Posted on 11/19/2021 4:52:46 PM PST by Pollard
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FreedomBox is a private server for non-experts: it lets you install and configure server applications with only a few clicks. It runs on cheap hardware of your choice, uses your internet connection and power, and is under your control.
ABOUT:
Launched in 2010 by Prof. Eben Moglen, FreedomBox is a global project to empower regular people to reassert control over the infrastructure of the internet. FreedomBox empowers its users to avoid the data mining, censorship and surveillance by centralized silos that characterize the web of today. It makes web servers personal, affordable and manageable, so that a user can host necessary web services at home on a device they own, powered by free software they can trust.
FreedomBox is made up of two things: a free and open source software system and inexpensive hardware. The costs of computer processors and network bandwidth have both fallen to such low levels that hosting your own digital services is now affordable.
You can buy a FreedomBox or build your own with many small form factor os single board computers.
You can try a demo. (little slow because it's running across the web)
NOTE: Most everything will require setup and config because you're basically running your own server. This is for techies and Linux people. Whoever does the Linux Ping, feel free to.
Thanks man!
Ping...
Good news that this option exists. But too technical for my use.
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Been following the project since its inception but never invested any real time in it.
I hear ya. I’m into computers, have been building websites since the mid 90s, currently run Linux and I’d still have to do a lot of reading on how to set things up. Our internet upload speed is too slow to serve a WordPress website but would probably be ok for html. Email, chat and P2P file sharing would work but video chat definitely not.
Matrix chat server is a good one. I don’t have a cell phone so my wife and I use it to communicate via text messaging aka SMS. She has a cell phone with the Matrix app and I have the desktop app. I created a chat room for us and made it encrypted. It runs on a public Matrix server but this FreedomBox would allow our own, at home device to be the server making it even more secure.
but were still stuck on how to get internet from a cool provider
for home and work
later
Look into this.
Finally getting back into digital ham radio, WSPR, JT65 and others now that I have some time on my hands. Can always use another project to keep the ol' brain active. Doc says that's the most important thing with this ischemic brain disease that I have.
Have you seen Internet in a Box?
Very robust and fully developed, mostly geared towards EDU but it’s a Linux install. Mostly used on the Pi but anything you can put Linux on will work.
https://internet-in-a-box.org/
“Internet in a Box” means it’s basically a local server and other devices can connect via a browser.
27 minute video of description and install. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=javfG88cZB0
Here’s a demo, en espanol - Mexico
Ok, well that post is a blast from the past! :) I think I have seen this a time or two in the past, thank you for bringing it up!
So I am guessing it is a mesh network then? Like Meshtastic? I have dove into the concept several times and we have a running thread over st the TA about it. The only draw back I can see is range without repeaters. I suppose it would be best for more populated areas where it can be relayed? Butthe Meshtastic is a similar idea I think, butit is designed to use add on radios that appear to give it pretty good range. And they use solar powered relay repeaters to make links at further distances.
Yeah we've had a few convos along this line but I couldn't recall your user name so I searched for freedombox as a keyword.
I think it is a good idea if one needs a local server/user network. Wonder if it will work through a router and unique network channel so it has a further range? I know routers and extenders have a better range than a phone or PC does... LoRaWAN can be sent pretty good ranges with the right equipment.
Remember we had those conversations about an alternative internet protocol? You went and checked out Zeronet at my request back then.
Well I am back on that track again and developing an OS iso on a USB stick that has everything needed to operate independently from the TLD WWW and HTTP protocols using clients for the unique “Gemini” protocol. Like “tails” just plug it in and run it from the stick with client pre-configured and optional server if you want to publish a personal blog/page.
But the Gemini is pretty slick. It is true P2P encrypted end to end with TLS certs, box to box with no relay nodes needed like TOR requires. And it can be utilized to build a local physical server/user network like how this box you shared does. It can even be used with longer range radios like the Meshtastic does.
But with a Unique URL and port change one can build their own secure alternet aside from the formal “geminispace” using the available open source software.
https://github.com/kr1sp1n/awesome-gemini
If you want to be curious and take a look here is a TLD proxy that taps into the Geminispace protocol so you can test drive it without needing to install a client. Or if you want to check it out and be able to “interact” with the forums and such in there the best desktop Gemini client for Linux can be found in our familiar app repository. It is called “Lagrange” and comes packaged with the Gemini protocol already to go included.
HTTP protocol Proxy:
https://www.obsessivefacts.com/gemini-proxy
Sites to take a look at to give you an idea what versatility it has as for site options. There are forums, blogs, image galleries, search engines, directories, feeds, music and video, radio stations, email, chat, PM, etc... You can make anything you want with it and it has it’s own unique search indexing isolated from the proprietary Google TLD.
gemini://bbs.geminispace.org/
gemini://skyjake.fi/~Cosmos/
gemini://bbs.geminispace.org/s/discoveries
gemini://auragem.letz.dev/music/public_radio
gemini://gemini.tuxmachines.org/
But notice the URLs? They start with “gemini:” rather than HTTP:, HTTPS:, or WWW:. And THAT is how easy it is to create a whole new internet with a desktop client as a browser. Gemini is all self served personally in it’s own space just like the wild and free days of dialup usenet servers... This is how TOR does it with “onion:” URLs. Yet it is NOT in the “darkweb” like the TOR browser onion: protocol. :)
Did I lose you? :)
While setting up my HTPC, the last thing I wanted was a desktop youtube app. Found this - https://freetubeapp.io/
Supposed to be Beta but on the KDE Discover app for finding software, it has 200 reviews and 5.0 stars. You can subscribe to channels without being signed in to youtube/google. Looks similar to youtube but no ads, no cookies, no tracking.
Ubuntu/Linux version is working flawlessly so far for me. One feature I really like is Full Window as opposed to Full Screen. I don't mind full screen for watching a movie but I generally don't like how it takes over and you can't even get to your menu. They have FreeTube for Win/MAC too.
I looked over Gemini and watched a short video about it but didn't spend more than 15 minutes and never did visit this -https://www.obsessivefacts.com/gemini-proxy
To be honest, I speed read your post and didn't catch that the http address connects to gemini addresses and that the gemini links below that could all be accessed from the proxy. Pretty cool.
My first thought with gemini was, no images on a page? Why not? Since I've built some websites for other people, I quickly remembered that some people want 20 images on a single page and will send you 10 mb images straight off their digital camera.
Just installed Lagrange to check it out.
Cool! So actually they do have inline images that work with Lagrange. And you can load all the image files up you want. The servers can do about anything, the pages are just small and simplistic is all! Less window dressing.
When you get in there you will have to go get a free TLS certificate to interact with everyone in there. The button is there and you can set it to expire years from now if you like.:)
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