# OpenIndiana

> Solaris-like operating system based on illumos

**Wikidata**: [Q1970127](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1970127)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenIndiana)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/openindiana

## Summary
OpenIndiana is a Solaris-like operating system distribution based on illumos, designed for enterprise and desktop use. It continues the legacy of OpenSolaris after Oracle discontinued the original project, offering a free and open-source alternative. OpenIndiana is actively maintained and provides regular releases with updated features and security patches.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of**: Operating system distribution
- **Based on**: OpenSolaris, illumos
- **First release**: 2011 (initial stable release)
- **Latest stable version**: 2025.10 (released 2025-10-28)
- **Programming language**: Not specified in source, but implied to be C, shell, and others typical for Unix systems
- **Platform**: x86, x86-64
- **Desktop environment**: Common Desktop Environment (CDE) (inception: 1993-06)
- **Language of work or name**: English
- **Website**: [http://openindiana.org](http://openindiana.org)
- **Logo**: [OpenIndiana_logo_large.svg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/OpenIndiana_logo_large.svg)
- **Image**: [Screenshot of OpenIndiana Hipster 2021.10 MATE desktop](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/OpenIndiana_Hipster_2021.10_MATE_desktop_environment_screenshot.png)
- **Subreddit**: r/OpenIndiana ("OpenSolaris, now with 100% less Oracle", started 2010-10-23)
- **Stack Exchange tags**: [unix.stackexchange.com/tags/openindiana](https://unix.stackexchange.com/tags/openindiana), [serverfault.com/tags/openindiana](https://serverfault.com/tags/openindiana)
- **Quora topic**: OpenIndiana
- **Distrowatch ID**: openindiana
- **Freebase ID**: /m/0ddcs3d
- **Wikipedia title**: OpenIndiana
- **Wikipedia languages**: ar, commons, cs, de, en, es, fr, it, ja, ko, nl, pl, pt, ro, ru, sl, uk, zh
- **Commons category**: OpenIndiana
- **Sitelink count**: 18

## FAQs

### What is OpenIndiana?
OpenIndiana is a free and open-source operating system distribution based on illumos, which itself originated from OpenSolaris. It is designed for both enterprise and desktop use, offering a Unix-like environment with strong support for ZFS, DTrace, and Zones.

### When was OpenIndiana first released?
OpenIndiana was first released in 2011 as a community-driven continuation of OpenSolaris after Oracle ceased development of the original project.

### What platforms does OpenIndiana support?
OpenIndiana supports x86 and x86-64 architectures.

### What desktop environments are available in OpenIndiana?
OpenIndiana supports the Common Desktop Environment (CDE), which has been part of Unix systems since 1993.

### What is the latest version of OpenIndiana?
The latest stable version is 2025.10, released on October 28, 2025.

### Is OpenIndiana still actively developed?
Yes, OpenIndiana is actively maintained with regular releases, including the most recent 2025.10 version.

### What is OpenIndiana based on?
It is based on both OpenSolaris and illumos, the open-source fork of Solaris.

### Where can I find more information about OpenIndiana?
Official website: [http://openindiana.org](http://openindiana.org)  
Community discussions: r/OpenIndiana on Reddit  
Support forums: Stack Exchange tags on Unix and ServerFault

### What programming languages are used in OpenIndiana?
While not explicitly listed, OpenIndiana, as a Unix-based OS, uses languages such as C, shell scripting, and others common to system development.

### What is the significance of the subreddit r/OpenIndiana?
The subreddit r/OpenIndiana, launched on October 23, 2010, serves as a community hub for users and developers, with the tagline "OpenSolaris, now with 100% less Oracle."

## Why It Matters
OpenIndiana plays a critical role in preserving and extending the legacy of OpenSolaris, which Oracle discontinued in 2010. As a free and open-source continuation, it ensures that the advanced features of Solaris—such as ZFS, DTrace, and Zones—remain accessible to the public. It provides a stable, enterprise-grade operating system for users who want the power of Solaris without vendor lock-in. Its active development and community support make it a viable option for both server and desktop environments.

## Notable For
- Being a direct successor to OpenSolaris after Oracle's discontinuation
- Use of the illumos kernel, a community-driven fork of Solaris
- Long-term support and frequent stable releases (e.g., 2025.10)
- Support for enterprise-grade features like ZFS, DTrace, and Zones
- Active subreddit community since 2010
- Availability in multiple language versions of its documentation and interface
- Integration with the Common Desktop Environment (CDE), a legacy Unix desktop environment dating to 1993

## Body

### History
OpenIndiana was created in 2011 as a community-driven fork of OpenSolaris following Oracle's decision to discontinue the original project. It is built on the illumos core, which is an open-source continuation of the Solaris kernel. The project aimed to preserve the innovations of OpenSolaris while ensuring continued development and accessibility for the open-source community.

### Architecture and Technical Foundation
OpenIndiana is based on both OpenSolaris and illumos, inheriting key features such as:
- **ZFS**: A next-generation file system with built-in volume management, snapshotting, and data integrity.
- **DTrace**: A dynamic tracing framework for troubleshooting and performance analysis.
- **Zones**: Lightweight OS-level virtualization for isolation and resource management.

It supports x86 and x86-64 platforms and integrates with the Common Desktop Environment (CDE), which has been in use since 1993.

### Releases and Versioning
OpenIndiana follows a rolling release model under the "Hipster" codename, with versions issued semi-annually or more frequently. Notable recent versions include:
- 2025.10 (October 28, 2025) – latest stable release
- 2025.04 (April 2, 2025)
- 2024.10 (October 26, 2024)
- 2024.04 (April 28, 2024)
- 2023.05 (May 4, 2023) – security release

Each release is documented with official announcements and archived links for transparency and historical access.

### Community and Ecosystem
OpenIndiana has a vibrant community centered around:
- **Reddit**: r/OpenIndiana, launched October 23, 2010, with the motto "OpenSolaris, now with 100% less Oracle"
- **Stack Exchange**: Tags on Unix and ServerFault provide technical support
- **Quora**: Topic dedicated to OpenIndiana discussions
- **Distrowatch**: Listed under ID "openindiana"

The project is also indexed in Freebase and Wikidata, and has a presence in multiple language versions of Wikipedia, including Arabic, Czech, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovene, Ukrainian, and Chinese.

### Related Projects and Lineage
OpenIndiana is directly related to:
- **OpenSolaris**: The original Sun Microsystems open-source OS, discontinued by Oracle in 2010
- **illumos**: The open-source kernel fork that powers OpenIndiana and other distributions like SmartOS and OmniOS

### Website and Resources
The official website, [openindiana.org](http://openindiana.org), serves as the central hub for documentation, downloads, and announcements. The site is in English and is supported by archived references for historical accuracy.

### Logo and Visual Identity
OpenIndiana's branding includes:
- **Logo**: [OpenIndiana_logo_large.svg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/OpenIndiana_logo_large.svg)
- **Screenshot**: [MATE desktop environment in 2021.10](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/OpenIndiana_Hipster_2021.10_MATE_desktop_environment_screenshot.png)

### Language and Localization
The project operates primarily in English, with documentation and interface elements localized or translatable. The language of work or name is consistently listed as English across references.

### Programming and Development
While the specific programming languages used in OpenIndiana are not explicitly listed, it is understood to be built using standard Unix development tools and languages such as C, shell scripting, and Makefile-based build systems.

### Conclusion
OpenIndiana stands as a vital bridge between the legacy of Solaris and the future of open-source Unix-like systems. Its continued development ensures that enterprise-grade features remain accessible to a global community of developers, system administrators, and enthusiasts.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.openindiana.org/2018/04/28/openindiana-hipster-2018-04-is-here/)
2. [Source](https://www.openindiana.org/2018/10/24/openindiana-hipster-2018-10-is-here/)
3. [Source](https://www.openindiana.org/2019/11/07/openindiana-hipster-2019-10-is-here/)
4. [Source](https://www.openindiana.org/2020/05/05/openindiana-hipster-2020-04-is-here/)
5. [Source](https://www.openindiana.org/2020/11/01/openindiana-hipster-2020-10-is-here/)
6. [Source](https://www.openindiana.org/2021/05/01/openindiana-hipster-2021-04-is-here/)
7. [Source](https://www.openindiana.org/2019/05/12/openindiana-hipster-2019-04-is-here/)
8. [Source](https://www.openindiana.org/2017/10/31/openindiana-hipster-2017-10-is-here/)
9. [Source](https://www.openindiana.org/2017/05/03/openindiana-hipster-2017-04-is-here/)
10. [Source](https://www.openindiana.org/2021/12/05/openindiana-hipster-2021-10-is-here/)
11. [Source](https://www.openindiana.org/2022/12/04/openindiana-hipster-2022-10-is-here/)
12. [Security Release 2023.05: May 4, 2023. 2023](https://www.openindiana.org/announcements/openindiana-hipster-2023-05-announcement/)
13. [Release 2024.04. 2024](https://openindiana.org/announcements/openindiana-hipster-2024-04-announcement/)
14. [Snapshots 2024.10. 2024](https://openindiana.org/announcements/openindiana-hipster-2024-10-announcement/)
15. [Snapshots 2025.04. 2025](https://openindiana.org/announcements/openindiana-hipster-2025-04-announcement/)
16. [Snapshot 2025.10 Available. 2025](https://openindiana.org/announcements/openindiana-hipster-2025-10-announcement/)
17. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
18. Quora