Dear fellows,
I think it would be nice to have our own multi user unix system that provides shell accounts and maybe additional services to us. Every fellow could have his/her own shell account and access to the following programs:
* IRC clients (e.g. irssi) * jabber clients (e.g. mcabber) * mail clients (e.g. mutt, pine) * compilers (gcc etc.) * screen/tmux * git
Additional services could be:
* OpenVPN service, so fellows can encrypt their connection when they are on the road * web site hosting * databases (MySQL, postgresql etc.) * SSH tunneling * File storage
In order to start this project, the following two conditions have to be fullfilled:
* Enough fellows have to show interest in such a system * Besides me, I would need two other fellows with skills in Linux/Unix administration (and maybe in IT security) who will take care of the system
If this will be the case, I would suggest the following procedure:
* I would rent a single server system and an additional FTP account as backup space * We (the 3 admins) would build up a system with some basic services, harden it and develop/implement scripts for the automation of administrative tasks like account creation etc. * We and some some volunteer beta testers would play around with it * The FSFE would take over the server and its rent * The system would be open for all of us * Additional services could be added
What do you think?
Cheers, Michael
Hi Michael,
On 07/03/13 11:17, Michael Clemens notierte:
- IRC clients (e.g. irssi)
- jabber clients (e.g. mcabber)
- mail clients (e.g. mutt, pine)
- compilers (gcc etc.)
- screen/tmux
- git
I think everybody is running these services already at a home or remote machine. So there is no real need to provide these. But they fit into a nice scheme. And it would be a shame to offer such a shell server without them.
- OpenVPN service, so fellows can encrypt their connection when they are
on the road
- web site hosting
- databases (MySQL, postgresql etc.)
- SSH tunneling
- File storage
Seems like a very nice playground.
- Enough fellows have to show interest in such a system
Well; I'm not a fellow yet. But I like the idea in general. Perhaps with optional running additional custom compiled services?
- Besides me, I would need two other fellows with skills in Linux/Unix
administration
I'm not a security specialist. But I would like to help out. I have basic knowledge of Linux admininstration.
So if there is anything going on, feel free to contact me.
Regards,
Phil
Hi Michael and other fellows,
It would be a nice initiative, I think it would be nice if IRC and jabber are provided. I must say I have my own server for the other things you mention, but I would certainly be interested if more people are expressing their need for this service. I am a linux/unix administrator and also have some experience in security, so if you decide to rent this server, I would be willing to help out with building it and administering.
Regards,
Marjan
On 03/07/2013 11:17 AM, Michael Clemens wrote:
Dear fellows,
I think it would be nice to have our own multi user unix system that provides shell accounts and maybe additional services to us. Every fellow could have his/her own shell account and access to the following programs:
- IRC clients (e.g. irssi)
- jabber clients (e.g. mcabber)
- mail clients (e.g. mutt, pine)
- compilers (gcc etc.)
- screen/tmux
- git
Additional services could be:
- OpenVPN service, so fellows can encrypt their connection when they
are on the road
- web site hosting
- databases (MySQL, postgresql etc.)
- SSH tunneling
- File storage
In order to start this project, the following two conditions have to be fullfilled:
- Enough fellows have to show interest in such a system
- Besides me, I would need two other fellows with skills in Linux/Unix
administration (and maybe in IT security) who will take care of the system
If this will be the case, I would suggest the following procedure:
- I would rent a single server system and an additional FTP account as
backup space
- We (the 3 admins) would build up a system with some basic services,
harden it and develop/implement scripts for the automation of administrative tasks like account creation etc.
- We and some some volunteer beta testers would play around with it
- The FSFE would take over the server and its rent
- The system would be open for all of us
- Additional services could be added
What do you think?
Cheers, Michael
Discussion mailing list Discussion@fsfeurope.org https://mail.fsfeurope.org/mailman/listinfo/discussion
Hi Michael,
It sounds great. Unfortunately, I think that I have not enough knowledge on systems administration to assist in the implementation and/or support.
Best regards
Vicen
El jue, 07-03-2013 a las 11:17 +0100, Michael Clemens escribió:
Dear fellows,
I think it would be nice to have our own multi user unix system that provides shell accounts and maybe additional services to us. Every fellow could have his/her own shell account and access to the following programs:
- IRC clients (e.g. irssi)
- jabber clients (e.g. mcabber)
- mail clients (e.g. mutt, pine)
- compilers (gcc etc.)
- screen/tmux
- git
Additional services could be:
- OpenVPN service, so fellows can encrypt their connection when they
are on the road
- web site hosting
- databases (MySQL, postgresql etc.)
- SSH tunneling
- File storage
In order to start this project, the following two conditions have to be fullfilled:
- Enough fellows have to show interest in such a system
- Besides me, I would need two other fellows with skills in Linux/Unix
administration (and maybe in IT security) who will take care of the system
If this will be the case, I would suggest the following procedure:
- I would rent a single server system and an additional FTP account as
backup space
- We (the 3 admins) would build up a system with some basic services,
harden it and develop/implement scripts for the automation of administrative tasks like account creation etc.
- We and some some volunteer beta testers would play around with it
- The FSFE would take over the server and its rent
- The system would be open for all of us
- Additional services could be added
What do you think?
Cheers, Michael
Discussion mailing list Discussion@fsfeurope.org https://mail.fsfeurope.org/mailman/listinfo/discussion
Hey,
On 7 March 2013 10:17, Michael Clemens clemens@fsfe.org wrote:
Dear fellows,
I think it would be nice to have our own multi user unix system that provides shell accounts and maybe additional services to us. Every fellow could have his/her own shell account and access to the following programs:
Personally I do not see much value in this – most Fellows have the necessary clients installed anyway. Being behind a restrictive firewall might be concern for some (IRC), but git and our Jabber server can operate over HTTPS ports and e-mail ain't generally a concern. Providing compilers would be even more of a hassle: if lot of people decided to start using the server for compiling, we would need quite a server park.
- OpenVPN service, so fellows can encrypt their connection when they are on
the road
The most reasonable one. However, bandwidth could be a concern.
- web site hosting
- databases (MySQL, postgresql etc.)
- SSH tunneling
- File storage
If we want a service that would not have restrictive quotas, the costs are likely to be high.
- Besides me, I would need two other fellows with skills in Linux/Unix
administration (and maybe in IT security) who will take care of the system
Should you decide to proceed, I have nothing against GNU administration.
If this will be the case, I would suggest the following procedure:
- The FSFE would take over the server and its rent
Have you proposed this to Fellowship (Deputy) Coordinators or GA members?
Cheers,
Michael Clemens clemens@fsfe.org writes:
I think it would be nice to have our own multi user unix system that provides shell accounts and maybe additional services to us. Every fellow could have his/her own shell account and access to the following programs:
- IRC clients (e.g. irssi)
- jabber clients (e.g. mcabber)
- mail clients (e.g. mutt, pine)
- compilers (gcc etc.)
- screen/tmux
- git
- OpenVPN service, so fellows can encrypt their connection when they
are on the road
- web site hosting
- databases (MySQL, postgresql etc.)
- SSH tunneling
- File storage
There are plenty of providers that already offer cheap shell accounts or complete virtual machines. I'm really not sure why FSFE should start offering these.
* Timo Juhani Lindfors timo.lindfors@iki.fi [130313 23:41, mID 84ppz27wk2.fsf@sauna.l.org]:
There are plenty of providers that already offer cheap shell accounts or complete virtual machines. I'm really not sure why FSFE should start offering these.
I fully agree. FSFE should concentrate on its core mission. Investing money and time (both of which are are highly limited within FSFE) into services that are available elsewhere at low prices would take up capacities from duties that are probably more important. Despite that, legal risks must also be taken into account in this discussion.
Just my €0,02
Martin