Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications

    VeriSign Embraces Open-Source FreeBSD for Diversity

    Written by

    Sean Michael Kerner
    Published August 21, 2013
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      The open-source FreeBSD operating system is often in the shadow of its open-source cousin, Linux. FreeBSD is, however, a mature and stable operating system that is now quite literally at the very core foundation of what makes the Internet work. Global DNS and dot-com Top Level Domain operator VeriSign is among FreeBSD’s users and is now aiming to help advance the open-source project through new sponsorship.

      “We use both FreeBSD as well as Linux, and we do that so we have diversity across the global infrastructure that we operate,” Burt Kaliski, CTO of VeriSign told eWEEK.

      VeriSign operates part of the root Domain Name System (DNS) that that connects IP addresses to domains. It’s an infrastructure that includes three core data center locations as well as more than 70 edge locations around the world. The edge locations enable VeriSign to do DNS resolution on the order of some 70 billion transactions per day. The edge servers run on a combination of Linux and FreeBSD server infrastructure.

      “It’s important for us to maintain the reliability of all the services, so we don’t rely uniquely on any particular implementation in the operating system space,” Kaliski said. “Having both FreeBSD and Linux makes it possible to have that diversity.”
      VeriSign’s core DNS infrastructure is run on a platform it calls Atlas. Three years ago in 2009, VeriSign announced that it had expanded Atlas’ capability by a factor of 10, thanks to $100 million of investment in the system. Kaliski explained that the edge server system is part of the overall Atlas platform.

      As to why VeriSign is using FreeBSD as part of its operating system mix, Kaliski said that there are always lots of choices a company can make when it comes to software and hardware.

      “You get comfortable with something because it works well for your particular purposes and can find a good community that you can interact with,” Kaliski said. “That all rang true for us with FreeBSD.”

      FreeBSD has its roots in the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD), which is a Unix-based operating system. The FreeBSD project itself got started in 1993 and is currently in the process of building out its 9.2 release.

      vBSDcon

      Kaliski doesn’t want VeriSign to just be a consumer of FreeBSD, he also wants to give back as an active participant in the open-source community. To that end, VeriSign is sponsoring the first-ever vBSDcon, set to take place this coming October in Dulles, Va. Kaliski noted that it’s important to give back to the FreeBSD community to help it to have a quality event.

      Compared with Linux, where there are multiple commercial vendors and a talent ecosystem, FreeBSD has a somewhat smaller talent pool. Kaliski stressed, however, that recruiting FreeBSD talent to VeriSign is not an express purpose for the event.

      “It’s good to be a participant in a global community, because people will find their own way to opportunities that are good for them,” Kaliski said. “The goal of this conference is to encourage the further development of FreeBSD.”

      FreeBSD vs. Linux

      Since VeriSign uses both FreeBSD and Linux, they just might be in a good place to understand the comparative benefits of one system against the other. As it turns out, VeriSign’s goal with its platform is to have services run well across the entire infrastructure, regardless of the underlying operating system.

      “The service that we provide primarily is DNS resolution, so we’re running over certain ports with protocols and the underlying implementation shouldn’t be discernible by the application,” Kaliski said. “The essence of the DNS protocol is that you shouldn’t be able to tell what hardware or software is running.”

      Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at eWEEK and InternetNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.

      Sean Michael Kerner
      Sean Michael Kerner
      Sean Michael Kerner is an Internet consultant, strategist, and writer for several leading IT business web sites.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×