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ClearOS 6.6
One of the biggest advantages of the CentOS-based distro is its larger repos of supported server software. The distro offers server options depending on whether you plan to deploy it inside a protected network (like an office), in a publicly accessible network or as a gateway server. The distro supports over 80 free services for various roles including a network server and a cloud server and more. In addition to common servers, you can use it as a seedbox and a Plex Media Server. ClearOS also includes several system and network management tools for creating backups, managing bandwidth and RAIDs etc. New admins who aren't sure of the components to install can use the Feature Wizard, which helps pick services.
NethServer 6.6
Also based on CentOS, NethServer enables you to configure the installed server through a web browser. The distro taps into its progenitor's vast repos of software and includes its custom software centre which lists all the supported servers. You can filter through this list depending on the type of server you wish to deploy, such as a firewall, file server, web server and OwnCloudserver etc. NethServer's browser-based dashboard is well laid out and every section contains a ‘Help' button which explains the various options. From the dashboard you can get an overview of the various parameters on the installed server. It also includes a log viewer for tracking the logs of all the installed services. In addition to the in-line documentation, there's detailed guidance on the website, including details for install third-party software.
Zentyal 4.1
Unlike the other two RPM-based distros, Zentyal is based on the Ubuntu Server distro. Zentyal boots to a minimal graphical desktop, but still uses a browser-based interface that's accessible from a remote computer for configuring the installation. In contrast to the other two, Zental isn't an all-purpose server but an office server. Still, you can use a Zentyal installation as a directory server, for filtering email, scanning for viruses, managing printers, deploying VPNs and other core infrastructure services, such as DNS and DHCP, and for issuing and managing secure certificates.
Once installed, you can configure these services from the web interface itself. Zentyal has a polished user interface and its components are nicely integrated. The distro doesn't have an option to install and configure a web server, but you can set up Apache from its Ubuntu repositories. If you get stuck, there's a community supported wiki.
Verdict
Deploying and configuring a server is an involved process. The three server distros we've covered, above, offer convenience and flexibility, and let you build complex server installations using a point-and-click interface in a fraction of the time it would require you to set them up manually. All three have low barriers to entry and an expansive list of supported servers. In a pinch they are all relatively similar and, ignoring minor usability differences, all offer pretty much the same user experience when it comes to deploying and configuring various servers and their components.
The real contest is the number of servers and services each of them offers. Zentyal brings up the rear since it offers the fewest server options, followed by NethServer and is pipped to the post by our winner, ClearOS. While ClearOS does offer the maximum number of possibilities for fleshing out the base installation, it isn't suitable for all types of deployments, eg if you wish to deploy
OwnCloud, NethServer is a better bet. Also, none of these servers would impress old-school admins who prefer to build their servers from the ground up. If you are one of these you can go with either Ubuntu Server or CentOS depending on how comfortable you are with their respective package managers. There's also the newly inducted Fedora Server distro, which will enable you to roll out special-purpose servers, but it's yet to make a case for itself in comparison with CentOS.