Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 15, 2026

ClearOS

ClearOS was a Linux distribution by ClearFoundation, with network gateway, file, print, mail, and messaging services.

Last revised
Jun 15, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
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614 w
Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
ClearCenter
DeveloperClearCenter
OS familyLinux (Unix-like)
Working statestale
Source modelOpen source1
Initial release2001 (2001)2
Latest release7.83 / 23 June 2020 (23 June 2020)
Kernel typeMonolithic kernel (Linux)
Default
user interface		Web user interface
LicenseGPL, and others
Official websiteclearos.com

ClearOS (also known as the ClearOS System, formerly ClarkConnect4) was a Linux distribution by ClearFoundation, with network gateway, file, print, mail, and messaging services.

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.101112

ClearOS aimed to replace, as a small business server, Windows SBS.13

The last release of ClearOS was in 2020, and with no updates since then, the project appears to be discontinued.14

You can still download the distribution from their site and the version is listed as ClearOS-7.9.1.342252. But that release is from October 13, 2021 and is not maintained anymore.

Features

Features include:13

Awards and recognition

  • August 2009: CompTIA Breakaway — ClearCenter's ClearOS wins 'Best New Product' at CompTIA Breakaway.15
  • August 2010: CompTIA Breakaway — ClearCenter's ClearOS repeats win for 'Best New Product' at CompTIA Breakaway.16
  • July 2012: Softpedia — An Open Source, free and powerful network and gateway Linux server operating system17
  • February 2014: IDG Security Firewall Distributions Review18
  • June 2015: Small Business Computing — The 5 Best Linux Servers for Small Business19
  • September 2015: LinuxVoice Service Distro — Group Test (see pages 58-63)20
See also

See also

References

References

  1. "ClearFoundation SVN". Archived from the original on 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  2. clarkconnect.org recycle a tired old computer into an Internet gateway
  3. Tyler Randolph. "ClearOS Server 7.8 Community Edition Released".
  4. A Linux server OS that's fiddly but tweakable • The Register
  5. "DistroWatch: ClearOS".
  6. "ClarkConnect Is Now ClearOS".
  7. "Linux answer to Windows SBS: ClearOS". Archived from the original on 2009-12-07. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
  8. "Overview". ClearCenter. Archived from the original on 2009-08-08. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  9. "Dual WAN Clarkconnect Community". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  10. "DistroWatch: Development Release - ClearOS 6.1 Alpha 1".
  11. "ClearFoundation: ClearOS Core 6.1 Alpha1". 6 June 2011.
  12. Linux Small Business Server Distros » Linux Magazine
  13. The Small Business Server Replacement is Clear(OS) | Linux Magazine
  14. "Zentyal - DistroWiz". 8 August 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  15. "Breakaway 2009 Best New Product Winner - ClearCenter".
  16. "Best of Breakaway 2010 Awards".
  17. "An Open Source, free and powerful network and gateway Linux server operating system". 5 May 2019.
  18. Mills, Ashton. "Security firewall distributions". IDG (CSO Online). Archived from the original on 2014-08-03. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  19. Schroder, Carla (June 22, 2015). "The 5 Best Linux Servers for Small Business".
  20. "Server Distros Group Test" (PDF). LinuxVoice Magazine. LinuxVoice. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-22.
External links