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Best free current alternatives to ClearOS?
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pfsense.
Thowen
n00b
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OPNsense is another candidate if the job is mainly firewall/routing on a spare PC. Its upstream feature overview describes a FreeBSD-based firewall and routing platform. I would separate that requirement from replacing an entire ClearOS-style server: a gateway replacement is not automatically a replacement for any file sharing, mail or directory services you used on the same box.
Which ClearOS features do you actually need, and what CPU, RAM and network adapters are in the old PC? The intended WAN speed also matters; enabling VPN or intrusion-prevention features can change the hardware requirement substantially. Check adapter support against the candidate's hardware documentation before committing to an install.
For a trial, use a separate test network and keep your existing gateway/configuration available for rollback, rather than immediately replacing the only working router. That should let you compare the management interface and the specific features you need without making the whole network depend on an untested setup.
Disclosure: AI-assisted reply from a contributor working with CounterStrikeGO; not a claim that I have tested either system on your hardware.
Which ClearOS features do you actually need, and what CPU, RAM and network adapters are in the old PC? The intended WAN speed also matters; enabling VPN or intrusion-prevention features can change the hardware requirement substantially. Check adapter support against the candidate's hardware documentation before committing to an install.
For a trial, use a separate test network and keep your existing gateway/configuration available for rollback, rather than immediately replacing the only working router. That should let you compare the management interface and the specific features you need without making the whole network depend on an untested setup.
Disclosure: AI-assisted reply from a contributor working with CounterStrikeGO; not a claim that I have tested either system on your hardware.
I went OPNSense and have enjoyed it. I use a separate box for TrueNAS/storage hosting. I would suggest not trying to do everything on one machine unless necessary
There seems to be a lot of smoke around pfSense currently, so I am glad i didn't go with it. Granted I don't use it so I am not in embedded in the discussions, but my understanding is they got rid of the free Community Edition, so everyone will use the same PFSense and the Plus features will be free, but there could be some features, or levels of the features that wont be available. Also, something like everything after the next update will require you to pay in order to upgrade.
There seems to be a lot of smoke around pfSense currently, so I am glad i didn't go with it. Granted I don't use it so I am not in embedded in the discussions, but my understanding is they got rid of the free Community Edition, so everyone will use the same PFSense and the Plus features will be free, but there could be some features, or levels of the features that wont be available. Also, something like everything after the next update will require you to pay in order to upgrade.
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OpenWRT works as well.
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https://archive.org/details/ClearOS-ClarkConnect
Lots / maybe all? Of them there
This makes me want to try m0n0wall lol
Are you trying to hint at something...?
I usually websearch also related to post topics, but I also find discussion to be a good thing in more than one way, gets me thinking and new ideas result...Mainly would like to set up a good hardware firewall equivalent for cheap/free.
My interest in ClearOS, besides being free, is that it seemed scalable and streamlined to be easy to set up that way (with some custom flexibility for future options) and to be self updating.
I'm wondering if those others mentioned in this thread are very similar to that.
Thank you! This will be great to play with on older hardware.https://archive.org/details/ClearOS-ClarkConnect
Lots / maybe all? Of them there
This makes me want to try m0n0wall lol
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Ai much....
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I've been using pfsense for like 20 years and not had issues, the drama is silly old crap.
BUT, pfsense did do a blog post about merging into a single code base it seems, with all features in + also being in "CE", but CE would have limits and potentially the changed would remove things like pfblockerNG from even working anymore, so we will see. If they go this route, it may be time for me to go over to OPNSense..
There was a disclosure...
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pfSense used to have the CE version that was kept up to date without the enterprise support. Now the CE version is far behind & has a lot removed.
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CE version still has what 99% of CE users need, as well it is patched and kept updated on security issues. If you need those advance features, spend $125 a year and get +...
What I do wish, is for a paid version, maybe like $40-$50 with no support with it...
The drama i was talking about was that CE is being removed and there will only be + going forward. https://www.netgate.com/blog/pfsense-at-20
Thanks for clarifying.
What I'm reading is that it (being that CE has merged with Plus) _and_ updates are still free and that ONLY manual install of major upgrades is required without a subscription. So I'm still a bit confused.
I did not read this. Is it know that is going to happen despite what they said (or didn't say) in that link?
Wonder why you'd assume I hadn't web searched also?? - The way I worded it?
This is what comes up:
pfSense and OPNsense are widely considered the top free alternatives to ClearOS, offering robust open-source firewall and router capabilities with unified threat management.
Other notable free and open-source alternatives include:
- Zentyal: Provides an integrated Linux server platform for small-to-medium businesses, featuring directory, mail, and gateway services similar to ClearOS.
- NethServer: Designed for small offices, this Linux-based OS offers modularity, ease of use, and comprehensive features for server management.
- IPFire: A secure, Linux-based firewall distribution focused on ease of setup, high security, and flexible customization.
- Untangle: Similar to ClearOS in functionality, it provides free basic network routing with optional paid apps for additional features, though some features require subscriptions.
- OpenMediaVault: Primarily a Network Attached Storage (NAS) solution, it is often cited as a top free alternative for users focused on file sharing and storage services.
- VyOS: A lightweight, fast, and stable network firewall solution based on Linux, often recommended for its small footprint and stability.
But I find hearing from actual experience, and discussion importantly helpful.
I see, that is disappointing. So you've found OPNense to be equivalent enough for ?
Yes. You put low effort to your opening post. Even your post here, you produced one sentence with a question, everything else is a copy paste?
You should have asked in your opening post about folks' experiences with aforementioned alternative systems, explaining what are you goals - what you use it for, and what are you trying to replace.
But low effort question equals low effort reply, so don't be surprised.
pioruns,
Thanks for explaining. I see what you mean about how it can appear that way, and am familiar with that some from the other side.
I have specific pretty intense difficulty with concentrating and putting things/concepts into typed words, even if I may have much more thought or awareness about them (but not necessarily knowledge)... So active conversation is something that can make it much easier to concentrate on and do. Sometimes the choice is between starting small or not being able to at all. Sorry if that is or seems lame or gives the wrong impression.
I notice I'm also (too) used to people (offline espeically) who react badly if what I say isn't *simple enough*... rather than those who have the capacity to comprehand more lengthy or complex things (so it can give a sense like "damned if I do, damned if I don't"...).
Sometimes a more simple open-eneded question can result in giving other people the opportunity to talk more about what they know or are wondering about related to something (from an energy of their own interest) and I end up learning more about it, with helpful unexpected connected concepts, in more ways than I knew to ask. Sometimes that is wanted. It may not always be for the worst reasons.
Thanks for explaining. I see what you mean about how it can appear that way, and am familiar with that some from the other side.
I have specific pretty intense difficulty with concentrating and putting things/concepts into typed words, even if I may have much more thought or awareness about them (but not necessarily knowledge)... So active conversation is something that can make it much easier to concentrate on and do. Sometimes the choice is between starting small or not being able to at all. Sorry if that is or seems lame or gives the wrong impression.
I notice I'm also (too) used to people (offline espeically) who react badly if what I say isn't *simple enough*... rather than those who have the capacity to comprehand more lengthy or complex things (so it can give a sense like "damned if I do, damned if I don't"...).
Sometimes a more simple open-eneded question can result in giving other people the opportunity to talk more about what they know or are wondering about related to something (from an energy of their own interest) and I end up learning more about it, with helpful unexpected connected concepts, in more ways than I knew to ask. Sometimes that is wanted. It may not always be for the worst reasons.
Have you tried dictating instead of typing? Friends of mine with dyslexia much prefer speaking into their phones, it makes conversation far easier for them. One friend even created a voice recognition program for himself, on a PC, to dictate into mic and get text version, with errors, grammar and punctuations fixed on the fly by local LLM.
Anyone remember when Dragon Dictate was all the rage back in the day?
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"Dragon Naturally Speaking" - I remember by uncle buying this back in the Pentium III days, and him spending an entire weekend reading over scripts to try and get it to recognize his voice...
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yup. when my little bro was sick(late 90s) he had a copy to try to use his computer from his bed, he gave up because of the training and just used the m/kb on his lap.