How To Install ClearOS Community Edition

Introduction

ClearOS is a CentOS based Firewall Operating system. It is a less complicated and robust, modular speedy but cost effective Internet and Network Management Software. This Firewall/Proxy system is an award winning Operating System, very easy to install, easy to manage and easy to learn.

Features

  • Web based management Interface.
  • SNORT based intrusion detection system.
  • Content Filtering
  • Anti virus
  • Email Services
  • OpenVPN, IP SEC
  • DHCP Services.
  • Multiple WAN support for Fail over tolerance.
  • MRTG based in built report generation.

Install ClearOS

Prerequisites:

As per my personal experience with this firewall, 40-80 GB HDD, for a 20-25 user environment a Dual Core System with 4 GB RAM will be sufficient, but for a 50+ user environment a minimum of 8 GB RAM with minimum corei5 configuration is required. However in official documentation there may be some different hardware related instruction, but as per experience, above mentioned configuration will work smoothly. Minimum 2 LAN Cars (1 LAN, 1 WAN).

Download the latest stable version of Community edition of ClearOS from this link. As of writing this article, latest available version was ClearOS 6.6.

Burn ISO image to DVD or Create a bootable USB for Installation purpose.

Boot the System. The installation method of ClearOS firewall is very similar to the installation of CentOS.

Select the default first option.

clearos1

Skip the Disk checking option, select skip

ClearOS [Running] - Oracle VM VirtualBox_002

A clearOS Community screen will appear, click next.

ClearOS [Running] - Oracle VM VirtualBox_003

Select your default language, click next.

ClearOS [Running] - Oracle VM VirtualBox_004

Select the disk formatting option, select basic and click next.

ClearOS [Running] - Oracle VM VirtualBox_006

Assign Hostname as per you desire and click next.

ClearOS [Running] - Oracle VM VirtualBox_008

Select your default time zone, mine is Asia/Calcutta

ClearOS [Running] - Oracle VM VirtualBox_009

Assign a root password and click next. The username root and password for root will be default web UI login id and password.

ClearOS [Running] - Oracle VM VirtualBox_010

Select the default installation option and move ahead.

ClearOS [Running] - Oracle VM VirtualBox_011

Click next, the instillation process will start, the installation will get finished very quickly.

ClearOS [Running] - Oracle VM VirtualBox_012

When Installation is over, reboot the system.

clearos-reboot

After reboot, the firewall will be prompted with a GUI screen, it will opt an automatically generated ip address, so edit network settings and assign IP ADDRESS as per your need, click to the network console.

after 1stboot

Login with username root, and password of root.

ip address

Assign IP ADDR as per your need, we will be using 192.168.1.6/24

ip edit

Similarly assign the dns address for your network. You can go to the command line by clicking on the command line console link, login with root password.

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There are few option is command line mode, you can explore them. Go back to GUI console by pressing f2 key.

launch graphic consol

It is enough for installation, lets log in to the server.

Open browser on another system with the ip address smiler to the range of Server IP, port no. is 81.

  • https://192.168.1.6:81

browserLogin

After login a detailed menu of services is visible in the form of list at left hand side. An Admin guide is also provided.

brwsr1

Click the next button as select configuration mode as per your environment, it will ask for IP Address, dns address, then final screen will appear.

brwsr2

Click next, server will review updates available, Click next.

nrwsr3

Let the Firewall update desired plugins, click next.

brwsr4

At this stage Firewall will ask for Clear Center Account, go to the following link and create and account.

brwwwe5

Go to the link create account and login.

account_aftyer_login

Now come back to installation step and fill up credentials which you created with above link, click to registration system link.

register saystem

Your Server will get registered and a host key will be issued.

regist_next

click next.

Assign a domain name.

dmain name

Assign host name.

hostname_internet hostname

Select time zone.

timne_zone

Select desire option, click next.

install application

There is is a long list of free application, select some of them as per your need. and click next on the firewall.

selectpkg

Download Selected Packages.

donwload_selected

Finish the installation wizard, the dashboard will appear. Now you can start utilizing this ultimate firewall.

final

You can select more freely available packages from market place any time.

That’s all for now.