'''The Grid''' is Freeside's local software development and hosting platform. Originally a storage closet, the server room is now home to a half-rack containing all of our computer systems infrastructure. The Grid came online on May 9th, 2025, and will, perhaps alarmingly, never, ever die.

== Current System Specifications ==
Our main server is an [https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=c00752093 HP ProLiant DL380 G5], vintage 2009. Some detailed specs:

* 2x Intel Xeon E5440 (8 cores @ 2.83GHz, no Hyper-Threading)
* 16GB RAM (8x 2GB 667Mhz FB-DIMMs)
* 6x (mostly) 10kRPM 300GB 2.5" SAS HDDs in RAID5 (1.36TB available)
* Running Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS

Capable enough to start. Upgrades forthcoming.

== Projects ==
The original project idea was for this system to serve as a NAS, and it's currently doing so for Linux systems via nfs. Win10/11 machines are a little more finicky as they reject guest connections to remote systems in their group policy by default. We're in the process of configuring samba for these clients.

Proposed future projects include an LLM-based bot to answer questions about the space such as tool locations and Freeside storytime, a Discourse server to potentially get us off of (a rapidly enshittfying) Discord, various tools to help the admin crew manage the space, personal member containers for their own development, a general learning environment for folks who are new to Linux-based systems, and plenty of other neat apps.

If you have an idea for a cool project that you'd like to host, let us know at #the-grid on Freeside's Discord server!

== How-To The Grid ==
If this is your first time connecting to a Linux server, consider checking out the [[#Basic Navigation Syntax|Basic Navigation Syntax]] section below.

To connect to The Grid, you'll need a sysadmin to configure your user. This process involves actually creating your user account on the system, creating your home directory, setting its permissons, and setting your default shell. Notably, this does not involve creating a password to login with as we are not currently allowing password-based login. Instead, you'll need to run 'ssh-keygen' on your own system, which should create an ed25519 keypair. Once you run this command, you should have two files available to you: id_ed25519, and id_ed25519.pub - these are your private and public keys, respectively.

Your sysadmin will need to have a copy of either the id_ed25519.pub file or its contents (this is a plaintext file). Make absolutely certain that you are providing them with the id_ed25519.pub file and not the id_ed25519 file as the latter is your private key which should '''''absolutely never be shown''''' to anyone other than yourself, and should be kept under lock and key of restrictive file permissions, readable only by your user. The public key, however, can happily be shown to most anyone as it facilitates secure authentication such as in the case of this ssh connection.

Once your user is configured with your id_ed25519.pub and permissions set appropriately on all files and directories, you should be able to connect to the server via ssh with the following command:

<pre>ssh thegrid.freesideatlanta.org -p 19820</pre>

If your local username differs from your user as configured on the server, you may need to run the command as follows:

<pre>ssh <remote username>@thegrid.freesideatlanta.org -p 19820</pre>

=== Congratulations, User! You are now on The Grid! ===

[[File:WelcomeToTheGrid51p.png]]

Unless something broke.

In that case, contact your sysadmin.

== Basic Navigation Syntax ==

'''File Management'''
* ls - Lists files and directories
* touch <filename> - Creates an empty file or updates the last accessed date
* cp <source> <destination> - Copies files from source to destination
* mv <source> <destination> - Moves files or renames them
* rm <filename> - Deletes a file

'''Directory Navigation'''
* pwd - Displays the current directory path
* cd <directory> - Changes the current directory
* mkdir <dirname> - Creates a new directory

'''Searching and Finding'''
* grep <search_pattern> <file> - Quick search for text in a given file
* find [directory] -name <search_pattern> - Search for files under a given path

'''Running Commands'''
* [command] & - Runs command in the background
* jobs - Displays background commands
* fg <command number> - Brings command to the foreground

'''Getting Help'''
* man <command> - Produces the manual for a given command, but not always available
* <command> --help - Depending on the command, produces a short help text
* <command> -h - Depending on the command, produces a short help text
* <command> -? - Depending on the command, produces a short help text
* <command> <screwing it up> - Depending on the command, produces a short help text
* rtfm - Not usually a command, just classic advice - 'read the fucking manual'

'''Much Cooler Things'''

There a far too many commands to list here. If you're curious what that list actually looks like, try running this one:

* compgen -c

Feel free to peruse that, run 'man <command>' if you're curious, but it's not even close to all of them, so probably more comfortably, consider checking out some Ubuntu tutorials online and/or ask for help at #the-grid on Freeside's Discord server. If you hate the terminal, ask about graphical interfaces. Linux distributions have access to some really great ones of all sorts, and they're usually extremely customisable.

There is so much depth here, and you can do some incredibly neat stuff given a little determination. Again, just ask a lot of questions, and have fun!

== Dev Log ==

We'll get to it, jeez.

2023-01-15T22:57:49Z

Jake:

2022-05-05T22:28:09Z

Jake:

We get a lot of requests for materials shop recommendations, so here's a list of spots where you can buy stuff to make stuff.

=== Wood ===
[https://www.peachstatelumber.com/ Peach State Lumber] Large sheet goods, often better than Home Depot prices.

[https://www.rarewoodsandveneers.com/ Rare Woods & Veneers] AKA Carlton's, an Atlanta classic with a huge selection of fancy species.

=== Metal ===
[http://www.imsornamental.com/ IMS Ornamental Steel] - Decorative metals, but also standard stock. The entire support structure for our auto bay ramp came from IMS.

[https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/location/atlanta-south/ Metal Supermarket] - South Atlanta, fairly close to Freeside.

[https://www.onlinemetals.com/en/location-and-hours/atlanta Online Metals] - NW Atlanta, fairly not close to Freeside.

Jake: Created page with "Testing...."

Testing....

Info

2022-02-16T05:36:33Z

Jake:

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'''Freeside Atlanta''' (est. 2009) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit work space built entirely by volunteers.

Located just south of downtown Atlanta, we are a community of makers, tinkerers, engineers, programmers, artists, teachers, and lunatics. As a community, we have built out our space with tools and equipment for electronics, 3D printing, woodworking, metalworking, art, design, [[Classes|classes]], and events. Everything you see in [[Our Space|our space]] was donated or built by members.

Our members are engaged in amazing [[Projects|projects]] and love to share knowledge. We also develop and work with open source and free technology wherever possible, and try to release our creations under variants of the [https://creativecommons.org/licenses Creative Commons license].

You don't have to be a Freeside member to come to our events or take our classes. We encourage you to come out to the '''Tuesday night Open House''' that we have every second and fourth Tuesday at 7:30 PM, or to any of the other public classes or events that we have on [http://www.meetup.com/Freeside-Atlanta Meetup]. Come check the place out and see if this is a community that you'd be interested in [[Joining|joining]]!

== Our Mission ==

Freeside Technology Spaces, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, strives to provide a space that inspires collaboration, creativity, teaching, and open projects for the Atlanta community.

== Our Space ==

We built our space into different areas to consolidate where we work on stuff in the space. You can check out the different areas of our space [[Our_Space | here]]. We are located at:

3043 Commerce Way<br>
Atlanta, GA 30354

There are [[Detailed Directions|detailed directions]] to our space to help you find the place.


== Past Projects ==

Interesting [[Projects | projects]] going on at our space:
* An under $2000 [http://blog.freesideatlanta.org/2013/03/super-cheap-and-effective-off-road.html Off Road Wheelchair] art project
* A [http://blog.freesideatlanta.org/2012/04/draft-freesiders-hackers-collaborate-in.html published white paper] for an open collaboration to 3D print CT scans for pre-surgery planning
* An interactive [https://wiki.freesideatlanta.org/fs/Infinity_Portal Infinity Mirror Archway] art project for Alchemy
* [http://www.learntosolder.org/ LearnToSolder.org] - started by a member for Atlanta's Mini Maker Faire (before we had a full Maker Faire)
* [https://wiki.freesideatlanta.org/fs/Gaze Gaze Tracking in Rookie and Veteran Surgeons] - Another medical collaboration examining how diagnosticians look at x-rays.
* The [[JAM]] (Joy's Art Machine): A machine that gifts art


== Freeside in Photos ==

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</gallery>

== Boop ==