Bogdan Bivolaru bogdan.bivolaru@gmail.com wrote: [...]
- As I see it the big problem is not the hardware nor the bandwidth (we
can think of a web cluster-like system to operate it, REBOL style http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REBOL ): the problem is finding capable and good-willing volunteers to administrate it.
Do they need to be volunteers? Could some members be allowed to pay their subs by doing root work instead?
I would offer root access to a computer I own on a internet connection I am responsible for. If that mail server starts sending malware, who will be responsible/liable for charges in justice?
I believe you would, if you own the computer. It's up to you to watch what people who give access to and/or put in reasonable liability in their use agreements.
[...]
How do you approach this initial lack of criteria for selecting volunteers?
I think you have to apply the theory of moles, try to limit their return on investment and build up trust in each other over time. http://mjr.towers.org.uk/writing/fightingshadows.html
2a) Since all projects running on such a service would be free (both Afero GPL-style and as in free beer) [...]
Oooh, I hope it's really free, not Affero.
2b) I could also pay some monthly fees for a BlueHost / Dreamhost
Might be better to go with locals who support free software, such as bytemark.co.uk, GPLhost.fr (does UKFSN.org offer hosting? I forget.)
It's necessary to beware a lot of hosting services, as many use control panels which are not free software, such as the irritating Plesk.
- DNS naming and directory:
What about a DNS register? As far as I know there are no free DNS names registrars, right?
There are a few like eu.org, but they seem overworked to me.
I can't answer your Tor question - I'll leave that to the members as a whole once it comes into being ;-)
Regards,