ClearFoundation

A couple years ago we were trying to decide the organizational structures of ClearCenter and ClearFoundation. We knew that we had a business to run but we also knew that the open source components that made Clarkconnect unique needed greater community incubation. This is the reason for placing ClearOS Enterprise into ClearFoundation and ClearSDN with ClearCenter. We knew it would be trivial to create ClearCenter but ClearFoundation was a bit different. Let me explain.

Michael Proper introduced me to Clarkconnect when I was working at his Managed Service Provider company. He was doing due diligence to try to find a low cost office solution for small businesses. In the course of his search he discovered Clarkconnect and introduced it to me. I had the same reaction that nearly every Linux admin has, "Well, it's great and all but I can set all that up too." Michael's response to me changed my view and opened my eyes. He said something to the effect of "Yeah, but can you create this same configuration a hundred times, all the same, and then support them?" It was this scalability and the 'set it and forget it' aspect that won me over.

Next door to this company was a little outfit engaged in a lawsuit with IBM by the name of SCO. As our involvement with the Clarkconnect team grew tighter and tighter, we realized that to protect something that is fundamentally protected by copyright alone (as it should be) we needed to keep it safe and untainted. In our search we considered some great places like Canada,  Australia, Switzerland, Singapore and even the Principality of Hutt River. In the end we decided on New Zealand. Over and over this island nation has proven a rational understanding of innovation in software as something that can and should be copyrighted but not patented. Additionally, it grants freedoms to businesses better than nearly any other nation. So, we give a shout out today and cheer to New Zealand. Let those that would seek to implement software patents there join the ranks of those that have decided to back down. Long live New Zealand, home of ClearFoundation! Hip Hip Huzzah! And thank you NZOSS and NZCS for all your hard work.

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If you are confused, it is my fault. I take the blame and I'm sorry. The recent releases of ClearOS Core is causing some confusion and I know why. If you have read every post on all the forums then it is easy to see what is going on but a cursory glance will lead to confusion so I will attempt to spell it out simply. ClearFoundation is releasing a completely different distro (ClearOS Core) and to make matters worse, we are calling nearly the same name as another existing product (ClearOS Enterprise). This was done for strategic, long term consistency between multiple product lines and makes way for yet another goal, ClearOS Home.

If you are used to using ClearOS Enterprise and you remember the days of Clarkconnect then by now you know that sometimes we mix things up and it can cause to some confusion. For example, ClearOS Enterprise used to be paid and now it is free like Clarkconnect Community Edition, which was free but now no longer exists, much like Clarkconnect SOHO or GS (which you probably never heard of). Back then the question was, "Wait, why are you getting rid of the Community Edition, man!" The answer was "Well Enterprise is now free!". To which the reply was, "But I like the Community Edition." ... good times.

For existing users familiar to the interface, ClearOS Enterprise is the only thing you need to concern yourself with. ClearOS Enterprise is a continuation of what most people consider 'ClearOS'. So if you are looking for a server, network and gateway platform that is managed through a web-based interface, ClearOS Enterprise is the tool for you. The alpha release of ClearOS Enterprise should be available as a VM shortly.

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