On 6/2/11 7:03 PM, Rob Kampen wrote:
Ian Murray wrote:
This week's FLOSS Weekly interview is about ClearOS (audio/video at http://twit.tv/floss168). Apparently they have taken the CentOS developer's frequently given advice to go away and do it yourself and will have a 'ClearOS core' release that is their own rebuild from Red Hat sources that will be the base for the ClearOS enterprise distribution instead of relying on CentOS as they have before.
Thanks for the link. It makes interesting listening because there are claims that they tried to engage with the CentOS devs to offer support and resourcing, but that relationship was not forthcoming... so they intend to build (as I see it) a direct competitor distribution (i.e. "binary compatible"). Also interestingly, apparently they have recruited help from the SME/Contribs people, so I don't know if that means SME will die because it had precious little resources to start with (and now those resources work for the competition) or SME will still carry on and be rebased on Clear Core. Also stated in the audio is that this was all a direct response to the uncertainties around CentOS.
So, it is interesting to see how this is all going to pan out.
My look at the website shows only i386 versions - this is a long way away from a replacement or alternative to CentOS.
None of the 6.x based stuff is visible yet. ClearOS was more of a "modern" SME server replacement (where the services a home/small business needs come up working and are managed with a simple web interface), but all their planned updates were on hold waiting for a 6.x base distro. They will call this part ClearOS core, but I guess we'll have to wait to see how well they do at strict upstream compatibility on that part.
Worth watching as they do have some very positive indications of supporting and assisting the little guys (small business and home users) - they also have their foundation registered in New Zealand rather than the USA as the Kiwis have a more enlightened view on software patents and protections - particularly in regards to FOSS. (My totally unbiased view of course as a Kiwi ;-) ).
It will be at least interesting to see how it works out having something resembling a commercially-oriented company behind it.