Since we completed the Mazi pilot back at end of 2018 and refocussed effort onto DigitalMarkers, so many expectations have been disturbed. In the wake of our foolish exit from European Union, covid pandemic and horror of wars in Ukrainian, Yemon etc. it’s perhaps no surprise there is little pressing interest in such offline network research.
However, SPC attempts at seeding the knowledge and experience gained are ongoing with a range of micro server and local network installations.
Both the Dietpi and Open Media Vault projects have paid a particular part in the shaping of these explorations where more reliable broadband and platform development coincide with local network demands. Each presents comprehensive applications that run well enough on Raspberry Pi SBC but even better on repurposed micro PC hardware. Drawing minimal energy at modest cost they are very adaptable and easily interconnected and repurposed where needed.
Our original OMV first built in 2010, still runs on a vintage single core xeon HP server class workstation we pulled from a skip. It’s currently hosted at Deptford Housing Coop on their 1GB fibre lease line, where some SPC subscriber ‘timecapsules’ and work in progress is held.. Since first establishing this server at Deckspace we have gone on to build a further 5 for groups we support, where they seek flexibility for locally accessible bulk storage and granular access permited.
At home We run a couple of HP i5 thin clients that get the most vigorous testing and rebuilding as consequence of numorous experimental accidents! ASH holds a set of device monitoring and one of 4 Docker/Portainer kitchens, an SSB room, Meshtastic base node and SRT relay. Our very ancient Synology NAS hasn’t failed us though we keep things very simple there to reduce its flakeyness. It too offers a huge range of plugin services each though impacts performance of the whole all too easily, the DIY alternatives are better suited and empowered.
The earliest DietPi installation where we tested basic thin-client PC’s is at Co-oPepys community arts club. It hosts colleboration documents and archive materials of the charities operation in 60’s Pepys Estate since 1985 at a Nextcloud instance for co-ordination with members.
Over at Brixton Hill Studios their OMV runs on a Dell i5 desktop PC that serves up studio resources for recorded sessions, video production and workstation backup, filling a lot of storage space over the Samba network. Their GB Fibre service from TalkTalk Business also makes it possible to interact with all the vital production files at maximum speed practical from anywhere. The Windmill Brixton, links up over a fast wireless link to share broadband for streaming live shows too!
Studio Gil is a community architecture practice based at Spacestudios in Redbridge Town Hall where design documents and building information management tools are shared between home working and studio based architects. Their OMV runs very well on a repurposed Lenovo i5 ThinkCentre, such a tiny well formed unit, it’s the best for the job we have found so far!
Spacestudios have a large network of Art Studios across East London that increasingly present very fast fibre leaseline or fibre to the premises access over wireless for all their artist tenants.
Where we have been called into oversee fibre installation or upgrade and optimise existing wireless access point infrastructures, it’s been possible to sprinkle a few of these micro PC’s into the mix.
Now we are developing some syndicated platform services for artists their and working partners. Pilot installations in their Timber Wharf and Haymerle buildings are yet to be populated, the retreat from public life has been profound.
We wrapped up research on Digital Markers during covid isolation with launch of the Crumbles Castle pilot (currently offline) and similar Raspberry Pi4 installation at Active Play Hub with Elizabeth Wright at St Martins UAL, utilising DietPi’s excellent platform framework and optimised software library.
Our efforts to pioneer the use of these tools in public for intervention and engagement have yet to catch on as anticipated but have inspired attention and fostered relationships for future collaborations.
A DietPi running on a Pi4 at Voltaire Studios was introduced soon after artists returned to take up residence at the newly refurbished studio complex near Clapham Common.
Pete Gomes is hosting the installation and customising the artist pages to present media sharing and co-aurthoring services for use by those connecting to the studio wireless network.
When we rescued Yoshi’s treasures we transported them for stacking and sorting at Limehouse Town Hall this year, we activated some of his legacy PC storage with OMV. Now we also host collections of newly digitised collections alongside his image library from laptops hard drives etc. This installation now also offers PhotoPrism AI image system to sort chronologically, themed and project albums for us. The further filtering and cataloging of his huge image library of photographs and transparencies is ongoing at Limehouse Town Hall most Wednesdays fron noon.
Most recently we have been supporting some research and development work underway at Signware a printshop at foot of Blackheath Hill, Greenwich. Their OMV runs on a low power PC to hold their numerous client project file directories. There is also a growing repository of vintage print software required to run their wide age range of 3D, cnc cutters, vinyl, wide format colour, T-Shirt and high volume paper printers.
We added an A3 colour inkjet to their collection and appropriated some of their storage space for sorting of recently gifted servers, PC screens and laser printers. Their sibling company MDR Systems designs, manufactures and distributes solar LED street lighting and traffic systems here in South East London, Uganda and Tanzania, more about that here later!
