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FreedomBox

freedombox.org

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Re: FreedomBox

#51

Post by eadmund »

canadaduane wrote: post #17

I love this idea, but my two "deal breaker" worries are: (a) data backup, and (b) security. I hate that this is the case, but when comparing a "box-at-home" vs. a "corporate-run service", the corporate-run service is less likely to lose my data and more likely to apply security patches and updates ASAP. Even with 0days and all of the "hackers stole millions of users' data" posts, think the point remains strong; altho…

> I love this idea, but my two "deal breaker" worries are: (a) data backup, and (b) security.

There's no reason why this system couldn't use duplicity with a password to back up to S3 or a similar service.

Since it's just a Debian package, it could use the standard Debian automated-update system to handle security.

Re: FreedomBox

#53

Post by jancsika »

Here are two potential features Eben Moglen mentioned[1] back in 2010:

* it should know how to go and collect your stuff out of all the social networking places where you've got it

* it should know how to send an encrypted backup of everything to your friends' servers (in the video you can hear two developers making "mmm" noises at that feature)

Eight years later, does Freedombox have either of those two features?

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOEMv0S8AcA

Re: FreedomBox

#54

Post by quadrangle »

ryukafalz wrote: post #48
quadrangle wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was indeed, as I understand it, a plan to sell all set up hardware, ready to go. The original stuff got delayed when the main developer had his house burn down in a forest fire or something. But the software is usable. Apparently, they were selling some all-set-to-go boxes at LibrePlanet…

>Apparently, they were selling some all-set-to-go boxes at LibrePlanet… They weren't as far as I know. They had a one-off prototype running at their booth, but that model never made it to production.

I don't mean some custom thing, it was an existing off-the-shelf product with FreedomBox preconfigured… I mean, I heard this from someone who went to LibrePlanet and came home with a FreedomBox they specifically got there.

Re: FreedomBox

#55

Post by schoen »

quadrangle wrote: post #46
NullPrefix wrote: post #16

Dead butterfly design really ties the look together.

It's not supposed to be a mounted butterfly, it's some sort of overlaid graphic of the idea of a computer box with butterfly wings.

I think the intended reference is http://emilydamstra.com/news/please-enough-dead-butterflies/ (because of the wing positioning).

Re: FreedomBox

#56

Post by [deleted] »

fuball63 wrote: post #8
cozicoolmail wrote: post #4

Even if these things were dead simple, I cannot see any of my non-technical friends using products like these. It is simply prohibitively complicated compared to dropbox - that "just works". I even recall a comment on here when Dropbox launched saying something like "why not configure an FTP server to do this". This is that FTP server. Also, personally, I would never host any content on-prem at my home. It is far too…

I am technical and I struggle to find a use for my home server. The most common uses I always find are: - Media server: I primarily use streaming services or physical media - File sharing: I rarely ever share files between computers, and if I need to, I just scp them on my home network. - Web hosting: box is too small/old to reliably do this, plus I have cloud hosting already I do use it for private SVN and have plan…

[deleted]

Re: FreedomBox

#57

Post by piracykills »

pnutjam wrote: post #14
fuball63 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am technical and I struggle to find a use for my home server. The most common uses I always find are: - Media server: I primarily use streaming services or physical media - File sharing: I rarely ever share files between computers, and if I need to, I just scp them on my home network. - Web hosting: box is too small/old to reliably do this, plus I have cloud hosting already I do use it for private SVN and have plan…

I have a home box that I access with x2go. I can browse the internet, download stuff, or do whatever I want without touching the office network. I can disconnect a session and reconnect from a different pc. I also have my server configured to route out via a vpn.

Looking for a way to do better remote access to Linux boxes - Microsoft's RDP completely nails it on Windows, I used to quite like NX, but don't hear much about it these days, how do you find x2go, particularly from a server configuration perspective?

Re: FreedomBox

#59

Post by bb88 »

kelnos wrote: post #42
ReAzem wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FreemdomBox is a Debian package. It isn't another distro. They are focusing on exactly what you are saying, putting together a UI that non-technicals can use.

I don't think you understood the parent's core point. The "masses" aren't going to find or buy an old server and install Debian and FreedomBox on it, and then set it up to run headless in a corner of their house. That's not in the area of technical expertise of most people. They might , however, buy a pre-built, pre-installed appliance that just needs to be plugged in and have a web browser pointed at it to get start…

Philosophically speaking, the more and more that products are sold with one purpose on a closed platform, the more and more of these products that are going to end up in the junk yards when they can't be extended or repurposed beyond what the manufacturer wanted (or ever thought) possible.

> They might, however, buy a pre-built, pre-installed appliance that just needs to be plugged in and have a web browser pointed at it to get started.

Don't forget about setting up the freaking wi-fi network. Apple, Google make it reasonably seamless to setup their devices from an app, say. Most third-party devices aren't as easy to setup. I have to manually enter my wi-fi password in my Tivo, eg.

Re: FreedomBox

#60

Post by ethanwillis »

aphextron wrote: post #44
cozicoolmail wrote: post #4

Even if these things were dead simple, I cannot see any of my non-technical friends using products like these. It is simply prohibitively complicated compared to dropbox - that "just works". I even recall a comment on here when Dropbox launched saying something like "why not configure an FTP server to do this". This is that FTP server. Also, personally, I would never host any content on-prem at my home. It is far too…

>Even if these things were dead simple, I cannot see any of my non-technical friends using products like these. It is simply prohibitively complicated compared to dropbox - that "just works". I even recall a comment on here when Dropbox launched saying something like "why not configure an FTP server to do this". This is that FTP server. This is the problem with every attempt at decentralized, federated social media a…

The only way you will get verifiability of handling of private data is for homomorphic encryption to finally have an efficient open implementation.
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