Clear Linux OS

For the Redhat-derived Linux distribution, see ClearOS.

Clear Linux OS is a Linux distribution, developed and maintained on Intel's 01.org open-source platform, and optimized for Intel's microprocessors with an emphasis on performance and security.^[13][14] Its optimizations are also effective on AMD systems.^[15] Clear Linux OS follows a rolling release model. Clear Linux OS is not intended to be a general-purpose Linux distribution; it is designed to be used by IT professionals for DevOps, AI application development, cloud computing, and containers.^[16]

Clear Linux OS

GNOME Desktop
Developer	Intel
OS family	Linux (Unix-like)
Working state	Current
Source model	Open source
Initial release	6 February 2015; 10 years ago (2015-02-06)[1][2][3]
Marketing target	DevOps, AI, Cloud, Container[4]
Available in	English, Spanish, Chinese
Update method	Rolling release,[1] auto-updating[5] [6][4][7]
Package manager	swupd
Platforms	x86-64
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel (Linux)
Default user interface	Enabled: GNOME[4] with GDM Optional: Xfce,[8][9][10] KDE Plasma[11]
License	Multiple[12]
Official website	clearlinux.org

History

In 2015, Intel introduced Clear Linux OS at OpenStack Summit 2015, Vancouver^[17] initially, it was limited to cloud usage.^[18][19] Intel began the Clear Containers project to address container security.^[20][21][22] In 2015, originally, Clear Linux OS was deployed as a single monolithic unit.^[23] In May 2019, Clear Linux OS released a new Desktop Installer and started a Help Forum.^[24][25]

Clear Linux OS is available via Microsoft Azure marketplace,^[26][27] and Amazon Web Services marketplace.^[28]

Requirements

Clear Linux OS supports 2nd generation Intel Core (Sandy Bridge) CPUs and later, Xeon E3 and later, and Silvermont-based Intel Atom C2000 and E3800 processors.^[29][30][26] An installed system is booted via the EFI boot loader or via systemd-boot.^[25] Minimum system requirements are SSE4 and CLMUL (carry-less multiplication), as well as UEFI.^[25]

Features

Clear Linux OS uses reference stacks to install images that are optimized and tested together for specific use-cases.^[31] It also utilizes a strict separation between User data and System config files, called stateless, so that even a misconfigured system will still boot correctly and then perform a factory reset so it can be reconfigured.

Desktop

By default, Clear Linux OS ships with the GNOME desktop environment^[4] and most graphical effects are disabled. KDE Plasma and Xfce are also available for installation.

Package management

Packages are usually installed and updated through bundles with the help of swupd,^[32] which is described as an OS-level software update program, using delta updates to minimize update size. Flatpak is also preinstalled and can be used to install and use packages.

Mixer is the tool for creating 3rd-party-bundles, which can then be installed using swupd.^[33]

Competitors

For containers:

• Fedora CoreOS
• RancherOS
• Snappy Ubuntu Core
• VMware Project Photon OS [de]
• SmartOS
• ResinOS
• openSUSE MicroOS
• Bare Metal Container^[34]

Name

Clear Linux was referred to in early documentation as Clear Linux™ OS, later as Clear Linux* OS with a corresponding footnote acknowledging that the rights to "Linux" may be possessed by others.^[2][3] Clear Linux OS has been referred to, in the literature, as Clear Linux™ OS, Clear Linux* OS, Clear Linux OS, Clear Linux*, Clear Linux.^[35]