OpenStack Joins Forces with the Linux Foundation: A New Era of Cloud Innovation

In 2010, Rackspace and NASA initiated the ambitious OpenStack project, aiming to create an open-source solution for cloud computing similar to AWS, designed for private data centers. This innovative venture was later entrusted to the OpenStack Foundation, which has diligently guided the project through various challenges over the years. Currently, amid the controversy surrounding Broadcom’s licensing changes to VMware offerings, OpenStack is experiencing a resurgence as enterprises seek viable alternatives.

Open Infrastructure Foundation Joins Forces with the Linux Foundation

Recently, the Open Infrastructure Foundation—renamed from the OpenStack Foundation in 2021—announced its intention to affiliate with the Linux Foundation. This renowned open-source nonprofit also nurtures other significant projects like the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), PyTorch, and OpenSearch.

Significance of the Collaboration

This partnership is notable as it brings together three of the world’s leading open-source projects: Linux, Kubernetes, and OpenStack, under one umbrella. The OpenInfra Foundation is also responsible for several other projects, including:

• Kata Containers: A project focused on building secure software containers.
• Airship: A tool for software lifecycle management.
• Zuul: A CI/CD platform.
• StarlingX: An edge computing platform.

Evolution of OpenInfra and CNCF Relationships

Historically, the relationship between the OpenInfra/OpenStack Foundation and the CNCF has had its fluctuations, primarily due to the rapid rise in popularity of Kubernetes, which has often overshadowed OpenStack, leading it to be perceived as a legacy technology.

However, the two organizations have begun to collaborate more closely through initiatives like the Open Infrastructure Blueprint.

Future Prospects in the Data Center Infrastructure Market

Jonathan Bryce, the executive director of the OpenInfra Foundation, stated, “The data center infrastructure market is undergoing a fundamental reinvention, driven by the colossal demands of AI, virtualization migration, and digital sovereignty.” He emphasized that this collaboration with the Linux Foundation is timely and essential for advancing shared goals in the trillion-dollar market of open-source technology.

Looking Ahead: OpenInfra’s Momentum

Jim Zemlin, the executive director of the Linux Foundation, remarked on the rich history of partnership between the two organizations, which he believes will enhance their shared mission to promote and advance open-source initiatives.

As the OpenInfra Foundation transitions into the Linux Foundation, the future of its staffing remains uncertain. Nevertheless, Julia Kreger, chair of the OpenInfra board of directors, noted, “The OpenInfra Foundation enters 2025 with strong momentum, with a 15% increase in member organizations, including two new Platinum members.” She added that adoption rates for OpenStack and other OpenInfra projects like Kata Containers and StarlingX are on the rise.

This collaboration aims to capitalize on the strengths of their combined global community of 110,000 members, leveraging the power of open source to ensure continued success in shaping the next decade of infrastructure.

For more insights on open-source technologies and industry trends, visit Linux Foundation or explore related articles on OpenStack.