OrangeFS
OrangeFS is a free, open-source scale-out parallel storage system for large workloads in HPC, Big Data, streaming video, genomics, and bioinformatics.
What OrangeFS is
OrangeFS is a free, open-source scale-out parallel storage system for large workloads in HPC, Big Data, streaming video, genomics, and bioinformatics. Its user-level servers and clients provide parallel access to disk storage across multiple servers. Configurable file striping and distributed metadata, including directory metadata, support this architecture. For Linux integration, the documentation recommends the upstream kernel module; the Linux kernel client has been in the mainline kernel since version 4.6. Other access options include a native Windows parallel client, FUSE modules for Linux and macOS, a direct Linux application interface, Java JNI, Hadoop HCFS, WebDAV, and optimized MPI-IO. Listed protocols also include S3. Security options include capability-based security and default, key-based, and certificate-based modes. LDAP identity mapping can associate a client certificate subject with a user ID and primary group ID. CloudyCluster offers configurable deployments through the Google Cloud and AWS marketplaces. Community support is available through a mailing list, and commercial and research support are offered separately; support and services pricing is by quote.
Good
- Parallel access across multiple servers
- Configurable striping and distributed metadata
- Optimized MPI-IO support
- Multiple security modes and LDAP identity mapping
Watch out
- Linux default security mode is intended for cases where multi-user security is not a priority
- Commercial and research support requires a quote
- Linux integration documentation recommends the upstream kernel module
Who it suits
OrangeFS suits teams managing large parallel storage workloads, particularly in HPC, Big Data, streaming video, genomics, or bioinformatics. It is aimed at users able to work with self-hosted storage and its listed interfaces.
Verdict
OrangeFS provides parallel storage and a range of interfaces for large workloads, with security options and cloud deployment choices also listed. Its self-hosted model and Linux security setup deserve consideration alongside the free open-source release.
Plans and prices
From OrangeFS's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| OrangeFS open source | Free | Open-source software · downloadable release |
| OrangeFS support and services | Priced on request | Commercial and research support · targeted development · contact for quote |
The facts
Each one read from OrangeFS's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Architecture
- Its user-level server and client provide parallel access to multi-server disk storage.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Cloud deployment
- CloudyCluster offers OrangeFS deployments through Google Cloud and AWS marketplaces, configurable by instance count and type, volumes per instance, and filesystem size.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Commercial support scope
- The commercial production subscription page says it includes unlimited servers and clients, fast escalation for bug fixes, and support at various levels.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Interfaces
- Listed interfaces include a direct interface for Linux applications, Java JNI, an HCFS Hadoop interface, and WebDAV.checked 8 Oct 2026
- LDAP
- OrangeFS can use LDAP identity mapping to map a client certificate subject to a user ID and primary group ID.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License
- OrangeFS is released under the LGPL License, with some recent portions also available under LGPL and Apache 2.checked 8 Oct 2026
- MPI-IO
- OrangeFS has optimized MPI-IO support for parallel and distributed applications.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Notable setup detail
- The documentation says default security mode is intended for cases where multi-user security is not a priority and is selected for performance and faster installation.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Other clients
- The maker lists a native Windows parallel client and FUSE modules for Mac and Linux.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OrangeFS is a scale-out parallel storage system aimed at large storage workloads in HPC, Big Data, streaming video, genomics, and bioinformatics.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- The product lists capability-based security and its documentation describes default, key-based, and certificate-based security modes.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Striping and metadata
- Features include configurable file striping, distributed metadata, and distributed directory metadata.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- Community support is available through the mailing list, and the maker offers commercial and research support.checked 8 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Linux support
- The Linux kernel client has been in the mainline kernel since version 4.6, and the documentation recommends the upstream kernel module for Linux integration.checked 8 Oct 2026
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