OpenELA: Keeping enterprise Linux free and open source

“We have to make sure that open source software stays available to everybody” – Gregory Kurtzer, CEO and founder of CIQ

We’ve never seen more threats to open source enterprise Linux. In the past few years, open source projects have been acquired by commercial companies and shifted to restrictive licenses that limit availability or freedom to modify code. Some popular open source products and enterprise operating systems have moved away from their original licensing and open source intentions.

There is a very real risk of a future where freely-available, open source enterprise Linux is a thing of the past.

At CIQ, we're passionate about the future of enterprise Linux and the open source community that supports it. We believe in a world where open source software remains accessible, collaborative, and continuously evolving. That's why we're excited to share more about OpenELA and our role in the broader open source ecosystem.

What is OpenELA?

OpenELA, or the Open Enterprise Linux Association, is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) trade association dedicated to preserving the open source nature of enterprise Linux. Its mission is straightforward: to ensure that enterprise Linux source code remains open, freely available, and community-driven. OpenELA is protecting the integrity of trustworthy, open source enterprise operating systems. At the same time, it is creating a platform for future collaboration and innovation.

The creation of OpenELA stems from a vision to foster a collaborative environment where the future of Enterprise Linux can be shaped collectively by its founding partners — CIQ, Oracle, and SUSE — and the open source community.

The OpenELA founding partners may have different approaches to open source implementation or company objectives, but our goal is unified: to support a base foundation of open source enterprise software that is freely available to everyone. This collective effort ensures that no matter the competitive landscape, we all benefit from a robust and compatible foundation.

Aligning OpenELA with each founding company’s strategy

OpenELA was created because CIQ, Oracle, and SUSE share a vision for the industry. Both SUSE and Oracle provide popular enterprise Linux distributions and could be considered competitors to CIQ, but all three organizations share the same vision and belief in open source.

Collaboration is a key part of OpenELA, especially among the three founding organizations. If all three of us fix an open source bug or vulnerability, at least two of us are wasting effort and we don’t want to do that. Instead, we want to make sure that we’re all basing around a long-term product that will remain open and completely compatible — not as a benefit to us, but to the community and user base.

And to be clear, it’s the user base that makes OpenELA so critical.

How OpenELA aligns with CIQ’s open source strategy

From a CIQ perspective, OpenELA’s collaborative and open source foundation aligns with our strategy in terms of how we support Rocky Linux and other projects in which we take part. We are passionate about ensuring that open source software stays available to anyone who wants it, whether they’re CIQ’s customers or not. We have an active portion of our own staff that contributes back to open source projects specifically because we practice what we preach.

We’re just one team of developers out of hundreds of thousands of individual contributors and billions of dollars being spent on open source software development from companies across the globe. It’s all going into this shared vision. It doesn’t matter if we’re competing or even if we agree on implementation — we’re all working together to create a base foundation of important software that needs to be freely available.

Enabling the power of community through transparent projects

The future of open source enterprise Linux hinges on the collective efforts of a committed community. To safeguard the availability and freedom of enterprise Linux, it’s essential for individuals and organizations to actively support and participate in initiatives that uphold these values.

If you share our vision for a future where open source enterprise Linux remains accessible and community-driven, consider joining OpenELA. As a nonprofit 501(c)(6) trade association, OpenELA is dedicated to preserving the integrity of enterprise Linux by ensuring that its source code remains open and available. By becoming a member, you contribute to a collaborative environment where the future of enterprise Linux is shaped by the community.

Engage with OpenELA’s projects directly by exploring our GitHub repository. Here, you’ll find a range of initiatives focused on maintaining and enhancing open source enterprise Linux. Your contributions—whether through code, feedback, or collaboration—help ensure that these projects continue to thrive and evolve. Transparency and open collaboration are at the heart of OpenELA, and your involvement can make a significant impact.

Support the movement for freely-available enterprise Linux and open source software by promoting and advocating for transparency in software development. Whether you’re a developer, a business, or a technology enthusiast, your support helps sustain a vibrant open source ecosystem. By championing open source principles and participating in community-driven projects, you help create a future where high-quality, accessible software is available to all.

Together, we can ensure that open source enterprise Linux remains a cornerstone of innovation and collaboration. Embrace the power of community by joining OpenELA, contributing to our projects, and supporting the broader open source movement. Let’s build a future where open source software continues to be a force for good — accessible, collaborative, and free.