How to make an off-grid micro 'internet' that can run off solar power (or any power) for emergencies, camping, protests, or building community autonomy and dual power.
This was the first project like this that I had heard of and I have kept an eye on every similar one I could find. I am excited to start working on my first build soon with a friend who is a bit more tech savvy than I. Just got my first Linux computer up and running on a shitty old laptop. Finding parrotsec os to be the best lightweight Linux distro for my weak laptop. Might try and make a vs of this using parrot see how it functions. It’s a toss up it could make the the setup easier for some folks or be a complicated distro with too much fluff. I wish I was a bit further along in my programming journey cause I would love an open submission for books ect but that’s a logistical and software threat nightmare I’m not equipped to navigate yet. Great work and very inspirational. I started learning Linux because of your videos.
What is your TikTok name? Someone “green screened” one of your videos but didn’t tag you. I’d like to add your name to the comments. This is life saving stuff!
it seems to be an issue with mongoDB which isn't supported on Ubuntu Jammy. I tried installing Ubuntu18.04 LTS on the pi but I could never get a working image for some reason... and gave up
Please be mindful pre-release channels may include features not completely tested or implemented. Get more information with 'snap info rocketchat-server'.
Please have a look at the freifunk movement in Germany https://www.freifunk.net. The community is building a independent wireless decentralized mesh windowshelf network to interconnect people in local communities and share internet access for almost 20 years now. Flat hierarchy and very well documented.
I think an important thing to note is that Kiwix also has a server mode which can be set to launch on startup.
So the same off-grid internet Raspberry Pi that serves the chat program, Calibre library, and Plex server, can also be used to host an entire local copy of Wikipedia, Khan Academy, TED talks, Project Gutenberg, IFixit repair guides, and more.
Of course, this all depends on your specific situation and if you have the resources needed to run that extra server on your device.
Yes, the big takeaway from this article was that you can do this with any bit of computing equipment, once you understand the core concepts, they can combine in different ways. So instead f a Raspberry Pi you can use an old laptop. While using an old laptop and broadcasting services is pretty easy, the special routing stuff might be a little harder when it comes to creating a mesh with only a laptop. Routers handle network routing, and are made just for that and are easier to operate than turning a laptop into a router. But you can use any router, a new one or an old one, a smaller one or a bigger one. It doesn't really matter, all that matters is understanding how you can take a computer, broadcast services for other computers to connect and optionally - create a network that can spread out and share connectivity with even more computers and devices.
Big thing about this article was pointing out that the internet is just a giant intranet that is connected across the globe, and regular people can start making our own communication networks (or taking them over and taking them out of corporate hands) to make a peoples autonomous internet, ran, and operated by the people collectively.
In terms of a modern project cybersyn, that is the goal! To make a federation of free an autonomous people who can connect together and communicate freely, we have the tech to automate most of the shitty jobs, and we can organize around a resource based economy, using technology to better distribute goods, materials, instead of profit.
Tech speaking we can make project cybersyn even better, I mean they were using telex machines back then, and even for that time telex was kinda old. Can't imagine what we could do with the tech we have now.
Great article! I think some of your use cases can benefit when using content addressable systems. Especially, your library box is an very interesting use case for an ipfs or hypercore (before dat) applications. Ipfs and hypercore establish a synch mechanism between nodes, that can increase your reliability and resilience of content providing mechanism. In some way maybe your local social media could also benefit of the scuttlebut infrastructure. A nice article which sums up some key points https://thenewstack.io/scuttlebutt-decentralize-and-escape-the-social-media-rat-race/
Beyond that the offline first (https://offlinefirst.org/) and off-grid/decentralised web community (. https://youtube.com/c/AdjyLeak especially the radical networks conference playlist) has developed some very interesting strategies for resilience content distribution
I can also provide some guidance regarding other non-GAFAM(T) resources. Whoever is interested, please talk to me directly (not sure how to do it here – I am new to Substack).
Epic work. Will it be ok if I translate it to Polish and do some adjustments according to my experience and Polish context? I will also try to formulate some suggestions how to improve it.
Hi currently going through the guide step-by-step. In addition to the recommendation for flashing the image you are using so others can just 'plug-and-play', I would in the meantime like to give a helpful little bit for others: ubuntu on the pi can be dreadfully slow, especially when messing with the browser, (in the future, I would like to personally look into doing a build that requires no desktop for better speed and performance), so here is how to download the books directly from the command line, bypassing the web browser.
I don’t have the stuff or time to make it now but I’m def gonna follow your work because it’s fascinating and might be handy down the line.
This was the first project like this that I had heard of and I have kept an eye on every similar one I could find. I am excited to start working on my first build soon with a friend who is a bit more tech savvy than I. Just got my first Linux computer up and running on a shitty old laptop. Finding parrotsec os to be the best lightweight Linux distro for my weak laptop. Might try and make a vs of this using parrot see how it functions. It’s a toss up it could make the the setup easier for some folks or be a complicated distro with too much fluff. I wish I was a bit further along in my programming journey cause I would love an open submission for books ect but that’s a logistical and software threat nightmare I’m not equipped to navigate yet. Great work and very inspirational. I started learning Linux because of your videos.
What is your TikTok name? Someone “green screened” one of your videos but didn’t tag you. I’d like to add your name to the comments. This is life saving stuff!
@HydroponicTrash on Tiktok and Twitter
You are my new favorite person "on the internet". And in real life : ) Thank you.
Wow that a great compliment thank you!
I had real problems getting Rocket Chat working on ubuntu 22.04.
But this worked in the end.
sudo snap info rocketchat-server --channel=3.x/stable
Thoth,
I think you meant:
sudo snap install rocketchat-server --channel=3.x/stable
Yes, install not info.
Version 3 of rocketchat uses an older version of Mongodb which runs fine.
is this the command you used to get rocketchat to install? I've had no luck so far
What error are you getting?
it seems to be an issue with mongoDB which isn't supported on Ubuntu Jammy. I tried installing Ubuntu18.04 LTS on the pi but I could never get a working image for some reason... and gave up
Hm yeah looks like that’s a widespread issue.
This might work:
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/o/openssl/libssl1.1_1.1.1f-1ubuntu2.16_amd64.deb
sudo apt-get update
dpkg -i libssl1.1_1.1.1f-1ubuntu2.16_amd64.deb
actually I'm trying the method Thoth suggest above
sudo snap install rocketchat-server --channel=3.x/stable
and it is at least installing now. no errors! onward!
error: snap "rocketchat-server" is not available on stable but is available to install on the following channels:
candidate snap install --candidate rocketchat-server
beta snap install --beta rocketchat-server
edge snap install --edge rocketchat-server
Please be mindful pre-release channels may include features not completely tested or implemented. Get more information with 'snap info rocketchat-server'.
i saw a video about some cubans that build their very own internet using nano stations on a large scale intranet
Please have a look at the freifunk movement in Germany https://www.freifunk.net. The community is building a independent wireless decentralized mesh windowshelf network to interconnect people in local communities and share internet access for almost 20 years now. Flat hierarchy and very well documented.
I think an important thing to note is that Kiwix also has a server mode which can be set to launch on startup.
So the same off-grid internet Raspberry Pi that serves the chat program, Calibre library, and Plex server, can also be used to host an entire local copy of Wikipedia, Khan Academy, TED talks, Project Gutenberg, IFixit repair guides, and more.
Of course, this all depends on your specific situation and if you have the resources needed to run that extra server on your device.
Is there a way that you know of to do this with an old laptop, using its wifi card?
Yes, the big takeaway from this article was that you can do this with any bit of computing equipment, once you understand the core concepts, they can combine in different ways. So instead f a Raspberry Pi you can use an old laptop. While using an old laptop and broadcasting services is pretty easy, the special routing stuff might be a little harder when it comes to creating a mesh with only a laptop. Routers handle network routing, and are made just for that and are easier to operate than turning a laptop into a router. But you can use any router, a new one or an old one, a smaller one or a bigger one. It doesn't really matter, all that matters is understanding how you can take a computer, broadcast services for other computers to connect and optionally - create a network that can spread out and share connectivity with even more computers and devices.
How far can this be scaled up? If enough people did this, could we form something like another Project Cybersyn?
Big thing about this article was pointing out that the internet is just a giant intranet that is connected across the globe, and regular people can start making our own communication networks (or taking them over and taking them out of corporate hands) to make a peoples autonomous internet, ran, and operated by the people collectively.
In terms of a modern project cybersyn, that is the goal! To make a federation of free an autonomous people who can connect together and communicate freely, we have the tech to automate most of the shitty jobs, and we can organize around a resource based economy, using technology to better distribute goods, materials, instead of profit.
Tech speaking we can make project cybersyn even better, I mean they were using telex machines back then, and even for that time telex was kinda old. Can't imagine what we could do with the tech we have now.
Great stuff! Your are an inspiration!
Heard about this project on the Live like the world is dying podcast.
I have added the following to my server after looking at the internet in a box project.
Kiwix-Serve - which runs off line Wikipedia & The Anarchist Library and other .zim files
Azuracast - radio station, on demand audio content and podcast hosting.
Calibre-Web
Keep up the good work!
I had trouble getting rocketchat-server to install on a raspberryPi with Ubuntu 20.04.
I keep getting
error: snap "rocketchat-server" is not available on stable but is available to install on the
following channels:
candidate snap install --candidate rocketchat-server
beta snap install --beta rocketchat-server
edge snap install --edge rocketchat-server
Please be mindful pre-release channels may include features not completely tested or
implemented. Get more information with 'snap info rocketchat-server'.
I tried multiple times with different flavors of Ubuntu and kept running into problems :(
Great article! I think some of your use cases can benefit when using content addressable systems. Especially, your library box is an very interesting use case for an ipfs or hypercore (before dat) applications. Ipfs and hypercore establish a synch mechanism between nodes, that can increase your reliability and resilience of content providing mechanism. In some way maybe your local social media could also benefit of the scuttlebut infrastructure. A nice article which sums up some key points https://thenewstack.io/scuttlebutt-decentralize-and-escape-the-social-media-rat-race/
Beyond that the offline first (https://offlinefirst.org/) and off-grid/decentralised web community (. https://youtube.com/c/AdjyLeak especially the radical networks conference playlist) has developed some very interesting strategies for resilience content distribution
All the best
I have just mirrored the library mentioned here: https://anarchosolarpunk.substack.com/i/63732974/book-repository on my GAFAM(T)-free NextCloud account, hosted by a friendly foundation in Poland (anonymous read-only access, decompressed: https://nch.pl/s/Zf2AfSyp4HaYkPK). Dear OP, I can give you an R/W link, or help set up your own instance, if you care.
I can also provide some guidance regarding other non-GAFAM(T) resources. Whoever is interested, please talk to me directly (not sure how to do it here – I am new to Substack).
Woah this is amazing thanks friend!
Epic work. Will it be ok if I translate it to Polish and do some adjustments according to my experience and Polish context? I will also try to formulate some suggestions how to improve it.
In solidarity,
Petros
Of course! Feel free to do whatever you want, I always like sharing my work in a free and open way. I would love to see it when you are done!
Hi currently going through the guide step-by-step. In addition to the recommendation for flashing the image you are using so others can just 'plug-and-play', I would in the meantime like to give a helpful little bit for others: ubuntu on the pi can be dreadfully slow, especially when messing with the browser, (in the future, I would like to personally look into doing a build that requires no desktop for better speed and performance), so here is how to download the books directly from the command line, bypassing the web browser.
wget --load-cookies /tmp/cookies.txt "https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&confirm=$(wget --quiet --save-cookies /tmp/cookies.txt --keep-session-cookies --no-check-certificate 'https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1pqJPKT-eZUNuaL2-lo3jeJLr_Oyxj1t4' -O- | sed -rn 's/.*confirm=([0-9A-Za-z_]+).*/\1\n/p')&id=1pqJPKT-eZUNuaL2-lo3jeJLr_Oyxj1t4" -O FILENAME && rm -rf /tmp/cookies.txt