Nexenta Core 3.0 released, next version will be Illumos based

The developers at Nexenta have now released a final version of Nexenta Core Platform (NCP) 3.0, their hybrid distribution which combines an OpenSolaris kernel with an Ubuntu userland and Solaris features such as the ZFS file system. The final version, which is identical to the third release candidate is based on Build 134+ of the OpenSolaris code and features ZFS de-duplication and Crossbow virtual networking support. Over 13,000 packages are available in the projects repositories. Nexenta Core Platform 3.0 is available for download and is licensed under a combination of licences including the CDDL and GPL.

In the announcement, the team also outlined future plans for the Nexenta Core Platform. In the near future, an NCP 3.9 will be created which will be an Illumos based build, breaking the project's ties with OpenSolaris. Since Oracle have stopped open development of OpenSolaris, the recently launched Open Solaris derivative, llumos, is now the open alternative and Nexenta Systems is among the companies driving its development. In the medium term, the Nexenta developers say NCP 4.0 will build on 3.9, but move from Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron's userland to a newer Debian or Ubuntu release; a discussion over which is to take place on the community mailing lists in the very near future.

See also:

• Nexenta Core Platform 3.0 released, release announcement.
• Illumos begins diverging from OpenSolaris, a report from The H.
• Illumos launched as OpenSolaris derivative, a report from The H.

(djwm)