DeepRoot: Banking on Linux

BANGALORE: For most, any inclination towards Unix, and of late Linux, will be

limited to reading them in magazines or merely conducting experiments during

college days. Once done with the graduation, 'market' reality will lead most

aspiring IT professionals towards a more 'paying' platforms such as Java and

other Microsoft products.

However, there are a few who persist in making a career in it, simply driven

by a strong belief in open source environment and faith that Linux will be the

key to the future. Take the case of Bangalore-based youngster Abhas Abhinav, who

has started a journey through his start-up, DeepRoot Linux. Though DeepRoot has

five employees, all of whom are Linux developers, the company relies heavily on

the Linux community to build solutions.

Incepted a few months ago, the founder group is in now in talks with several

students and professionals who are keenly interested in Linux and are willing to

take part in the development of the company’s first product — DeepStore. In

fact, its Web site invites people who are "crazy and bold people with a

need to be different, a compulsion to create and an obligation to excel".

Using the outsourcing model, DeepRoot pays those who join them in building

any part for its product development. DeepRoot is in the process of developing

its first product DeepStore Network Storage, which has a range of Network

Attached Storage (NAS) solutions.

According to DeepRoot CEO Abhas Abhinav, DeepStore will have a storage

capacity of 600GB and carry features such as data protection, zero downtime,

journaling file system and LCD/key pad based monitoring system, which will also

be Web-based.

Abhas said that the beta version would be made available to a few companies

in April. "The product will help office and other community organizations

to build scalable and cheap data storage solution. All they will need to do is

to plug it in and give an IP. Whenever an upgrade is needed, it can be done at

one place, thereby reducing the overheads," he added.

With nearly Rs 2 lakh being spent on developing this product, Abhas says he

will now need additional funds to keep the project functioning. "It is now

time to shift focus from building technical expertise to raising finances for

the operation," he said.

Though DeepRoot has been offering support services for Linux, the company is

yet to earn significant revenues from the venture, as most customers in India

are reluctant to pay for the services. But Abhas is undeterred and says he has

now showcased its product at the ongoing three-day BangLinux in Bangalore. The

company is presently looking at large organizations, Internet Service providers

and storage service providers as their potential customers.

The company plans to soon venture into building Linux applications for

embedded systems. But what motivates Abhas and his fledgling team is the

confidence that Linux will soon be the future for storage solutions, despite the

bad show by some Linux giants in the US stock market.