Linus Torvalds has merged the data replication solution Distributed Replicated Block Device (DRBD) into Linux as a fully-supported component. After exactly 10 years of ongoing development work-Phil Reisner wrote the first line of code on December 8, 1999- Torvalds' acknowledgement means DRBD has become a fixture on the storage market.

Reisner first published DRBD as part of his master's thesis. Originally intended as a means of storing e-mail messages in a redundant fashion, Reisner realised the full potential of the newly developed solution. In November 2001, he co-founded LINBIT, a Vienna-based enterprise focussed on advancing the development of DRBD and Linux high-availability. Linux 2.6.33, of which DRBD will be an integral part, is currently expected in February 2010.