The Story So Far: The Evolution of OpenSearch

Introduction to OpenSearch: A Vital Open-Source Solution

Reading time: 4 minutes

By Anja Glauch

CMO

1. Introduction to OpenSearch: A Vital Open-Source Solution

In the ever-evolving landscape of search and analytics, OpenSearch has emerged as a significant player. As an open-source search and analytics suite, it has quickly gained relevance, offering powerful solutions to organizations worldwide. But what led to the creation of OpenSearch, and how has it evolved? This article explores the story so far, shedding light on its origins, key contributors, and the road ahead.

2. The Origins of OpenSearch: Why and How It Was Created

2.1 The Fork from Elasticsearch

The journey of OpenSearch began in early 2021, when Elastic NV decided to change the license of Elasticsearch and Kibana from Apache 2.0 to the Server Side Public License (SSPL). This move prompted concerns within the open-source community, particularly from organizations that relied on the Apache 2.0 license for their operations.

2.2 AWS’s Role in OpenSearch’s Creation

In response, Amazon Web Services (AWS), a significant player in cloud services, decided to fork Elasticsearch 7.10.2, creating OpenSearch. The rationale behind this fork was clear: AWS needed to ensure that an open-source alternative remained available to support their managed services and to continue serving the broader community that depended on Elasticsearch. OpenSearch emerged as the solution, providing an open-source search and analytics suite that could be freely used, modified, and distributed.

3. Eliatra and Search Guard: Foundational Partners in OpenSearch from Day One

3.1 Eliatra’s Early and Ongoing Role in OpenSearch

Right from the inception of OpenSearch, Eliatra has been a foundational partner, leveraging its deep expertise in the Elasticsearch platform to support and drive the development of OpenSearch. As early contributors, Eliatra’s founders and team have played a crucial role in shaping the direction of the project, addressing complex challenges from the very beginning.

3.2 Strengthening OpenSearch Security with Search Guard

One of Eliatra’s most significant contributions has been through Search Guard, their flagship security plugin. Integrated with OpenSearch from its earliest days, Search Guard has been instrumental in fortifying the security framework of OpenSearch. By providing advanced security features like authentication, authorization, and encryption, Search Guard ensures that enterprises can rely on OpenSearch for secure, compliant operations.

3.3 Launching Eliatra OpenSearch Distribution (EOD) for Enterprise Needs

A major milestone in Eliatra’s ongoing partnership with OpenSearch is the release of the Eliatra OpenSearch Distribution (EOD). This distribution, crafted with the experience gained since the project’s inception, directly addresses the unique challenges enterprises face when deploying search solutions. EOD offers timely vulnerability resolutions, long-term support for stable versions, and comprehensive technical support, empowering enterprises to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and ease. Download Eliatra OpenSearch Distribution here!

4. OpenSearch Today and Tomorrow: Current State and Future Prospects

4.1 Current Adoption and Community Growth

As of today, OpenSearch has seen substantial adoption across various industries, supported by a vibrant and growing community. The suite continues to evolve, with regular updates and enhancements driven by community contributions and the involvement of organizations like AWS and Eliatra. This collaborative effort, anchored by early contributors, has solidified OpenSearch as a viable alternative to other search solutions in the market.

4.2 The Future Roadmap and Eliatra’s Continuing Contributions

Looking ahead, the future of OpenSearch appears bright. With a strong roadmap that includes further enhancements in scalability, security, and performance, OpenSearch is poised to continue its growth. Eliatra/Search Guard is expected to play an ongoing role in this development, particularly in the areas of security and performance optimization. Their contributions, rooted in their early involvement, will likely shape the future capabilities of OpenSearch, ensuring it remains at the forefront of open-source search technologies.

5. Conclusion: The Strategic Importance of OpenSearch and Eliatra’s Role

5.1 Key Takeaways from OpenSearch’s Evolution

OpenSearch has quickly established itself as a critical tool in the open-source search and analytics landscape, offering a robust alternative to its predecessors. The support and contributions from organizations like Eliatra and their Search Guard plugin have been instrumental in this success, particularly in enhancing security and performance. As OpenSearch continues to evolve, the ongoing involvement of the community and key partners—especially those like Eliatra, who have been involved since day one—will be essential in driving its future growth and adoption.