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OmniOS

OmniOS is an open-source server operating system based on illumos for physical servers and virtual machines.

Place
#4 of 29
Score
6.5
OmniOS's website

What OmniOS is

OmniOS is an open-source server operating system based on illumos for physical servers and virtual machines. Its native ZFS filesystem combines volume and filesystem functions with data-integrity protection and supports iSCSI, CIFS, and NFS sharing. Containers can run lightweight OmniOS or Linux virtual machines with resource controls. Hardware virtualization is provided through bhyve and KVM, including Windows and FreeBSD guests. Crossbow virtual interfaces and switches support virtualized networking and service resource allocation, while DTrace provides dynamic tracing across the software stack. The Kayak framework supports network installation and, according to the project, can build a single VM in less than two minutes. OmniOS uses the IPS package manager and digitally signed updates. Stable releases receive one year of support; every fourth stable release is an LTS release with three years. Releases are x86-64 only. Community Edition is free; a support package costs $500 a year per server.

Good

  • ZFS with integrity protection and network sharing
  • bhyve and KVM guest virtualization
  • Linux and OmniOS containers with controls
  • Digitally signed package updates
  • DTrace software-stack tracing

Watch out

  • x86-64 architecture only
  • Stable releases receive one year of support
  • Support package costs $500 a year
  • Support response is best-effort, without guaranteed resolution

Who it suits

OmniOS suits administrators managing x86-64 servers or virtual machines who need ZFS, containers, virtualization, and signed package updates. It is also relevant to deployments using physical hosts, AWS EC2 images, or virtual machines.

Verdict

OmniOS provides server-focused storage, container, virtualization, networking, and tracing capabilities in an open-source system. Check the x86-64 requirement and support terms before selecting it for production use.

Plans and prices

From OmniOS's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
OmniOS Community EditionFreeOpen-source server OS · x86-64 only
OmniOS Support Package$500 a yearBest-effort 4-hour reaction time · no guaranteed problem resolutions · weekly security updates as necessary · direct developer access for second-level support · 12 months; per server

The facts

Each one read from OmniOS's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Commercial support
The support package includes weekly security updates as necessary, LTS releases with one year migration overlap, and direct developer access for second-level support.checked 8 Oct 2026
Containers
OmniOS can run lightweight OmniOS or Linux virtual machines in containers with resource controls.checked 8 Oct 2026
Hardware virtualization
The system provides hardware virtualization via bhyve and KVM, including for Windows and FreeBSD guests.checked 8 Oct 2026
Installation
The Kayak installation framework supports network deployment and can build a single VM in less than two minutes, according to the project.checked 8 Oct 2026
Maintainer
The OmniOS Community Edition Association is a Swiss association dedicated to continuing OmniOS support and releases.checked 8 Oct 2026
Networking
Crossbow virtual interfaces and switches support virtualized networking and resource allocation for services.checked 8 Oct 2026
Purpose
OmniOS is an open-source server operating system based on illumos.checked 8 Oct 2026
Release architecture
All OmniOS releases are for x86-64 architecture only.checked 8 Oct 2026
Release support
Stable releases are supported for one year, while every fourth stable release is an LTS release supported for three years.checked 8 Oct 2026
Storage
Its native ZFS filesystem combines volume management and filesystem features with data-integrity protection, and supports sharing via iSCSI, CIFS, and NFS.checked 8 Oct 2026
Support limitation
The support contract offers a best-effort reaction time of four hours on its Gitter support channel and does not guarantee problem resolution.checked 8 Oct 2026
Tracing
DTrace provides dynamic tracing across the software stack for troubleshooting.checked 8 Oct 2026
Updates
OmniOS provides digitally signed package updates; LTS releases receive updates for three years.checked 8 Oct 2026

The company

Headquarters
Olten, Switzerlandchecked 28 Sep 2026

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