Release of OS with advanced IoT capabilities and expanded hardware support

SECO has released Clea OS, an embedded Linux framework, as a new member of the Clea software stack. Clea OS marks a notable step towards the development of integrated IoT solutions, empowering developers and organisations to build and deploy innovative IoT infrastructure more efficiently and effectively.

The solution is an industrial-grade embedded Linux operating system designed to simplify the development and maintenance of electronic products that demand high reliability and security. Seamlessly integrated with its cloud components, Clea OS simplifies and integrates development and deployment process management, device monitoring, and remote access, allowing designers to focus on accelerating product development.

The OS is compatible with almost the entire SECO edge product catalogue and supports x86 and Arm processors. It delivers a robust networking and provisioning framework, prioritises long-term operational reliability, and enables a streamlined developer workflow. Having been a core component of the Clea software suite for years, it is now available as a standalone operating system. This release lets a broader audience benefit from and contribute to the advancements in running containers on connected devices.

Clea OS is meticulously designed to optimise DevOps for industrial embedded systems. It offers two distinct versions:

Minimal version: Includes only the essential services required for secure updates and reliable Docker operation on embedded devices.

Full version: Pre-configured with all the tools required for testing and developing complex applications, including human-machine interface (HMI) systems.

The solution minimises maintenance requirements through frequent updates and long-term support. It fully supports SECO hardware and facilitates continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), ensuring a streamlined and efficient development process.

Security is a top priority, continually integrating the latest kernel patches provided by CPU vendors and keeping its components up-to-date.

The software includes all necessary components and services to facilitate reliable updates using an A/B partitioning layout scheme. This ensures that updates are applied safely and reliably, decreasing downtime and maintaining system integrity. An out-of-the-box connection to the Clea IoT technology stack allows the management of devices remotely. This includes secure remote OTA updates, device monitoring, and remote access.

Employing the Yocto Project, Clea OS lets developers create custom Linux distributions tailored to specific requirements. This includes modifying recipes, adding custom layers, configuring the system to meet unique application needs, and enhancing the overall user experience. The system is built on top of open-source software, offering flexibility that makes it easy to port to any hardware, avoiding vendor lock-in. It is highly customisable to meet specific product requirements.

This new release supports a broader range of hardware platforms, including devices based on NXP, Intel, Qualcomm, Mediatek, and Rockchip processors, the Raspberry Pi 4, and QEMU emulation for Arm, Arm64, and x86 architectures. This extended compatibility allows developers to deploy Clea OS across different environments and hardware configurations, fostering greater flexibility and scalability in IoT infrastructure.

“Clea OS is a unique industrial-grade Linux distribution that stands out for its unified compatibility with a wide range of processor architectures and silicon vendor support – from low-power Arm SoC to high-end x86 server platforms. Its added value lies in its seamless integration with the Clea suite, enabling the latest IoT and security functionalities right out of the box,” said Marco Sogli, head of Global Software of SECO.

“We are working hard to bring an open, end-to-end IoT developer platform solution to the market and empowering developers and organisations to focus on their use cases rather than solving IoT technology challenges. We are proud to release the latest version of Clea OS, which goes in this exact direction,” said Davide Catani, chief technology officer of SECO.

SECO is appearing at embedded world, booth #2315, from October 8 to 10, 2024.