# GlusterFS

> distributed file system

**Wikidata**: [Q830550](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q830550)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GlusterFS)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/glusterfs

## Summary
GlusterFS is an open-source distributed file system designed to aggregate various storage servers into a single large network file system. Originally launched in 2005, it provides a scalable, software-defined storage architecture that runs on BSD and various Linux distributions.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Distributed file system and free software.
- **Inception:** 2005.
- **Developers:** Developed by Gluster from 2005 to 2011, and by Red Hat from 2011 to the present.
- **Key Figures:** Co-founded by Anand Babu Periasamy and computer scientist Anand Avati.
- **Inspiration:** Architecturally inspired by the GNU Hurd microkernel.
- **Licensing:** Core system licensed under GNU GPL v2.0; libraries and CLI licensed under LGPL v3.0 or later.
- **Operating Systems:** Compatible with BSD and Unix-like systems, with packages for Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux, Gentoo, and openSUSE.
- **Major Versions:** Version 4.1.0 (Long Term Maintenance) and Version 5.0 were both released in 2018.

## FAQs
### Q: Who is responsible for the development of GlusterFS?
A: GlusterFS was originally developed by the company Gluster starting in 2005. In 2011, the project was acquired by Red Hat, which has served as the primary developer and copyright holder since that time.

### Q: What makes the architecture of GlusterFS unique?
A: GlusterFS was inspired by the GNU Hurd microkernel. Its design philosophy treats the underlying operating system like a microkernel to push storage logic into a simpler, distributed user-space architecture rather than keeping it strictly in the kernel.

### Q: On which operating systems can I install GlusterFS?
A: GlusterFS is highly portable and runs on BSD and various Linux distributions. It is available through multiple package managers, including those for Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, Gentoo, and NetBSD.

## Why It Matters
GlusterFS represents a significant shift in how large-scale data is managed, moving away from proprietary hardware toward flexible, software-defined distributed storage. By allowing users to combine disparate storage resources into a unified global namespace, it addresses the needs of "Petascale Storage" and high-capacity data environments. 

The project is notable for its longevity and its transition from a startup-led initiative to an enterprise-grade solution under Red Hat. Its design, which pushes functionality into user space, simplifies the deployment of distributed storage across diverse hardware. Because it is open-source and supports a wide array of platforms—including FreeBSD and multiple Linux flavors—it serves as a foundational tool for administrators seeking to build scalable storage pools without being locked into specific vendors.

## Notable For
- **Hurd-Inspired Design:** Specifically rarchitected to treat Linux like a microkernel, pushing distributed storage logic into user-space.
- **Broad Distribution Support:** Maintained as a standard package across nearly all major open-source ecosystems, including specialized versions for Guix, Gentoo, and the Arch Linux User Repository (AUR).
- **Dual Licensing Model:** Uses the GPL v2.0 for the main file system while applying the LGPL v3.0+ to its software libraries and command-line interface to facilitate integration.
- **Petascale Ambitions:** Designed with the specific goal of rearchitecting I/O to handle massive, petascale storage requirements.

## Body

### Origins and Leadership
GlusterFS was founded in 2005 by Anand Babu Periasamy and Anand Avati. Periasamy, an entrepreneur and free software contributor, co-founded the Gluster entity which managed the project until its acquisition by Red Hat in 2011. Anand Avati, a computer scientist at Stanford, served as a primary technical lead. The project's inception was rooted in the desire to create a simpler distributed user-space storage architecture.

### Technical Specifications
GlusterFS is written in the C programming language. It is classified as both a file system and free software. Its architecture was heavily influenced by GNU Hurd, aiming to move complex storage tasks out of the kernel space. 

**Licensing Details:**
*   **Core System:** GNU General Public License, version 2.0.
*   **Libraries and CLI:** GNU Lesser General Public License, version 3.0 or later.

### Release History
The software has seen several major release cycles:
*   **3.6 Series:** Versions 3.6.3 through 3.6.8 were released between April 2015 and January 2016.
*   **4.0 Series:** Release 4.0.2 was issued on April 24, 2018.
*   **4.1 Series:** Release 4.1.0 was designated as a Long Term Maintenance version in June 2018.
*   **5.0 Series:** Release 5.0 was launched on October 18, 2018.

### Ecosystem and Integration
GlusterFS maintains an extensive presence across various software repositories and social platforms:
*   **Source Code:** Hosted primarily on GitHub.
*   **Package Names:** Common packages include `glusterfs-server`, `glusterfs-client`, `libgfapi0`, and `glusterfs-common`.
*   **Platform Availability:** Supported on FreeBSD (net/glusterfs), NetBSD (filesystems/glusterfs), and major Linux distributions like Gentoo (sys-cluster/glusterfs) and Arch Linux.
*   **Community Channels:** The project maintains several mailing lists for developers, users, and bug tracking, with archives dating back to 2005 on Nongnu.org and Gluster.org.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/blob/master/README.md)
2. [The glusterfs Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/glusterfs/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
3. [Release 4.0.2. 2018](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v4.0.2)
4. [Announcing GlusterFS release 4.1.0 (Long Term Maintenance)](https://www.gluster.org/announcing-glusterfs-release-4-1-0-long-term-maintenance/)
5. [Release 4.1.0. 2018](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v4.1.0)
6. [Index of /pub/gluster/glusterfs/LATEST](https://download.gluster.org/pub/gluster/glusterfs/LATEST/)
7. [Release 4.1.1. 2018](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v4.1.1)
8. [Release 5.0. 2018](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v5.0)
9. [Release 3.6.3. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.6.3)
10. [Release 3.6.4. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.6.4)
11. [Release 3.6.5. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.6.5)
12. [Release 3.6.6. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.6.6)
13. [Release 3.6.7. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.6.7)
14. [Release 3.6.8. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.6.8)
15. [Release 3.6.9. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.6.9)
16. [Release 3.7.0. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.0)
17. [Release 3.7.1. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.1)
18. [Release 3.7.2. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.2)
19. [Release 3.7.3. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.3)
20. [Release 3.7.4. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.4)
21. [Release 3.7.5. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.5)
22. [Release 3.7.6. 2015](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.6)
23. [Release 3.7.7. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.7)
24. [Release 3.7.8. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.8)
25. [Release 3.7.9. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.9)
26. [Release 3.7.10. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.10)
27. [Release 3.7.11. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.11)
28. [Release 3.7.12. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.12)
29. [Release 3.7.13. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.13)
30. [Release 3.7.14. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.14)
31. [Release 3.7.15. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.15)
32. [Release 3.7.16. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.16)
33. [Release 3.7.17. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.17)
34. [Release 3.7.18. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.18)
35. [Release 3.7.19. 2017](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.19)
36. [Release 3.7.20. 2017](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.7.20)
37. [Release 3.8.0. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.0)
38. [Release 3.8.1. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.1)
39. [Release 3.8.2. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.2)
40. [Release 3.8.3. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.3)
41. [Release 3.8.4. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.4)
42. [Release 3.8.5. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.5)
43. [Release 3.8.6. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.6)
44. [Release 3.8.7. 2016](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.7)
45. [Release 3.8.8. 2017](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.8)
46. [Release 3.8.9. 2017](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.9)
47. [Release 3.8.10. 2017](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.10)
48. [Release 3.8.11. 2017](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.11)
49. [Release 3.8.12. 2017](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.12)
50. [Release 3.8.13. 2017](https://github.com/gluster/glusterfs/releases/tag/v3.8.13)