Let's take a look at the five I believe to be the best platforms to meet your small to mid-size business needs. The only requirements for this are that the operating system must be open source and Linux.

While there is a business case for cloud-based services, there are also cases where a local server is either a requirement or the best solution - including being part of a hybrid cloud design. 

“It's small, but HPE's ProLiant MicroServer Gen10 stands head and shoulders above.” An IT Pro article features a five-star review of the Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) MicroServer Gen10 that ships preloaded with ClearOS by ClearCenter. Noted in the piece is the ClearOS user interface which, “offers a slick browser-based management console which we found easy to use -- you can load apps for gateway, DNS, Active Directory plus firewall services and add others to provide antivirus, web content filtering and much more.”

If you're looking to add a small business server to your network, Jack Wallen believes ClearOS could make a big impact, so long as you don't expect too much.

Ranked Second ... "Because of its tight focus, ClearOS is actually easier to use than most server operating systems. That web interface makes installing this operating system's various components a breeze, so you'll be able to quickly get your business protected with a firewall, manage an email server, install a file server or more – all safe in the knowledge that each of these components will (most likely) work perfectly together"...

If your small business or non-profit is looking for an inexpensive way to replace Windows Small Business Server, Jack Wallen says ClearOS should be your first choice. Find out what he likes so much about this open source, do-it-all server OS.

ClearOS, which used to be called ClarkConnect, is an integrated network, gateway, and server platform that bundles a wealth of useful features behind a well-organized browser-based administration interface. You get Web, print, messaging and file servers; networking and Internet gateway; VPN; sophisticated user- and resource-management; network charting; databases; and much more.