IXsystems
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Computer hardware, Software |
| Predecessor | Berkeley Software Design, Inc. (BSDI) |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Rick Adams, Keith Bostic, Kirk McKusick |
| Headquarters | San Jose , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dru Lavigne, Jordan K. Hubbard (CTO), Kris Moore |
| Products | TrueNAS Core, TrueNAS Enterprise, TrueNAS SCALE, TrueOS (discontinued), FreeNAS Certified hardware, TrueNAS Mini |
| Website | www |
iXsystems, Inc. (operating under the name TrueNAS) is a privately owned technology firm based in San Jose, California, USA. The company specializes in the development, sales, and support of computing and storage solutions. Its primary product lineup features tailored open source FreeBSD-based operating systems, including the now-discontinued desktop OS TrueOS (previously known as PC-BSD), as well as FreeBSD-derived file server and network-attached storage platforms such as TrueNAS Core (formerly FreeNAS) and TrueNAS Enterprise. Additionally, iXsystems offers TrueNAS SCALE, a Linux-based variant. Beyond software, the company provides hardware systems optimized for these platforms and delivers enterprise-grade storage and Hyper-converged infrastructure offerings. iXsystems maintains a close relationship with the FreeBSD community by sponsoring development efforts, contributing hardware compatibility improvements for BSD projects, and actively engaging in open-source initiatives.
History
Established in 1991 under the name Berkeley Software Design, Inc. (BSDI), the company was founded by Rick Adams alongside members of the University of California, Berkeley’s Computer Systems Research Group (CSRG), including prominent figures such as Keith Bostic and Kirk McKusick. Over time, iXsystems expanded through acquisitions and organizational changes. In 2000, BSDI took over enterprise server manufacturer Telenet System Solutions, which operated from the San Jose location that continues to serve as iXsystems’ headquarters. Following the sale of its operating system division to Wind River Systems in 2001, BSDI separated its hardware business into an independent entity named iXsystems, Inc. The company was then purchased by OffMyServer, Inc. in 2002 before reclaiming the iXsystems brand in 2005.
The acquisition of the PC-BSD project in 2006 brought Kris Moore, its founder, into iXsystems’ team and expanded its desktop OS capabilities. The 2007 purchase of FreeBSD Mall reunited important BSD assets previously sold to Wind River Systems. In 2009, iXsystems assumed responsibility for the FreeNAS project after its original developers shifted their focus to Debian Linux. This transition led to a full rewrite released in 2011 that forms the foundation for their SMB-targeted "FreeNAS Mini" arrays and enterprise-level "TrueNAS" storage products. Notable executive appointments include BSD author Dru Lavigne joining in 2010 and FreeBSD co-founder Jordan K. Hubbard becoming CTO in 2013—both bringing extensive expertise to strengthen leadership.
On June 25, 2025, the company adopted the TrueNAS name to better reflect its market presence and focus on enterprise storage solutions.
Servers
iXsystems engineers, markets, and supports customized x86 server hardware tailored for environments ranging from small workgroups to large data centers with an emphasis on FreeBSD compatibility. Each server undergoes a rigorous three-day burn-in process aimed at minimizing returns. Additionally, customers have the option to deploy Linux as an alternative operating system on these platforms.
TrueNAS
TrueNAS represents iXsystems' open source network attached storage solution, encompassing:
- TrueNAS CORE (previously FreeNAS) – a no-cost file server built on FreeBSD.
- TrueNAS SCALE – a Linux-based hyper-converged infrastructure edition.
- TrueNAS Enterprise – a commercial-grade file server utilizing CORE or SCALE.
- TrueNAS hardware – enterprise-level storage arrays, NAS devices, SAN systems, and High Availability configurations supporting up to 10 petabytes of raw storage.
The FreeNAS initiative started in 2005 as an open source NAS platform grounded in FreeBSD. In 2009, the project was forked and transitioned to iXsystems, which redeveloped it on FreeBSD 8.1 and introduced FreeNAS 8 Beta in November 2010.
On November 19, 2010, iXsystems launched FreeNAS 8 Beta, marking its debut in the software-defined storage arena. Built upon FreeBSD and OpenZFS, FreeNAS became a foundational offering within their product lineup.
iXsystems unveiled the TrueNAS series of enterprise storage arrays on August 3, 2011. These arrays support SMB, AFP, NFS, iSCSI, SSH, rsync, FTP/TFTP protocols over Ethernet and Fibre Channel. TrueNAS provides vendor-certified capabilities for VMware VAAI, Microsoft CSV/ODX/VSS, and Veeam. Its tool-less chassis enables High Availability with dual controllers and components accessible for user maintenance. Utilizing OpenZFS, TrueNAS operates in hybrid or all-flash setups with capacities reaching up to 10 petabytes raw.
On March 15, 2020, iXsystems consolidated FreeNAS and TrueNAS into a unified product suite: TrueNAS CORE (free and open-source) alongside TrueNAS Enterprise (commercial with enhanced features). Additionally, they introduced TrueNAS SCALE based on Linux to broaden their market presence.
FreeNAS Certified
The iXsystems FreeNAS Certified range targets small to medium enterprises with storage arrays optimized for the FreeNAS OS, available in 1U, 2U, and 4U form factors.
TrueNAS Mini and Mini XL
Designed for SOHO environments, the iXsystems TrueNAS Mini lineup offers 4-bay and 8-bay storage arrays running the TrueNAS operating system.
Powered by TrueNAS
The "Powered by TrueNAS" program was initiated by TrueNAS with its inaugural partner HexOS (Eshtek Inc.), delivering streamlined NAS solutions emphasizing straightforward installation and user-centric functionality.