Open-E
Open-E is a privately held data storage software company, founded in 1998 and headquartered in the US, that develops ZFS-based software-defined storage (JovianDSS) and immutable Veeam-targeted backup software (JovianVHR) for enterprises, MSPs, healthcare, government, and virtualization customers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersMarietta, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Open-E does
Open-E is a privately held data storage software company founded in 1998 and headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, with wholly-owned operating subsidiaries in Germany (Puchheim/Munich), Poland (Bytom R&D Center), and Japan (Funabashi-Shi). The company develops ZFS- and Linux-based software-defined storage solutions, with its flagship product Open-E JovianDSS serving as an all-purpose platform unifying NAS, SAN, iSCSI, Fibre Channel, NFS, and SMB storage with built-in high-availability clustering, snapshot replication, inline deduplication and compression, thin provisioning, and tiered caching. Its secondary product Open-E JovianVHR, launched in 2025, is a purpose-built immutable backup solution designed as a Veeam Hardened Repository with double-layer immutability for ransomware protection. The portfolio targets data centers, managed service providers, hospitals, education, government, surveillance, media, and virtualization environments across North America, EMEA, and APAC.
Open-E monetizes primarily through perpetual software licenses priced by storage capacity tier (16TB to 516TB+), supplemented by recurring annual or multi-year technical support subscriptions (Standard, Premium, 24/7), add-on feature packs for HA clustering (Standard and Advanced Metro), and pay-as-you-go Per Incident support. Distribution combines a direct enterprise sales force with regional coverage, an online self-service store, and a global channel of 30+ certified hardware partners (Broadberry, Boston, TWP Computers, D&D, ComputerCentrum, CTT, among others) that pre-certify Open-E software on their storage servers, alongside dedicated Channel Partner and MSP Partner programs with structured certification tracks (OECE, OECSP). Notable customers include ÖHK (healthcare), a Fortune 500 insurance company via HELIX International, Usborne Publishing, Eduard Gerlach GmbH (manufacturing), ECKD GmbH, and DWA, demonstrating traction across regulated and operational workloads.
The company has been independently operated for over 25 years with no external funding rounds or parent company disclosed in the source material, indicating organic and self-funded growth. Recognitions include the 2026 Storage Awards Data Management & Monitoring Vendor of the Year, Editor's Choice for JovianDSS Up33, and inclusion in CRN Storage 100 among the 50 Coolest Software-Defined Storage Vendors. The leadership team consists of founder/president/CEO Krzysztof Franek, CTO Janusz Bak (tenure since 1999), VP Engineering Miroslaw Franek, and VP of Global Support and Technical Sales Todd Maxwell.
Open-E firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Open-E
- Legal name
- Open-E, Inc.
- Website
- https://open-e.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Open-E is a privately held data storage software company, founded in 1998 and headquartered in the US, that develops ZFS-based software-defined storage (JovianDSS) and immutable Veeam-targeted backup software (JovianVHR) for enterprises, MSPs, healthcare, government, and virtualization customers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Open-E industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Software-Defined Storage
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Storage Media & Components (HDD/SSD/Flash, Controllers) (HDABAEAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Confidential Computing & Hardware-backed Protection (TEE/HSM) (HDADAFAJ)
Keywords
Where Open-E is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Marietta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Open-E business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Licenses: Perpetual software licenses for Open-E JovianDSS and JovianVHR, with capacity-based pricing tied to storage size in TB
- Technical Support Subscriptions: Annual and multi-year technical support contracts with tiered pricing (Standard, Premium, 24/7) based on storage capacity
- Storage Extensions: Additional capacity licenses for storage expansion beyond base configuration
- Feature Packs: HA Cluster feature packs (Standard and Advanced Metro) available as add-on licenses
- Professional Services: Consulting services including Check-Up Service and Migration Service for implementation and optimization
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Up to 16TB Standard Support |
| Subscription | Annual | Up to 16TB Premium Support |
| Subscription | Annual | Up to 16TB 24/7 Support |
| Subscription | Annual | 20TB to 128TB Standard Support |
| Subscription | Annual | 20TB to 128TB Premium Support |
| Subscription | Annual | 20TB to 128TB 24/7 Support |
| Subscription | Annual | 132TB to 512TB Standard Support |
| Subscription | Annual | 132TB to 512TB Premium Support |
| Subscription | Annual | 132TB to 512TB 24/7 Support |
| Subscription | Annual | 516TB and more Standard Support |
| Subscription | Annual | 516TB and more Premium Support |
| Subscription | Annual | 516TB and more 24/7 Support |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Per Incident 24/7 Support - Single Node |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Per Incident 24/7 Support - Cluster |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Reinstatement Fees |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Open-E product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Open-E develops and licenses software-defined storage software built on ZFS and Linux. Its primary product, Open-E JovianDSS, is a unified storage platform supporting NAS, SAN, iSCSI, Fibre Channel, NFS, and SMB protocols with built-in high availability clustering, snapshot replication, deduplication, compression, and native ZFS encryption. Its complementary product, Open-E JovianVHR, is a purpose-built immutable backup repository for Veeam that delivers ransomware-proof backup storage using a double-layer immutability strategy.
Product overview
Open-E is a data storage software company offering two core products: Open-E JovianDSS and Open-E JovianVHR. Open-E JovianDSS is a ZFS- and Linux-based software-defined storage (SDS) platform serving as the company's primary product — a unified, all-in-one solution combining NAS, SAN, iSCSI, Fibre Channel, and NFS/SMB storage in a single system. JovianDSS includes built-in business continuity and disaster recovery features (HA clusters, snapshot replication, On- & Off-site Data Protection) as well as backup capabilities. Open-E JovianVHR is a dedicated immutable backup solution purpose-built as a Hardened Repository for Veeam, providing ransomware-proof backup storage with double-layer immutability. The two products are complementary: JovianDSS handles primary storage and can serve as a general backup target, while JovianVHR is the specialized immutable backup tier for Veeam environments. Both products support integration with virtualization platforms (VMware, Proxmox, Hyper-V, Citrix), and the portfolio is complemented by professional services (Check-Up, Migration), training (Open-E Academy), and a range of certified hardware servers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Open-E JovianDSS: All-purpose Software Defined Storage Platform for data storage, backup and business continuity
- Open-E JovianVHR
Products and services
- Open-E JovianDSS ZFS- and Linux-based all-purpose software-defined storage platform providing unified NAS, SAN, iSCSI, Fibre Channel, NFS, and SMB storage with built-in high availability clustering, snapshot replication, deduplication, compression, thin provisioning, and native ZFS encryption. Designed for virtualization, databases, cloud storage, and enterprise data center use.
- Open-E JovianVHR Immutable backup solution purpose-built as a Hardened Repository for Veeam, providing single-node ransomware-proof backup storage with double-layer immutability and hardware-agnostic design. Ensures backup data is unalterable and recoverable against ransomware encryption.
- Open-E JovianDSS Standard High Availability Cluster Feature Pack Add-on feature pack for Open-E JovianDSS that enables high availability failover clustering with active-active or active-passive configurations, providing continuous business operations with no single point of failure.
- Open-E JovianDSS Advanced Metro High Availability Cluster Feature Pack Advanced metro cluster feature pack for Open-E JovianDSS enabling geographically distributed high availability across data centers, supporting synchronous and asynchronous replication for disaster recovery over metro distances.
- Standard Technical Support Entry-level annual technical support subscription for Open-E JovianDSS/JovianVHR, including email support, business-hours phone support, major software updates, and up to 48-hour response for Severity 3 issues.
- Premium Technical Support Mid-tier annual technical support subscription with unlimited incidents, 4-hour Severity 1 response, next-business-day Severity 3 response, full software updates including small updates, and remote sessions.
- 24/7 Technical Support Top-tier annual technical support subscription available around the clock, including a dedicated 24/7 phone line, up to 5 after-hours incidents per year, and 4-hour Severity 1 response.
- Per Incident 24/7 Support Pay-as-you-go 24/7 support option charged per incident for single nodes (USD 1,005) or clusters (USD 2,010), with 4-hour Severity 1 response for critical issues.
- Open-E Check-Up Service Professional consulting service providing an expert assessment and recommendations for optimizing Open-E JovianDSS storage environments.
- Open-E Migration Service Professional service for migrating data to Open-E JovianDSS from prior Open-E products or third-party storage platforms.
Quantifiable outcome
- $5 million in first-year savings achieved by Fortune 500 insurance company (HELIX International case)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Open-E
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Open-E technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature11 records
Open-E partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Veeam SoftwarecoreStrategic integration partnership for backup solutions. Open-E JovianVHR provides immutable backup storage purpose-built for Veeam Hardened Repository, featuring double-layer immutability strategy.
- VMwarecoreVMware compatibility and integration. Open-E JovianDSS is fully compatible with VMware APIs, supporting vSphere, vSAN, and providing high availability clusters for VMware environments.
- ProxmoxcoreHyperconvergence integration with Proxmox VE. Open-E JovianDSS with Proxmox VE offers cost-optimized, hyperconverged solutions for virtualized environments.
- Broadberry Data SystemscorePlatinum channel partner (established 1989) specializing in custom rackmount servers, NAS, and iSCSI SAN storage. Offers Open-E certified storage servers and clusters. Headquartered in UK with US presence.
- Boston LtdcorePlatinum channel partner (19+ years) offering high-performance server, storage, and HPC technologies. Multiple Open-E JovianDSS certifications including 2022 and 2023 versions. UK-based with global reach.
- TWP Computers BVminorAuthorized channel partner (founded 1993) specializing in rackmount servers and storage solutions. Based in Amsterdam near major European data centers. Offers Open-E certified systems.
- Be-Cloud Belgium BV (Smartworx / D&D)minorPlatinum channel partner (25+ years experience) specializing in custom server and storage solutions. Belgian system builder with certified technical staff.
- ComputerCentrum GmbHminorPlatinum channel partner (founded 1999) German IT company specializing in storage solutions, virtualization, and IT infrastructure. OECE certified for Open-E JovianDSS.
- CTT Computertechnik AGminorPlatinum channel partner (established 1979) - one of the most established IT distribution companies in storage. German-based with focus on rotating memory and storage components.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Open-E competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- QNAP Systems: QNAP is a leading NAS hardware vendor with broad SMB and prosumer reach, comparable to Open-E on storage protocols and iSCSI/NFS/SMB support, though primarily hardware-anchored versus Open-E's software-only model.
- Synology: Synology is a major NAS vendor with extensive SMB and prosumer presence, supporting similar protocols (iSCSI, NFS, SMB) and virtualization use cases. Comparable as adjacent incumbent with overlapping customer base, though tied to proprietary hardware.
- NetApp: NetApp is a tier-1 enterprise storage incumbent offering ONTAP-based unified storage, hybrid cloud, and SDS offerings. Comparable to Open-E on enterprise SAN/NAS positioning but operates at vastly greater scale and broader portfolio scope.
- Nutanix: Nutanix offers hyperconverged infrastructure with integrated storage, competing with Open-E in virtualized enterprise environments. Comparable as a software-defined alternative to traditional SAN, though Nutanix bundles compute and storage.
- VMware vSAN (Broadcom): VMware vSAN (now Broadcom) is a leading hyperconverged storage platform integrated with vSphere — comparable to Open-E in serving virtualized environments, but tightly bundled with Broadcom's virtualization stack versus Open-E's hypervisor-agnostic approach.
Direct peers
- iXsystems (TrueNAS): TrueNAS by iXsystems is a ZFS-based NAS/SAN software platform with open-source and enterprise editions — directly comparable to Open-E JovianDSS in core technology stack, ZFS foundation, and target use cases including virtualization and backup.
- StarWind Software: StarWind offers software-defined storage and hyperconverged infrastructure products targeting SMB and mid-market with similar channel-led distribution. Closely comparable to Open-E on SDS positioning, target customer profile, and partner-driven GTM.
- Nexenta by DDN: Nexenta (acquired by DDN) provides ZFS-based software-defined storage for enterprise SAN/NAS — historically a direct competitor in the SDS market with comparable protocol support (iSCSI, NFS, SMB) and enterprise positioning.
Emerging players
- SoftNAS (Buurst): SoftNAS by Buurst offers software-defined NAS and SAN solutions targeting cloud and hybrid environments. Comparable to Open-E on virtual storage software positioning with partial overlap in NAS/SAN use cases.
- MinIO: MinIO provides S3-compatible object storage software for on-premises and hybrid cloud — comparable to Open-E on software-defined storage positioning, with overlap in cloud-adjacent enterprise use cases and channel-led distribution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Open-E social profiles
Digital presenceOpen-E financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Open-E leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Open-E subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Open-E funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Open-E M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Open-E
What does Open-E do?
Open-E develops and licenses software-defined storage software built on ZFS and Linux. Its primary product, Open-E JovianDSS, is a unified storage platform supporting NAS, SAN, iSCSI, Fibre Channel, NFS, and SMB protocols with built-in high availability clustering, snapshot replication, deduplication, compression, and native ZFS encryption. Its complementary product, Open-E JovianVHR, is a purpose-built immutable backup repository for Veeam that delivers ransomware-proof backup storage using a double-layer immutability strategy.
Is Open-E a public or private company?
Open-E is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Open-E founded?
Open-E was founded in 1998. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Open-E based?
Open-E is headquartered in Marietta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Open-E make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses are the primary driver. The others are technical Support Subscriptions, storage Extensions, feature Packs and professional Services.
Who are Open-E's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are QNAP Systems, Synology, NetApp, Nutanix and VMware vSAN (Broadcom). Direct peers are iXsystems (TrueNAS), StarWind Software and Nexenta by DDN. Emerging players are SoftNAS (Buurst) and MinIO.
Does Open-E have an API?
No public API is recorded for Open-E.
What industry is Open-E in?
Open-E's product category is Software-Defined Storage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABAEAM, Storage Media & Components (HDD/SSD/Flash, Controllers), with a secondary code of HDADAFAJ, Confidential Computing & Hardware-backed Protection (TEE/HSM). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.