ClearCenter

ClearCenter

Type	Private
Industry	Information Technology
Founded	2009
Founder	Michael Proper, Peter Baldwin
Headquarters	New Zealand
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Michael Proper, Peter Baldwin, David Loper, Benjamin Chambers, Devin Johnson, Darryl Sokoloski
Products	ClearOS, ClearVM, ClearCARE, ClearBOX, ClearSDN, ClearAP, Hybrid Controller
Website	https://www.clearcenter.com/

ClearCenter is headquartered in New Zealand, and has its primary product^[1] offices in Orem, Utah, along with marketing, support, research and development facilities around the world, ranging from Canada, Taiwan, China, Netherlands, UK and India helping to develop ClearCenter's Hybrid Products^[1] for an emerging type of Managed Service Provider known as the emerging Hybrid Service Provider.^[2][3]

Many of ClearCenter’s products are based upon ClearFoundation’s ClearOS (an award winning^[4][5] open source software operating system).^[6]

History

ClearCenter was founded by Michael Proper and Peter Baldwin in 2009.^[7] Before founding ClearCenter, Michael Proper founded another company in 2000 named DirectPointe which helped to create and grow the Managed Service Provider (MSP) sector and was ranked #1 in the top-100 Managed Service Providers globally in 2007 and 2008.^[8][9]

ClearCenter continued the evolution of what DirectPointe and the Managed Service Provider industry helped create by helping to guide the transformation of both on-premise and off-premise IT management and the new Hybrid Service Provider sector.

ClearCenter currently has customers in 150+ countries.^[10] ClearOS has already been deployed in over 335,000 environments in more than 155 countries.

Business Model

ClearCenter provides a disruptive Hybrid IT operating platform for small business & distributed enterprise, that is simple, secure & affordable, based upon a freemium delivery model.

Further, ClearCenter intelligently integrate software, services and hardware by combining the server, network, gateway functions into one directory along with cloud-based services and apps by leveraging open-source technologies through its web based interface named WebConfig. Presently, WebConfig integrates with CentOS (a linux distro based upon Red Hat Enterprise Linux) to form the current ClearOS, a server network and gateway for small and distributed enterprise environments.

Most of the products by ClearCenter are open source with a community version and free-to-use. The ClearCenter WebConfig and ClearSDN have fully developed APIs that are open to use for developers.^[10]

Products

ClearOS Software

ClearOS^[11] is an award winning Linux distribution,^[4][5] based upon Red Hat Enterprise Linux and CentOS.^[12] The ClearOS Community offering is licensed and managed by ClearFoundation.^[13][14] First launched in 2002 under the name of ClarkConnect,^[15] and changed to its present name in 2009 with the release of ClearOS 5.1 version on October 6, 2009. The current stable version is 7.2, and the beta version is 7.3.^[16] ClearOS is offered in two editions - Community and Professional. The Community edition is all free/open source software and free of cost. The Professional edition is a paid version which is offered with a one-time fee or monthly fee to select ClearCenter's partners.^[17]

ClearVM Virtualization

ClearCenter launched ClearVM in June, 2015. ClearVM is a cloud managed virtual machine controller based upon Red Hat’s KVM technology, and is built on Witsbits concept which was earlier acquired by ClearCenter.^[18] ClearVM's virtual infrastructure makes bare-metal servers 100% cloud managed and virtualization-ready. Partners or Users simply boot their servers after downloading a unique file. That’s it, no configuration or installation process. Servers are then cloud managed, automatically upgraded, and virtualization-ready, saving significant time, headaches and money. The ClearVM technology has been in development for 4+ years, has 38+ VM Library Templates, Deployments in 1,433+ Cities, has more than 3,715+ Admins and is currently fully patented in the United States.^[19]

ClearCARE Support

ClearCARE is the technical support center for ClearCenter which provides technical assistance for its products. The support service is provided on subscription basis in which the free-subscription users get basic support while paid users may gain access to advanced support.

ClearBOX Hardware

ClearCenter’s computer hardware server appliance lines are called ClearBOX's. The ClearBOX hybrid appliance is specifically designed for ClearOS and serves as an all-in-one IT solution.^[20] ClearCenter also manages the development and support for ClearBOX, a hybrid appliance designed for ClearOS.^[20]

ClearSDN Services

ClearSDN (Service Delivery Network) is a load balanced network that distributes critical updates and services such as intrusion detection, content filtration, anti-virus, anti-spam, dynamic DNS, remote backup, remote security auditing, reporting and security tools for compliance and management tools for administration. The product was launched in February 2010, and is managed by ClearFoundation and works with ClearOS platform.^[21]

ClearAP (new and in Regional Partner pre-release only)

ClearAP is a new type of Cloud Managed Wireless Access Point device built to work with other ClearCenter products, such as ClearVM, ClearOS and select ClearBOX lines.

Hybrid Controller (new and not externally available)

The new ClearCenter Hybrid Controller enables centralized management of both ClearVM, ClearOS, ClearBOX and new ClearAP Wireless Access Point devices to be intelligently, centrally managed regardless of being on-premise or off-premise.

Partners

Global Partners

ClearCenter has many different types of partners including:^[22]

• Registered Partners ^[23] (ClearCenter Registered Partners play a key role for ClearCenter. A Registered Partner receives discounts, marketing resources and the ability to manage client accounts via its VAR portal.)
• Recommended Partners ^[24] (ClearCenter Recommended Partners are ClearCenter solution experts with proven experience in configuring, installing and managing ClearCenter solutions and are (in some approved cases) able to deliver partner based ClearCARE Support to other ClearCenter Partner and Customers.)
• Regional Partners ^[25] (ClearCenter's Regional Partners are awarded primary status within a region to deploy ClearCenter products^[26] and enroll other partners (in the case of Value Added Distributor (VAD) Partners), deploy ClearCenter solutions and support ClearCenter customers.)
• Authorized Partners ^[27] (ClearCenter's Authorized Partners enjoy a unique opportunity to increase their brand awareness and customer retention deploying Hybrid IT.)

These ClearCenter Global Partners are a part of a community of recognized technology leaders and provide their customers with industry leading tools to deliver secure data and apps focused on an intelligent combination of server network and gateway functions. ClearCenter's Global Partners plan, deploy and manage ClearCenter solutions to increase profitability - for their business as well as their customer’s.

Along with deploying ClearCenter Products such as ClearVM, ClearOS many of ClearCenter's Partners re-sell ClearCenter's cloud-based services including remote backup, dynamic DNS, dynamic VPN and remote monitoring and management through its channel partners.^[2]

ClearFoundation

ClearFoundation, a New Zealand based organization,^[28] maintains the source code and repositories for ClearOS. ClearFoundation centers its efforts around providing a growing community with the ability to use, develop and contribute source to the ClearOS distribution. ClearFoundation has a community of over 105,000 members growing daily. Community members can earn recognition (badges) by participating in community projects, forums, and other tasks associated to ClearOS.^[29]

Acquisitions

• Point Clark Networks Limited (2009)^[30]
• Witsbits (2015)^[31]

Patents

• United States of America Patent: Methods, devices, and systems for establishing, setting-up, and maintaining a virtual computer infrastructure US20120297179 A1 ^[32] Patent Overview: A system and method of operating an electronic device may include loading an operating system, from a boot key, on the electronic device during turn-on of the electronic device. The operating system may be operated on the electronic device. The boot key may cause the electronic device to automatically communicate with a web-service located on a communications network to enable executable instructions from the web-service to be communicated to the electronic device for execution thereon.

References