[Freedombox-discuss] Is / Is Not

[Philippe Clérié]

On Tuesday, 31 May 2011 09:23:09 James Vasile wrote:
> Some time back, I solicited views on what the FreedomBox should be.  I
> assembled those views and passed them to Eben Moglen, who refined it
> into something manageable and coherent.  Then we let the TAC take a
> turn.  The below is the result, a concise statement of what the
> FreedomBox is.  I'm publishing it here for another round of public
> comment.
> 
> Best regards,
> James
> 
> 
> # The FreedomBox...
> 
> ## Generally
> * Is a software stack, for multiple kinds of hardware.
> * Is especially valuable software in plug computers.
> * Is Free as in Freedom.
> * Is a Debian-based project.  Is not a Debian distribution.
> * Is targeted at specific hardware but is not limited to that hardware.
> * Is flexible about hardware.
> * Is optimized for a specific hardware configuration.
> * Is not an X server.
> * Is not a device with a screen, keyboard or pointer.
> * Is not an outdoor device.
> * Is easy for ordinary people to use.
> 
> ## Target Audience
> * Is designed for everybody-- hackers, students, reporters, teachers,
> families, etc. * Is personal but not single user.
> 
> ## Services
> * Is a torrent client and can use TOR for that purpose.
> * Is a web server.
> * Is a web proxy.
> * Is an email server.
> * Is a print server.
> * Is a file server (NAS).
> * Is a drop box.
> * Is a streamer of media files, but does not necessarily connect directly
> to your TV. * Is VPN capable, both for you and for people behind large
> government firewalls. * Is an instant messaging server.
> * Is a VOIP server.
> * Is an eternity server.
> * Is a photo album and gallery.
> * Is a TOR node.
> * Is able to save a live video stream feed from your phone via bluetooth,
> wifi or internet.
> 
> ## Facilitates secure, anonymous and private chat and messaging
> * Is an encrypting relay for email.
> * Is the nerve center of your distributed social network.
> * Is a platform for federated social networking.
> * Is a platform for distributed collaboration.
> 
> ## Security and Reliability
> * Is smart about of knowing who to trust and how much to trust them.
> * Is not a tamper-proof machine.
> * Is thoroughly and automatically tested.
> 
> ## Connectivity and Interoperability
> * Is able to Communicate securely, privately and anonymously with other
> FreedomBoxes and devices. * Is dedicated to producing state of the art
> mesh networking and routing solutions to replace local ISP services when
> disrupted. * Is capable of detecting and tunneling around non-neutral
> networks. * Is your router, both wireless and wired.
> 
> ## Data Backup
> * Is your encrypted backup server.
> * Is capable of storing backups on other FreedomBoxes, local storage or on
> third party servers. * Is recoverable by strength of your social network
> in addition to the usual methods (passphrase or keys).
> 
> ## Is A Good Net Citizen.
> * Is capable of detecting intrusion on its downstream LAN (e.g. looks for
> bot-shaped packets/traffic). * Is a filter for ads and other unwanted
> content.
> * Is a tool for collaborative SPAM filtering.
> 
> ## Improves Your Network Experience
> * Is a guard for your privacy and can strip identifying information from
> your web browsing, * Is capable of filtering out advertising from web
> browsing and email. * Is a device that protects against spyware.
> 
> ## Hardware
> * Is portable, not mobile.
> * Is not a cellphone.
> * Is usually connected to the public internet.
> * Is capable of talking to cellphones and using their radios.
> * Is not a battery or solar powered device, but can be powered by either.
> * Is operable via cellphone application.
> * Is operable via remote or local computer.
> * Is capable of talking with a GPS, but is not a GPS.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Freedombox-discuss mailing list
> Freedombox-discuss at lists.alioth.debian.org
> http://lists.alioth.debian.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/freedombox-discuss

Looking at the services, I was thinking that they can be further classified in 
4 categories:

- routing functions (connectivity, wireless access point, firewall, etc)
- local functions (file, print, media, backup etc)
- external functions (web, email, sharing, etc)
- and for lack of a better word, nodal functions (torrent, tor, eternity, sip 
nodes)

At the moment, I'm starting with the Debian based Vyatta router software. On 
that  base, I am going to put one lxc vm for each of the other categories and 
see where that takes me.

Cheers!

-- 


Philippe

------
The trouble with common sense is that it is so uncommon.
<Anonymous>