ClearOS
ClearOS (also known as the ClearOS System, formerly ClarkConnect[4]) is a Linux distribution by ClearFoundation, with network gateway, file, print, mail, and messaging services.
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| Developer | ClearCenter | 
|---|---|
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like) | 
| Working state | Current | 
| Source model | Open source[1] | 
| Initial release | 2001[2] | 
| Latest release | 7.8[3] / 23 June 2020 | 
| Kernel type | Monolithic kernel (Linux) | 
| Default user interface  | Web user interface | 
| License | GPL, and others | 
| Official website | clearos | 
History
    
ClearOS is based on CentOS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux,[5] designed for use in small and medium enterprises as a network gateway and network server with a web-based administration interface.[6] It is positioned as an alternative to Windows Small Business Server.[7] ClearOS is the successor to ClarkConnect. The software is built by ClearFoundation, and support services can be purchased from ClearCenter.[8] ClearOS 5.1 removes previous limitations to mail, DMZ, and MultiWAN functions.[9]
As of the ClearOS 6.1 release, the distribution is a full-featured operating system for gateway, network and servers built from source packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux.[10][11][12]
ClearOS aims to replace, as a small business server, Windows SBS.[13]
Features
    
Features include:[13]
- Stateful firewall (iptables), networking and security
 - Intrusion detection and prevention system (SNORT)
 - Virtual private networking (IPsec, PPTP, OpenVPN)
 - Web proxy, with content filtering and antivirus (Squid, DansGuardian)
 - E-mail services (Webmail, Postfix, SMTP, POP3/s, IMAP/s)
 - Groupware (Kolab)
 - Database and web server (easy to deploy LAMP stack)
 - File and print services (Samba and CUPS)
 - Flexshares (unified multi-protocol storage which currently employs SMB, HTTP/S, FTP/S, and SMTP)
 - MultiWAN (Internet fault tolerant design)
 - Built-in reports for system statistics and services (MRTG and others)
 
Awards and recognition
    
- August 2009: CompTIA Breakaway — ClearCenter's ClearOS wins 'Best New Product' at CompTIA Breakaway.[14]
 - August 2010: CompTIA Breakaway — ClearCenter's ClearOS repeats win for 'Best New Product' at CompTIA Breakaway.[15]
 - July 2012: Softpedia — An Open Source, free and powerful network and gateway Linux server operating system[16]
 - February 2014: IDG Security Firewall Distributions Review[17]
 - June 2015: Small Business Computing — The 5 Best Linux Servers for Small Business[18]
 - September 2015: LinuxVoice Service Distro — Group Test (see pages 58-63)[19]
 
See also
    
- Windows SBS
 - ClarkConnect
 - SmoothWall
 - m0n0wall
 - SME Server
 - Zentyal
 - ClearFoundation
 
References
    
- "ClearFoundation SVN". Archived from the original on 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
 - clarkconnect.org recycle a tired old computer into an Internet gateway
 - Tyler Randolph. "ClearOS Server 7.8 Community Edition Released".
 - A Linux server OS that's fiddly but tweakable • The Register
 - "DistroWatch: ClearOS".
 - "ClarkConnect Is Now ClearOS".
 - "Linux answer to Windows SBS: ClearOS". Archived from the original on 2009-12-07. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
 - "Overview". ClearCenter. Archived from the original on 2009-08-08. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
 - "Dual WAN Clarkconnect Community". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
 - "DistroWatch: Development Release - ClearOS 6.1 Alpha 1".
 - "ClearFoundation: ClearOS Core 6.1 Alpha1". 6 June 2011.
 - Linux Small Business Server Distros » Linux Magazine
 - The Small Business Server Replacement is Clear(OS) | Linux Magazine[usurped]
 - "Breakaway 2009 Best New Product Winner - ClearCenter".
 - "Best of Breakaway 2010 Awards".
 - "An Open Source, free and powerful network and gateway Linux server operating system". 5 May 2019.
 - Mills, Ashton. "Security firewall distributions". IDG (CSO Online). Archived from the original on 2014-08-03. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
 - Schroder, Carla (June 22, 2015). "The 5 Best Linux Servers for Small Business".
 - "Server Distros Group Test" (PDF). LinuxVoice Magazine. LinuxVoice. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-22.
 
External links
    
- Official website
 - ClearOS at DistroWatch
 - Clark Connect at DistroWatch
 - clarkconnect.com
 - clarkconnect.org recycle a tired old computer into an Internet gateway
 - PointClark Networks
 - ClarkConnect becomes ClearOS
 - ClearFoundation
 - ClearCenter
 
