Friendly reminder that if you download software updates...

Friendly reminder that if you download software updates for Fedora or AlmaLinux from London, there's good odds that your software updates are coming from an HP thin client sitting in a road box in Surrey.

This is perfectly fine, and how free software / the Internet actually works.

#MicroMirror #Fedora #AlmaLinux #Linux #FOSS

A green two door road box sitting next to the road facing a picturesque valley opening off the side of the road.

Like 30 August at 19:47 | Open on social.afront.org

28 comments

Alyx :neocat_flag_ace:

@kwf Why and how? :neocat_laugh_nervous:

I kinda imagine there must be more convenient ways to colo a (tiny) server, even in regional areas? :neocat_think:

30 August at 19:51 | Open on alyx.social

Kenneth Finnegan

@alyx we ask for free space and power, and this is what they answered with. Not our place to question why!

30 August at 19:54 | Open on social.afront.org

Phil Dennis-Jordan 😷

@alyx @kwf If I had to guess: these boxes come in standard sizes. This particular one is rural and supplies only a handful of customers, so it has plenty of spare rack space. Unlike racks in data centres or exchanges, where space is always in short supply.
Edit: it’s probably also on the route to work (or minor detour) for a staff member at the ISP. In fact it might be the box supplying the staffer’s own home internet connection.

30 August at 20:27 | Open on mstdn.social

Hambone Fakenamington

@pmdj @alyx @kwf I'd also add.. who wants to drive hours into central London to the datacenter !

30 August at 22:26 | Open on fosstodon.org

Alyx :neocat_flag_ace:

@CenturyAvocado Well, it's probably easier to get to the DC in London, than to a random box in some rual area :neocat_laugh_nervous:

Not to mention that there is on-side staff in the DC which is probably still cheaper than driving there for yourself :neocat_laugh_nervous:

But still fun that they did that.
It is free, unused space, and you have internet there. So guess it makes sense.

Just imagined that the overhead caused by the uniqueness of it isn't worth it.

@CenturyAvocado Well, it's probably easier to get to the DC in London, than to a random box in some rual area :neocat_laugh_nervous:

Not to mention that there is on-side staff in the DC which is probably still cheaper than driving there for yourself :neocat_laugh_nervous:

But still fun that they did that.
It is free, unused space, and you have internet there. So guess it makes sense.

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30 August at 22:32 | Open on alyx.social

Álex Sáez

@kwf that’s pretty cool! Why is that? Is there some history about it?

30 August at 19:52 | Open on fosstodon.org

Kenneth Finnegan

@alexsaezm We made a call for any ISPs in the UK who could host one of our MicroMirrors because of how short the country was for Fedora mirrors. B4SH answered our call, and this was the best place for them to deploy it for some reason.

https://blog.thelifeofkenneth.com/2023/05/building-micro-mirror-free-software-cdn.html

30 August at 19:53 | Open on social.afront.org

Álex Sáez

@kwf oh wow, that’s awesome! I had no idea. Now I wonder how the situation for Fedora mirrors in Spain is… never check those things

30 August at 20:18 | Open on fosstodon.org

Kenneth Finnegan

@alexsaezm I see 4 mirrors in ES, so not great, not terrible. Certainly better than the single 1G mirror in GB when we started.

30 August at 20:22 | Open on social.afront.org

mivox :ri:

@kwf @tychotithonus 😂 I love this. Most scenic software repository ever? Perhaps!

30 August at 19:55 | Open on mivox.net

Kenneth Finnegan

Context: @warthog9 and I run a managed appliance service called MicroMirror, where we take cash donations (https://en.liberapay.com/phirephly/) and use them to deploy free software download mirrors based on the cheapest hardware possible.

https://blog.thelifeofkenneth.com/2023/05/building-micro-mirror-free-software-cdn.html

The B4SH ISP in Surrey volunteered to host one of our appliances in their network, so they donate space, power, and transit capacity for the server we ship them to just plug in. For some reason, this was the best spot for them to plug this server is. 🤷

We are up to 35 of these Micro sized download mirrors worldwide. Because these sorts of things just tend to get out of hand for me.

https://blog.thelifeofkenneth.com/2023/05/building-micro-mirror-free-software-cdn.html

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30 August at 20:01 | Open on social.afront.org

Apicultor 🐝

@kwf @warthog9 Very surprised to see an ISP using #ZyXEL gear in their core network; they have a TERRIBLE security track record.

30 August at 20:54 | Open on hachyderm.io

Hambone Fakenamington

@apicultor @kwf @warthog9 It's the standard "CPE / customer router" just providing wifi for visiting engineers, there's usually no cell reception in the areas covered. The switches and p2p fibre patch panels are out of shot at the top of the cabinet. The #MicroMirror and customers are direct into the switch.