Open Computer Orchestration

Overview

Open Computer Orchestration (OCO) brings desktop and mobile-device administration into one web interface, with coverage from inventory through software deployment and operating-system installation. Its mix of deployment tracking, policy controls, and automation makes it useful for teams managing varied fleets that want to run the management server themselves.

The trade-off is operational responsibility: OCO is self-hosted, and commercial use above 20 computers requires a license. Teams without Linux server capacity, or those seeking a hosted management service, should weigh that burden before choosing it.

For more options in this category, see Application Deployment Software.

Key features

• Fleet inventory and software control: OCO tracks computers and installed software across Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. Administrators can deploy software, patch third-party apps, schedule deployments, and remove applications remotely, making it broader than a tool focused only on patching.
• Deployment visibility: Each software job records its exit code and command output. That gives administrators concrete execution results to review when a rollout does not go as expected.
• Policy and access controls: Policies and fine-grained roles and permissions help organizations govern both device configuration and administrative access. Custom reports add a way to shape operational reporting.
• Automation and extensibility: OCO can automate operating-system installation and exposes a JSON-RPC API for workflows and customization. Extensions cover scheduled Wake On Lan, kiosk shutdown, package creation, and PC installation workflows.

Pricing

OCO uses a freemium model, with a free plan and a paid license. The Free plan costs nothing and covers up to 20 managed devices, making it a useful starting point for small deployments. The project page states that commercial environments managing more than 20 computers need a license, so the free cap is not a path to unlimited commercial use.

The Enterprise license costs €299 a year, billed per device for one year, and applies to additional devices beyond the 20 free devices. Individual conditions are available on request. The annual term and per-device billing matter as fleets expand; the headline plan does not make larger deployments a flat-fee purchase. A free trial is offered, and a cloud-hosted trial can be requested.

Platforms

The management scope includes Linux, macOS, and Windows computers plus Android and iOS devices. OCO is self-hosted on premise: its server runs on any Linux distribution and uses MariaDB, Apache2, and PHP 7.3 or newer. The documented admin client supports Chromium-based browsers and Firefox, version 80 or newer. This flexibility across managed devices is balanced by a server stack the organization must operate.

Who it's for

OCO suits organizations that need a single system for mixed computer and mobile fleets, especially those that value deployment records, role controls, custom reporting, and installation automation. It is a stronger fit for teams comfortable maintaining Linux infrastructure than for small organizations that want a vendor-operated service. Commercial users with more than 20 computers should budget for the per-device annual license and confirm individual terms.

Pros and cons

• Pro: It combines inventory, deployment, patching, remote removal, and OS-installation automation across desktop and mobile platforms, reducing the need to separate those tasks by device type.
• Pro: Job exit codes and command output provide useful deployment-level evidence, while policies and fine-grained roles support administrative oversight.
• Pro: The open-source, self-hosted model and JSON-RPC API give technically capable teams room to adapt workflows and integrations.
• Con: Organizations must operate a Linux server with MariaDB, Apache2, and PHP 7.3 or newer; self-hosting adds infrastructure and maintenance work.
• Con: Commercial deployments beyond 20 computers require a per-device annual license, and individual conditions may need to be arranged.

Alternatives

• FileWave is worth comparing for teams that want a paid product with a free Community Edition covering up to 15 computers, 15 tablets, and 15 Chrome devices.
• Fleet is an alternative for organizations looking for open-source fleet management with a free version that Fleet says will always be free.
• ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus may fit teams focused on patch management, with a free edition for up to 20 workstations and five servers.
• KintoHub offers a free plan for three services with 256 MB each, up to 1 GB persistent data, and up to three shared vCPU; it is a different option for readers comparing service-hosting plans.
• OPSI is a self-hosted alternative with a free Community plan for unlimited devices, core features, and one worker process.
• Patch My PC is a narrower option for Windows desktop and server updates, with a free Home Updater for non-commercial use.
• Pckgr RMM is another freemium option to consider.
• Pushlink is another freemium option to consider.

Verdict

Choose OCO if you need cross-platform device management with deployment, patching, reporting, and automation, and have the capacity to run its Linux server. Its broad management scope and open-source self-hosting are the main reasons to choose it; the server upkeep and paid-license threshold are the reasons to look elsewhere if you want hosted simplicity or expect a larger commercial fleet.