DASH Desktop and Mobile Architecture for System Hardware
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I am all for free software. I am just getting used to it. So far, so good. I am liking it a lot.
Then, this morning, I learned about DASH, which apparently dashes to pieces the privacy and the control I thought I could have over my own computer.
If like me, you were not aware of DASH, check out the link below and then ask yourself if it is not time to create a new organization that exclusively supports and promotes free hardware--if for no other reason than to protect free software.
(Or is there such an organization already? If so, please point me to it. I'll get my wallet out. If not, let's do what we can to start one today.)
This: http://dmtf.org/standards/dash sounds terrible. What good is free software when it is housed in that devilish architecture?
If hardware issues such as these are not addressed, the value of free software is diminished, perhaps destroyed.
DASH -- NEW FEATURE / BENEFIT (regardless of OS)
KVM (Keyboard, Video and Mouse) and text console redirection support - Provides the capability to manage KVM and text console redirections provided by the system.
USB and media redirection support - Provides the capability to manage USB and media redirections provided by the system.
BIOS (Basic Input Output System) Management - Provides the capability to remotely change BIOS settings.
NIC (Network Interface Card) Management - Provides management of MAC and IP addresses, DNS and DHCP configuration. Adds the capability to represent and manage a network port that provides a LAN interface and its associated controller.
Operating System Status - Enables representation of OS name/version and OS status.
Opaque Data Management (offline mailbox) - Enables manageability of data storage that can be used by management applications in band and out of band.
Software Update - Provides management interfaces for updating firmware and software.
Battery Management - Provides the capability to represent and manage batteries.
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I would like to advocate at least an "off" switch or the ability to for sure lock out those capabilities. However given the corporate and governmental lies, gag orders and what not, it is not possible to trust an off switch; that there isn't a box within a box, a tiny web server buried deep within the hardware UNLESS there is an organization, open and peer-reviewed, which can be trusted to build a clean hardware, worthy of free software.
I am not a programmer and know very little about hardware architecture, but I definitely know ONE THING, there must be an alternative to vPro and DASH and anything else that is similar to it.
There must be an organization that promotes and supports free hardware--even to the point of creating it.
The time is right for this. The money will come, somehow. The mood I see is one of distrust of both corporations and governments. Many people are ripe for an alternative. What can we do? Have you had enough? Do you want to help, somehow? I will help where I can because the current outlook is dismal.
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In searching for more information about free hardware, I found this: http://www.oshwa.org/about/
Is anyone familiar with this group OSHWA?
The history of free hardware they present seems chaotic with emphasis on logos and boards of directors and so on.
A free hardware movement seems to exist and is growing and forming into something more solid. Which is great.
However while education and awareness and definitions are important, I am interested in working toward getting something made or built or in having existing firmware opened within the next year or so. I would like to apply my efforts and funds toward something like that.
Does anyone know of anything underway that may fit that goal?
Thank you.
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Sorry, I pasted in the wrong link! Meant this one: http://www.oshwa.org/research/brief-history-of-open-source-hardware-organizations-and-definitions/
These efforts probably could use a hand
* http://lkcl.net/articles/fsf_endorseable_processor.html
* https://www.freedomboxfoundation.org/
* http://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Hardware/Freest
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Hi,
I think the problem you'd like to solve is a lot bigger of an issue to solve than you realize. It is not something that can realistically be achieved in a year. While I support your endeavors the tasks need to be more focused. For instance we need a new generation pcie wireless chipset that is 100% free software friendly (even atheros, which has been very good, hasn't released anything, and it will probably take some convincing).
A whole system could be done if there was significantly more money to work with. ThinkPenguin's 'in the loop' if something progresses although right now I'm doubtful. The costs of releasing a single model 100% free software laptop is staggering. The same is true for porting coreboot to just one model x86 laptop. I'm more concerned right now about maintaining what we have on x86 free software wise and scaling operations (at ThinkPenguin, CEO, Founder, and we're focused on this exact issue). Not only do you need people to contribute money- you need there to be demand to make any such endevour fruitful/worthwhile. If we have 2000 free software laptops and few million dollars was put into it, and only 100-200 sell.... that's one heck of an expensive laptop. At that rate you would need each of those 200 laptops to sell for $10,000 USD. Then there is still no money to show for doing it next time. You end up with a once-ever situation that hasn't moved anything closer.
"A whole system could be done if there was significantly more money to work with."
Ever thought about a Kickstarter Campaign?
With the whole prism thing, there is public interest in privacy issues.
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Yes- it's a possibility. I think we would need to bring some people in to help with such a campaign though. There would be a lot of research that would need to go into it. But... if we did for a moment do that research, figure out what it would take exactly, and raise those funds I'm not sure there would be enough people actually interested to make it happen. People are too finicky when it comes to these things.
I think at a bare minimum we would need to raise around $250,000 USD. That is probably 400 or so people willing to shell out $1,000 USD for a sub-par (compared to x86) system.
What incentive could we offer them that would offset the high price-low spec of the hardware?
I think the success or failure of the whole project depends on how you manage to communicate the benefits of such a pc (privacy etc) and explain why costs are so high.
I'm pretty sure the fsf and gnu will support the campaign; even more: the fsf should support you financially, since the building of a 100% freedom pc is an urgent freedom issue, and they receive donations in order to work on exactly this kind of problems.
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The incentive is simplicity and purity. Not everyone wants a bunch of food additives or GMOs in everything they eat or drink. Not everyone wants long lists of unpronouncable chemicals in their cleaning and laundry products. Not everyone wants the big pharma health care system to dictate how they must heal. There is room and hunger for alternatives and alternatives do not need to compete with regular markets and mainstream products. They are their own breed.
DASH is apparently the devil child of a full-of-big-corporate-names organization started in 1992 which is happily churning out more computing locks and chains and controls each year. Younger but sporadic parrallel free or open hardware organziations are concentrating on definitions, logos, and leadership challenges, quite focused on education and awareness--and at this point easy to buy free hardware (perhaps like the Lemote) is almost non-existent, likely remaining a specialty item appealing to a small dedicated market. There may never be many sales or much money there. That is the reality.
Yet much is accomplished when something is brought into existence, made available for sale. So people can kick the tires and decide what they will.
People are doing a lot of things on their phones, which was unheard of only a few years ago. Browsing and watching video via phone, no way. It's a signifcant segment now. People change. In that process, they spend and lots of other things happen.
These Beagle Boards and Rasberry Pi's have a somewhat rabid following. Look at all the things people are doing with them. How much computing power does one need?
Personally I need email and web browsing. Store a few things, a couple of spreadsheets, I could do it all on a phone if the screen was big enough, but then there is that darn tracking, so no.
I like a notebook computer like I am using now, but when I gave up a desktop probably 20 years ago, I haven't looked back. And if it comes to giving up a notebook computer to have free hardware, I also might not look back.
Things are changing. Products are changing. TV's and so on. Wow.
Apple computer started with a single circuit board if I recall. They threw in some instructions and a few other parts and thought about calling it a kit. Who could have known what was happening back then before the future unfolded? Something beyond planning got them where they are today.
Must there be plans and millions of dollars before free hardware can come into existence? I say no. It's a big world. There are niche suppliers that no one has heard of, that no one has thought of, because they aren't the usual suspects. There are unlikely partners, luck, timing, and fate. And there is God too.
I know that sounds like foolishness coming from a business major and business owner perspective--which I have, but I believe it! I've experienced it. I've had more success bumbling along than when I've planned anything. Not that I didn't try the planning approach for about 10 long years.
For me, the things I thought out didn't work. Yet people to this day regularly suggest I over analyze things. Maybe they had a point?
At this moment I don't know what to do, but as I said, I know ONE THING. And that is that there MUST be new alternatives to vPro and DASH. If for no other reason than to give free software a home. What kind of free hardware is in the pipeline now? Seems like, none?
Those new powerful and glamourous computer prisons will not do. Not with free software. That much I know.
I want to do what I can, no matter how stupid or unrealistic it may seem, to get something into existence. More opened up firmware code, a new processor such as was linked to in an earlier message, a cobbled together Beagle Board system, whatever. Something. There *needs* to be something "there". Some new hardware or firmware that is free.
In privacy forums I've seen again and again recently the most laughed at paranoids now feeling they weren't paranoid enough. And those who laughed are no longer laughing. Things have changed.
I do not have to succeed by society's standards. It's enough for me to put forth my best effort and make a dent. Then adjust. I do not have to make this effort my day or my life or my identity. Every bit I do helps. It is one extra straw that breaks the camels back. Will I be that extra straw? Probably not, but someone will be and they might not be in their place had I not been in mine.
I will continue to look for and experiment with something related to free hardware into which I can place some effort. I hope others will too. Which is why I've let myself rant like this so others might see what is inside. Crazy, stupid, naive or whatever, but maybe they'll relate to somthing, maybe something will shift and they'll decide, to commit. They will tell themselves or God, I will do something. And within the next year or so it will be done.
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Where's Fernando? Add this to the list please.
A government program called "Bullrun".
A hardware innovation called "Bull Mountain".
http://software.intel.com/en-us/blogs/2012/05/14/what-is-intelr-secure-key-technology
…as pointed out by a Johns Hopkins cryptographer and research professor.
http://blog.cryptographyengineering.com/2013/09/on-nsa.html
Anyway, it may be more "defective by design" hardware. How can we ever know?
Free software needs a proper home. Clean hardware.
Free software should not be reduced to becoming a ragged homeless beggar holding a sign that says, "Will work for freedom".