Italian firm Seco has released Clea OS, an embedded Linux framework with IoT capabilities and expanded hardware support.

As a member of the Clea software stack, Clea OS is a step towards the development of integrated IoT, empowering developers and organisations to build and deploy innovative IoT infrastructure more efficiently and effectively. 

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

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

Clea OS is designed to optimise devops for industrial embedded systems. There are two versions. The minimal version includes only the essential services needed for secure updates and reliable docker operation on embedded devices. The full version is pre-configured with all the tools necessary for testing and developing complex applications, including human-machine interface (HMI) systems.

Clea OS reduces maintenance requirements through frequent updates and long-term support. It fully supports Seco hardware and facilitates continuous integration and delivery, ensuring a streamlined and efficient development process.

Security is a priority for Clea OS, continually integrating the latest kernel patches provided by microprocessor vendors and keeping its components up to date.

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

Leveraging the Yocto Project, Clea OS allows developers to create custom Linux distributions tailored to requirements. This includes modifying recipes, adding custom layers and configuring the system to meet application needs, enhancing the overall user experience. It 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 customisable to meet product requirements.

This 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 various environments and hardware configurations, fostering flexibility and scalability in IoT infrastructure.

Plans include introducing secure boot, software bill of materials (SBoM) generation across all Seco hardware, and continuous vulnerability assessment for security posture, enhancing security compliance and protecting systems from the ground up.

“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,” said Marco Sogli, head of global software for Seco. “Its added value lies in its seamless integration with the Clea suite, enabling the latest IoT and security functionalities right out of the box.

Davide Catani, chief technology officer of Seco, added: “We are working hard to bring an open, end-to-end IoT developer platform to the market and empowering developers and organisations to focus on their use cases rather than solving IoT technology challenges.”

Seco (www.seco.com) will participate at the Embedded World North America (www.embedded-world.de/en/embedded-world-wide/embedded-world-north-america) exhibition in Austin, Texas, from October 8 to 10.

Detailed information about Clea and Clea OS can be found at clea.ai.