Akamai Delivers Infrastructure Support to Ensure Uninterrupted Linux Kernel Development
Rhea-AI Summary
Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM) has become the new infrastructure partner for kernel.org, the main distribution system for Linux kernel source code. Through a multi-year agreement with the Linux Kernel Organization, Akamai will provide infrastructure services to support the development of the Linux operating system, which powers most of the world's technology infrastructure.
The Linux kernel, comprising approximately 28 million lines of code, has received contributions from over 13,500 developers across 1,300+ companies since 2005. Akamai will deliver the infrastructure that developers rely on at no cost, supporting Git environments for quick kernel source access globally.
As part of its commitment to open source, Akamai has also announced infrastructure support for Alpine Linux. The company is a Gold Member of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), has pledged US$1 million to CNCF projects, and contributes to various open-source initiatives including OpenTelemetry, Argo, and Prometheus.
Positive
- Strategic expansion into critical open-source infrastructure support
- Strengthens position in cloud computing market through Linux ecosystem integration
- Builds valuable partnerships with global developer community
Negative
- Infrastructure provided at no cost, potentially increasing operational expenses
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, AKAM gained 0.11%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Akamai picks up the hosting of kernel.org, bringing long-term stability to development and maintenance of the open source Linux operating system
Akamai signed a multi-year agreement with the Linux Kernel Organization to provide infrastructure services to the project and its global cohort of developers. The work of these engineers — many of whom work as volunteers — is critical to maintaining the security and performance of the world's most widely deployed open source operating system. Linux and its derivatives are used by most if not all governments, research laboratories, nonprofit organizations, and corporations globally. It powers smartphones, industrial devices, consumer products, and the data centers that enable cloud computing. It also runs most of the internet, all of the world's top 500 supercomputers, and the world's stock exchanges.
The Linux kernel is massive — approximately 28 million lines of code. Since 2005, more than 13,500 developers from more than 1,300 different companies have contributed to the Linux kernel. Additionally, there are many kernel versions, and developers update the code constantly, distributing that code to developers who are working on various distributions of Linux. Akamai now delivers the infrastructure that these developers and their users rely on, at no cost, supporting the Git environments developers use to access kernel sources quickly, regardless of where they're based.
"Like the rest of the world, Akamai depends on Linux. By supporting kernel.org, we're giving back to the community, just as we've done via our commitments to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)," said Alex Chircop, Chief Architect, Akamai Cloud, and member of the CNCF's Technical Oversight Committee. "The foundation of our cloud platform is built on a long history of Linux and open source technologies. It's the Lin in Linode. By providing stable, secure, and unwavering support for kernel.org, we're doing our part to contribute to the preservation of the world's most widely deployed open source software, Linux."
"Akamai has deep roots in the open source community," said Chris Aniszczyk, Chief Technology Officer of CNCF. "As an important member of CNCF, they have actively contributed to key projects, including OpenTelemetry, Argo, and Prometheus, and donated
Akamai is a Gold Member of the CNCF and a Platinum Sponsor of KubeCon — and, earlier this year, Akamai pledged
Akamai also announced that it is providing infrastructure and delivery support for Alpine Linux, one of the most popular Linux distributions.
About Akamai
Akamai is the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online. Our market-leading security solutions, superior threat intelligence, and global operations team provide defense in depth to safeguard enterprise data and applications everywhere. Akamai's full-stack cloud computing solutions deliver performance and affordability on the world's most distributed platform. Global enterprises trust Akamai to provide the industry-leading reliability, scale, and expertise they need to grow their business with confidence. Learn more at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog, or follow Akamai Technologies on X and LinkedIn.
About The Linux Kernel Organization
The Linux Kernel Organization is a California Public Benefit Corporation established in 2002 to distribute the Linux kernel and other open source software to the public without charge. Recognized as a 501(c)3 private operating foundation, the Linux Kernel Organization is managed by The Linux Foundation, which provides full technical, financial, and staffing support for running and maintaining the kernel.org infrastructure.
Contacts
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SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc.
FAQ
What is the scope of Akamai's new partnership with kernel.org for Linux development?
How large is the Linux kernel development ecosystem that AKAM will support?
What additional open source commitments has AKAM made alongside the kernel.org support?
How will AKAM's infrastructure support benefit Linux kernel developers?
