containers and Qemu/KVM virtualization via Incus.”
Incus, an alternative to Canonical’s LXD, provides a framework for managing linux containers, applications, and virtual machines.The webGUI has been enhanced to improve application handling.According to IXsystems, the extended network functions enable administrators to configure IP addresses for newly added applications in the app catalog, improving network segmentation and security control.
Enterprise-Focused Enhancements
“Fangtooth” includes several features specifically targeted at enterprise users. Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) enables direct data transfer between main storage systems, bypassing the CPU, caches, and operating system kernel. “In ‘Fangtooth’, this technology is now also supported for ISCSI and NFS, which should bring significant performance advantages in latency -critical networks – for example for memory access through hyper -convergent clusters or data -intensive applications. Ther is also NFS-over RDMA support.” This can lead to substantial performance improvements for data-intensive applications commonly found in U.S. enterprises.
The new support for ISCSI Block Cloning,particularly in VMware environments,allows for the creation of new virtual machines using “clones” based on common blocks,instead of creating complete copies of existing VMDK files.This saves storage space and reduces deployment time. Multipath I/O (MPIO) ensures reliable access to ISCSI targets with redundancy and load balancing.
Fibre Channel (FC) support is now available in the Enterprise edition of TrueNAS Scale. “Administrators can thus provide block-based memory via FC HBAs-with low latency, high bandwidth and the possibility of integrating truenas as a central storage baking into existing enterprise sans.” This provides integration with existing enterprise storage area networks (sans).
The Rationale Behind the Shift
According to IXsystems, usage was split roughly equally between FreeBSD/Core and Linux/Scale users at the end of 2024, with Scale showing significant growth. Truenas Scale 24.10 “Electric EEL” offered a better app infrastructure due to the integration of Docker and is technically more relevant, which is not surprising considering that TrueNAS Core is based on FreeBSD 13.
Users of Core voiced longstanding criticism “that Core was ultimately based on the ancient FreeBSD 13.0 with a few fixes from 13.3 and hardly got updates up to FreeBSD 13.5 or even switching to the 14-day. It is indeed obvious that Core had to get back to behind technically.”
The move to Linux means that FreeBSD users will need to adapt to GNU/Linux and its administrative tools, such as Systemd, LXC/Docker (rather of Jails), and Qemu/KVM (rather then Bhyve). simultaneously occurring, those already in the Linux ecosystem can anticipate increased developer resources due to the consolidation at IXsystems.
A Loss for FreeBSD Enthusiasts
For long-time users and FreeBSD enthusiasts, “the transition to a pure Linux-based platform with ‘Fangtooth’ not only marks a technical update-but the end of an era.” TrueNAS (formerly FreeNAS) has been closely associated with FreeBSD for decades. The stability, network stack, jail system, and ZFS were all cultivated, tested, and improved on FreeBSD. For some, IXsystems’ decision to focus solely on GNU/Linux feels like a departure, especially “for those who deliberately chose FreeBSD as a platform as they wanted to differ from Linux.”
One potential counterargument is that by focusing solely on Linux, IXsystems can streamline development efforts and deliver new features and improvements more quickly. This could ultimately benefit all TrueNAS users, even those who initially preferred FreeBSD.
Impact on U.S. Businesses
The transition to a Linux-only TrueNAS platform carries several implications for U.S. businesses. The enhanced performance and virtualization capabilities of TrueNAS 25.04 can lead to improved efficiency and cost savings for organizations managing large volumes of data. The support for RDMA and ISCSI Block Cloning can substantially reduce latency and improve application performance, particularly in data centers and cloud environments.
However, businesses currently relying on FreeBSD-based TrueNAS core will need to migrate their existing systems to TrueNAS Scale or explore alternative storage solutions. This migration process may require additional time, resources, and expertise, perhaps disrupting operations in the short term.
FAQ: TrueNAS and the Shift to Linux
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Why is TrueNAS moving to Linux? | To consolidate development efforts, improve performance, and leverage the broader Linux ecosystem for enhanced features and support. |
| What happens to existing truenas Core (FreeBSD) users? | They will need to migrate to TrueNAS Scale (Linux-based) or find alternative storage solutions. |
| What are the benefits of truenas Scale? | Improved app infrastructure with Docker,enhanced virtualization capabilities,and access to the latest Linux kernel and OpenZFS features. |
| Is TrueNAS still open source? | yes, TrueNAS remains an open-source platform. |
| Where can I find more information about TrueNAS 25.04? | See the official TrueNAS documentation and community forums for detailed release notes and migration guides. |
What are teh specific advantages of Linux for TrueNAS, according to Evelyn Reed?
TrueNAS’s Linux Leap: A Deep Dive with Tech Analyst Evelyn Reed
Archyde News Editor sits down with leading tech analyst Evelyn Reed to dissect IXsystems’ bold move to base TrueNAS solely on Linux.
Introduction
Archyde News Editor: Evelyn, thanks for joining us. This is a significant event in the open-source storage world. TrueNAS, a long-time champion of FreeBSD, is now fully embracing Linux with its “Fangtooth” release.What’s your initial reaction to this shift?
Evelyn Reed: thanks for having me. It’s undoubtedly a monumental change. While initially surprising to some, it aligns with the broader trends in the industry. Linux offers unparalleled flexibility, a vast ecosystem, and a strong community, which is crucial for a modern storage solution like TrueNAS. This move isn’t a death knell but a strategic evolution.
The Rationale Behind the Switch
Archyde News Editor: The article highlights the desire to consolidate progress efforts and leverage the broader Linux ecosystem. Can you elaborate on the specific advantages of Linux in this context?
Evelyn reed: Absolutely! Linux’s kernel is constantly evolving,with frequent updates and improvements. Moreover, it has the benefit of broader hardware support, which ensures TrueNAS can run on a wider range of systems. The abundance of available tools and libraries is another crucial factor. This includes advanced containerization with Incus (a LXD alternative) and virtualization capabilities with Qemu/KVM, giving their current users a larger choice of management without sacrificing functions.
Archyde News Editor: The article mentions how the end of the FreeBSD-based TrueNAS Core impacts long-time users. How do you think those users will react to this transformation?
Evelyn Reed: It’s going to demand some adaptation. FreeBSD has a dedicated following who appreciate its particular strengths, such as its performance, security, and excellent jail facilities. transitioning to Linux means learning Systemd, LXC/Docker, and Qemu/KVM. Some of them will adapt quickly and fully, the others might need extra learning, so IXsystems will be there with the users to help the changes.
Technical Deep Dive
Archyde News Editor: “Fangtooth” introduces exciting performance and new features specifically for the enterprise market. Can you talk about the importance of this improvement within the enterprise environment?
Evelyn reed: The enterprise world demands cutting-edge performance and reliability. the new support for Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), for both iSCSI and NFS, bypasses CPU and cache bottlenecks, delivering significant performance advantages for low-latency networks. ISCSI Block Cloning and multipath I/O (MPIO) are game-changers, particularly in cloud environments, reducing storage costs and improving deployment times. Fibre Channel (FC) support for block-based storage provides integration within existing enterprise Storage Area Networks (SANs).
impact on U.S. Businesses
Archyde News Editor: how do you see this impacting U.S.businesses, particularly those currently running truenas Core?
Evelyn Reed: For businesses already using TrueNAS Core, the transition will necessitate careful planning and execution. Migrating existing systems to TrueNAS Scale may involve time-consuming reconfigurations, especially if they depend on FreeBSD-specific features, something to be considered by U.S. businesses. Though, the long-term gains – enhanced performance, scalability, and access to a more extensive feature set driven by the Linux ecosystem – will ultimately benefit those businesses, especially in the context of expanding data storage requirements.
The Future of Open storage
Archyde News Editor: Looking ahead, what is your final judgment on the future of open storage. How does this shift within TrueNAS set the stage for the future of the platform?
Evelyn reed: I believe this move to a Linux monoculture position TrueNAS more strongly in the market. The convergence of TrueNAS Core’s features with the strengths of Scale – its modern app infrastructure and extensive customization framework – promises a unified and user-kind platform for all markets.It will facilitate innovation, drive the company’s growth, and increase its appeal to a broader user base. It’s a decisive step in an expanding market.
Archyde News editor: Evelyn,thank you for sharing your insights. It’s clear that IXsystems’ decision to move to the Linux platform is a pivotal moment for Truenas and other open-source systems looking to streamline their processes.
