Small business owners often have a difficult time making IT decisions. Often it is hard for them to see the value in networking equipment, and try to cut as many IT costs as possible. Trying to get a business owner to spend the appropriate amount of money for technology solutions can be akin to pulling teeth. While most PC and laptops ship with an operating system, that isn't always the case for a server. After getting approval from a customer for a server, it might be a hard sell to also approve the operating system and associated applications necessary to run the business' network.
HPE, ClearCenter Respond
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is attempting to eliminate that guesswork for partners and customers by inking an exclusive partnership with ClearCenter to offer ClearOS on HPE ProLiant servers.
ClearOS is a Linux-based operating system with a simple web-based user interface and a built-in application marketplace that will be ready to use right out of the box on the new HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen10, as well as ML110, ML30 and DL20.
ClearOS can also be downloaded today on HPE.com or the HPE partner site at ClearCenter.com. ClearOS will also be available for download and installation via Intelligent Provisioning for all HPE ProLiant 10, 100 and 300 series rack and tower servers.
In addition, HPE has announced new servers for SMB customers, including the new ProLiant MicroServer mentioned above, as part of its Gen 10 portfolio. Designed specifically for Small Office/Home Office (SOHO), the ProLiant MicroServer Gen 10 has many upgrades to previous models including:
- AMD graphics embedded in the chip, enabling high-resolution applications like media streaming.
- Dual DisplayPort connectors, equipping two monitors with 4K experience.
- Optional GPU support on a PCIe slot, which allows users to connect a total of five monitors to the MicroServer or a five screen extended display.
Finally, HPE will also release Gen9 servers, the ProLiant ML30 and ProLiant DL20, with new Kaby Lake processors from Intel.
What is ClearOS?
Custom built to solve the IT needs of small and medium businesses ClearOS can assist in consolidating server, gateway and networking functionality, making IT deployments for SMBs simple, secure and economical, HPE states. The company claims that HPE ProLiant with ClearOS makes IT simple, secure and affordable for the SMB.
ClearOS has a plethora of free and fee-based applications and services that are organized into 6 categories: Cloud, Gateway, Server, Networking, System and Reports. Some of the more popular applications that are ready to be installed right away are networking and gateway applications like firewalls and content filters or server applications such as mail, file and printing services, or media. There are currently over 100+ applications and services available with more added all the time. The business will not need to pay for services it won't use like in other operating systems that come preloaded with many features in an all or nothing scenario.
The HPE-ClearCenter relationship was more than a year in the making, we suspect. ChannelE2E Content Czar Joe Panettieri may share more details soon...
