Oregon State University Open Source Lab (OSU OSL) Faces Closure – Urgent Funding Needed

 

OSU Open Source Lab—hosting Linux, Apache, Mozilla & Fedora—faces closure without $250K/year. Urgent corporate sponsors needed to save critical open-source infrastructure. Learn how to help

A Critical Hub for Open-Source Infrastructure at Risk

For developers and enterprises relying on open-source software, the Oregon State University Open Source Lab (OSU OSL) has been a cornerstone of innovation. 

Hosting major projects like Mozilla Firefox, Apache Software Foundation, and Linux Foundation, OSU OSL has powered enterprise-grade open-source infrastructure for over two decades. Now, this vital institution faces imminent closure due to funding shortages.

Why OSU OSL Matters for Tech and Enterprise

OSU OSL provides mission-critical services, including:

✔ High-performance software mirroring for projects like Debian, Fedora, and Gentoo Linux

✔ Multi-architecture CI/CD support (x86, AArch64, POWER) for automated testing and DevOps pipelines

✔ Enterprise-grade hosting for foundational open-source tools (Drupal, phpBB, Inkscape, Buildroot)

✔ Cloud-based virtual machines for cross-platform development and compliance testing

Without OSU OSL, thousands of open-source projects and Fortune 500 companies relying on its infrastructure could face disruptions.

The Funding Crisis: $250K Needed to Prevent Shutdown

OSU OSL’s financial model is unsustainable. Despite Oregon State University’s College of Engineering covering deficits in recent years, new budget constraints threaten its survival. To continue operations, the lab must secure:

🔹 $250,000\mathrm{/}year\ast \ast incommittedcorporatesponsorships\text{🔹}\ast \ast$35,000 for hardware, cloud services, and operational expenses

Urgent Deadline: Two Weeks to Secure Future

University leadership demands a viable funding plan by mid-May 2024. Without immediate corporate backing—such as a major tech sponsor (Google, IBM, Red Hat, AWS)—the lab could shut down by late 2024.

How OSU OSL Powers the Open-Source Ecosystem

1. Hosting Legacy & Cutting-Edge Projects

• Mozilla Firefox 1.0’s release server

• Long-term home for Kernel.org, Linux Foundation

• Current infrastructure for Debian, Fedora, Cinc, and OpenID

2. Enabling Enterprise DevOps & CI/CD

• ARM (AArch64), POWER (ppc64le), and x86 VMs for cross-platform testing

• High-availability mirrors reducing dependency on single-source repos

3. Supporting Next-Gen Developers

• Student workforce training in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and DevOps

• Travel funding for open-source conferences (FOSDEM, LinuxCon)

Call to Action: How Tech Leaders Can Help

Enterprise sponsors can secure:
✅ Brand visibility across millions of open-source downloads

✅ Tax-deductible contributions via Oregon State University

✅ Priority access to OSU OSL’s infrastructure and talent pipeline

Visit OSUOSL.org to pledge support before May 15, 2024.