Zentyal Vs Clear OS – Which is the better Linux server

Zentyal and ClearOS come up very high in the list of recommended and widely used Linux servers, but which one is tailor suited to your needs?

Linux servers are very popular for small to medium size businesses that are looking for cost effective efficiency and Zentyal and ClearOS are two of the leading solutions for such companies. They both offer great system functionality as well as reliable firewall services, giving them the power to make the IT aspect of the business more efficient, secure and reliable. They both use intuitive Graphical User Interfaces, which makes them visually appealing and relatively easy to use as well as being very compatible to Linux devices and a wide range of others, making them a preferred choice in the market today. However, you cannot have them both, and are forced to make a choice between the two as to which one will suit your Linux server needs.

What are the differences between Zentyal and Clear OS?

Feature	Zentyal	Clear OS
Operating system	Linux (Ubuntu)	Linux (CentOS)
Pricing	Has a free and a paid version	Has free and paid packages
User interface	Graphic User Interface	Graphic User Interface
System speed	Moderate	Fast (Roughly 1.3MB faster than Zentyal)
Additional features and applications	Wide range	Limited
	Download here	Download here

Zentyal Vs Clear OS- How do they compare?

• Ease of use

Like with any software, getting the most out of it is dependent on the capacity of the user to be thorough and access all parts of it. This the most common point of trouble when it comes to Linux based servers, their difficulty to use. Although Linux developers have put a lot of effort into making their software more user-friendly, they often require a moderately experienced IT person or one who has used Linux before to install, run and use.

Although this is the case for both Zentyal and ClearOS, the latter is far easier to install and navigate, with its GUI being more intuitive.

• Costing

Zentyal and ClearOS both have free and paid versions, but in different capacities. ClearOS has 3 different versions; a community version, which is free, a home and a business version. As their names imply, the community version is open source and designed for web developers, the home version has additional features and applications making it ideal for home or small office use, while the business version has the widest range of features and applications and is designed for business use. They offer a 30 day free trial for the business version.On the other hand, Zentyal has only two packages, Zentyal Cloud and Server. Both are paid although Zentyal server has a development version that is free and licensed under a general public licence, making its use more flexible. Additionally, all paid versions have a 45 day free trial period which is a large advantage in testing the server with your devices and current computer system.

Although they have very similar pricing models, Zentyal is preferable because it gives the user a long free trial period to decide which package they would want.

Zentyal Vs Clear OS- A comparison review

Zentyal

Previously e-box platform, Zentyal is easily one of the most preferred Linux server solutions today. It can be used to implement standard components (open source) such as Samba, Postfix and Dovecot besides Microsoft server protocols. It also supports protocols for certain groupware such as POP, SMTP, CardDAV, ActiveSync, Active Directory and IMAP. Its versatility of features and applications make it an extremely reliable network solution for consideration to run a wide range of networks, from the most complex to the basic. It is able to do this easily and very professionally while incorporating additional tools like Squid.

Pros

• It has a lot of additional features
• It has a quick installation process

Cons

• It may be challenging to navigate for a new user

Clear OS

ClearOS is an affordable and simple Operating System that has a very intuitive GUI that is web-based. It has a wide application market that offers over 100 applications for the user to choose from, with the developers putting in effort to regularly update and expand that list of applications. One of the most advantageous aspects of ClearOS as a Linux server is that it is an open-source software, which can be leveraged to allow the user to asses and determine which applications work for them, and pay only for the ones they want to have. It also has templates and functions for private, gateway and public servers, which allows the user to deploy tasks and other activities faster than if they were to set up their server from scratch.

Pros

• It is extremely intuitive and easy to install and use
• It is very stable and efficient

Cons

• It is very confusing to manually install applications

Conclusion

There a lot of factors to consider when comparing these two system servers. To put it simply if you want an options that has all the additional features and trimmings associated with a Linux server, Zentyal is the option for you. Alternatively, if you favour a solid, tested and strategic option then ClearOS is definitely the one.

Verdict- So which is better, Zentyal or Clear OS?

Being a practical person, I would definitely go for ClearOS for its reliability and ease of use together with its continuous developments.

FAQs

How much does Clear OS cost?

Clear OS has two paid versions and a free version which are suited for different kinds of users and in different network systems.

• The free community 6 and 7 – This version is free. As a matter of fact, 7 is an upgrade of 6. It is specially designed to be a framework for web developers, who use open web sources to build and test new codes on.
• Home 7- This version is end to end production ready and comes with quite a number of value added services, unavailable on the free community version including updated pattern files and remote cloud services.
• Business 7- Similar to the Home 7 version with the exception of a higher scaling to suit a bigger number of users for a business set up as well as added business and networking features

Is Zentyal free?

Zentyal is a Linux server that can be obtained in two different packages, Zentyal cloud which is primarily to host providers and Zentyal server, which is for SMB. Both packages are paid, although there is a development version for Zentyal Server whose source code is under the General Public Licence (GNU) and is free to download directly from the internet.

The paid versions have a 45 day free trial which is great because it allows you to freely familiarize yourself with the server and seek clarifications where needed, as you asses the suitability of the software to your personal, home or organisational needs and requirements.