Operational structure of Tachanka!

Colocation level, configuration + maintenance of hardware

Tachanka maintains a couple of servers distributed throughout data centers around the world. Each server is configured to host [linux-vservers|​http://linux-vserver.org], which allow for complete isolation of separate software systems with the lowest possible hardware overheads. In other words, a high emphasis is placed on security whilst optimising the performance of the services we provide.

Server level, configuration and maintenance of host systems

The host collective, Tachanka, is made up of members of the many involved collectives. Each of us knows at least two others involved; there is a strong web-of-trust, with the Tachanka servers acting as a cross-pollination ground for inter-activist education and support. The base systems are maintained with a minimum of services and a tight security policy; all systems run [Debian|​http://www.debian.org].

Virtual server level, configuration and maintenance of guest OS's (vservers)

There are a few groups that currently run their own individualised vservers:

• golo.plentyfact.org
  • contact:: startx@…
• saone.tachanka.org
  • contact:: anarchopedia-tech@…
• elle.tachanka.org
  • contact:: millosh@…

Service level and hosted applications

DNS

• We currently host caching nameservice for the hosted vservers, but will be hosting an authoritative name service shortly.

Mail/Lists

• Email is currently not provided by Tachanka, but it is possible to get accounts via some of the collectives involved: look at ​aktivix for further details.

• Lists are provided on one of the vservers. We are able to provide individual lists through some of the collectives involved (​aktivix). If you wish to provide multiple lists, it may be possible to set them up under a new domain name. Please contact us for more information.

Drupal

One of the vservers is providing a Drupal farm. This is currently being used to host a few small indymedia sites.

MySQL/Databases

MySQL databases for the various content management systems are provided securely via a vserver on the internal interface only; there are daily, encrypted backups, and the data is only accessible to the application which is using it.

Munin and Nagios Monitoring

All vservers are monitored by the Tachanka collective via ​munin graphs and ​nagios service monitoring. Tachanka also provides munin monitoring for some other collectives.

TOR

Tachanka believes that anonymous access to the internet is a right, rather than a privilege, hence we provide a [TOR|​http://tor.eff.org] anonymous proxy server.

Social bookmarking

​https://links.aktivix.org is running a del.icio.us style bookmarking system that is based on the perl software, Rubric, by Ricardo Signes. However, this is going to be removed due to lack of use.

APT repository proxy cache server

All vservers hosted on the 'shadow' server are able to access the locally hosted APT package repository proxy cache server in order to save bandwidth for the colocation facility (and thus themselves).

The following package repositories are available as of December 2006:

(01) Debian
     Source:   http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian (and others)
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/debian

(02) Debian Security
     Source:   http://security.debian.org/debian-security
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/debian-security

(03) Ubuntu
     Source:   http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/ubuntu

(04) Ubuntu Security
     Source:   http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/ubuntu-security

(05) Backports.org (Debian Sarge Backports)
     Source:   http://backports.org/debian
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/backports_org

(06) Riseup.net Labs (Debian packages with privacy patches)
     Source:   http://deb.riseup.net/debian
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/riseup-labs

(07) Debian-Multimedia.org (Debian multimedia packages - restrictive 
     licenses)
     Source:   http://www.debian-multimedia.org
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/debian-multimedia_org

(08) Rarewares Unstable (Debian multimedia packages - restrictive 
     licenses)
     Source:   http://www.rarewares.org/debian/packages/unstable
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/rarewares_org-unstable

(09) Rarewares Experimental (Debian multimedia packages - restrictive 
     licenses)
     Source:   http://www.rarewares.org/debian/packages/experimental
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/rarewares_org-experimental

(10) SysCP packages for Debian
     Source:   http://debian.syscp.de
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/debian-syscp

(11) Debian Backports to Sarge by Dirk Prösdorf
     Source:   http://www.proesdorf.de/debian
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/proesdorf

(12) CPAN modules for Debian
     Source:   http://debian.pkgs.cpan.org/debian
     Location: http://shadow-apt.tachanka.org/debian-cpan

You are welcome to request any additions to this list.

Static html mirror server

Tachanka supports the ​Indymedia network by hosting some mirrors of different sites.

This server also hosts some websites of individuals and small projects.

---

about | contact | donate | services | solidarity