Meetups/Infra/2025-01-06

• Lesson/Demo Review: Important tools and resources related to self-hosting, encrypted messaging, and project management were discussed, along with ongoing projects and goals for the year.
• Workflows Shared: Participants demonstrated their command-line setups and tools like `just`, `neovim`, and `vimium` to facilitate workflow enhancement.
• Infra Hosting Trends: Discussion included the significance of self-hosted solutions to reduce reliance on corporate services and improve control over personal data.
• Future Plans and Discussions: Ideas for future readings, exercises, and collaborative efforts were suggested, with an emphasis on ongoing learning and networking.

Introductions

• Loren - like to talk about infra here, sign up on lu.ma -- want to be better this year about picking topics.
• Doug - like computers -- building a mobile server rack, starlink
• Cloud - zero background in infrastructure, friends with security ppl, encryption or tor, servers not responding. No goals besides discovering what's out there
• Kevin - infrastructure & sysadmin at work, home lab at home, like to come here and see what people are working
• Michael - working on GPU software at dayjob, interested in all the things -- figuring out what infrastructure means. Interested in meeting people, just moved here 6 months ago.
• Ryan - work in infrastructure for AI. 3) aspirations, improve my home infrastructure
• Greg - programmer, interested in self-sovereign and self-hosted computing systems in general

the magic roundabout swindon

Lesson or Demo

• Read aloud: clarify for meetup. We are taking notes in a riseup pad (or I am--help appreciated, and links). We have meeting notes posted to the wiki. noisebridge.net, search Infra, or Meetups/Infra. (the Infrastructure page has a disambiguation link.)
• Shell, web services, self-hosting, networking!

• Get on lu.ma pls, with an email of your choosing.
• Hosting since last time?

https://github.com/CorentinTh/enclosed - Enclosed encrypted message system https://github.com/kieraneglin/pinchflat - Pinchflat youtube archiver

YouTube takedowns. InfoSec,

3d printed guns -- requirement to request serial number. Channel takedowns.

NB'er, elimisteve, Steve Philips https://github.com/EffectiveAF/effective - e2e project management

• loren:goal - write a tool to parse our goals, and notes broadly, track longitudinally over time.

• Goals for the year -- for the group? In cooperation with individuals.

it's nice to see people's workflows 
how people have set up their command-line, their ai thing, etc.
  a good way to springboard conversation. start conversation, spin off conversation
same vein, trying to get away from the power law, brands, free providers, etc. greg talked about self-hosted git. radicle / forge-io(?). 
  marginalia.nu (looks like a few sites/functions/domains offered), best known https://marginalia-search.com/

 search.feep.dev

self-hosted infra meetup-host-tool, record, stream, (transcribe), 

kevin -- TPU-usb 
google coral. https://coral.ai/products/

doug: interested in gpu arbitrage, 
nvidia jetsen nano. Kevin: tractor.

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-are-the-cheapest-r-pi-bea-Mt2xyAWLTZGRztJQWTtE3w#0

When considering affordable single-board computers (SBCs) with PCIe support, particularly for newer GPUs, there are a few options to consider:

## Affordable SBCs with PCIe Support

### Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4

The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4) with an appropriate carrier board is one of the most cost-effective options for PCIe support[1]. However, it's important to note that:

- The CM4 itself has limited PCIe lanes (1x PCIe Gen 2)
- Availability and pricing can be inconsistent
- A carrier board is required for PCIe functionality

### Orange Pi 5 Plus

The Orange Pi 5 Plus is a more powerful alternative, priced at around $152[3]. It offers:

- Rockchip RK3588 8-core CPU
- 16GB RAM
- PCIe 3.0 x4 slot

While more expensive than a basic Raspberry Pi, it provides significantly more performance and PCIe capabilities.

### BeagleBone Black

The BeagleBone Black, while an option, does not natively support PCIe without additional hardware[6]. It's more focused on GPIO and industrial applications rather than high-performance computing or GPU support.

## PCIe Lanes and GPU Compatibility

For the newest GPUs, which typically require PCIe x16 lanes for full performance, most affordable SBCs fall short. However:

- Some GPUs can function in x8 or x4 slots with reduced performance
- PCIe bifurcation (splitting lanes) is possible on some boards, but may require specific UEFI/BIOS support[7]

## Considerations

1. **Limited PCIe Lanes**: Most affordable SBCs offer at most PCIe 3.0 x4, which may bottleneck high-end GPUs.
2. **Power Constraints**: SBCs often lack the power delivery capabilities required for modern GPUs.
3. **Size Mismatch**: Full-size GPUs may not physically fit with most SBC setups without significant modifications.

For the best balance of affordability and PCIe capability, the Orange Pi 5 Plus stands out among the options discussed. However, for full GPU compatibility, you may need to consider more expensive mini-ITX or micro-ATX solutions rather than traditional SBCs.

Citations:
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/SBCs/comments/ttgz2f/cheap_singleboard_computer_with_pcie/
[2] https://www.electronicshub.org/how-many-pcie-lanes-do-i-have/
[3] https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-raspberry-pi-alternative/
[4] https://forum.autonomi.community/t/best-single-board-computers-under-200/3422
[5] https://www.singleboardsystems.com/singleboards/thd8141/
[6] https://jfrog.com/connect/post/comparison-of-the-top-5-single-board-computers/
[7] https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php
[8] https://www.seeedstudio.com/blog/2020/10/20/raspberry-pi-alternatives-17-best-single-board-computers-in-2020/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express#Comparison_table PCIe is at 7.0, <= x16 lanes.

https://github.com/pikvm/pikvm https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2021/raspberry-pi-kvms-compared-tinypilot-and-pi-kvm-v3

http://l2w.hatnote.com/

Quick Demos, of workflow

• Just - from Greg, also a contributor to the project

justfile

make is a tool supremely suited for building C projects in the 1980s.

just is a command runner.  Mainly trying to replace the .PHONY in your Makefiles.
https://github.com/casey/just  https://just.systems

• neovim + lazy.nvim
• vimium in browser. with numeric hinting
• ddgr
• uvx
• https://github.com/tmux-python/tmuxp

ressurect for tmux reopening

Questions, Discussion, or Coworking

• [Issue]

For next time

Feedback, Suggestions, Offer to Present

https://pol.is/m/3dmuc7ndsn
https://lu.ma/noisebridge infra meetup event tonight -- sign up, to be reached in the future.
https://forms.gle/fmhKQQyz7BZjpKj59

Readings & Exercises

• Readings
• Exercises

Join online

• Try it yourself!
  • Join libera.chat #nb-meetup-infra

https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Meetups/Infra

The ease of obtaining a license for making vodka, operating a bank, or manufacturing firearms depends on various factors, including the jurisdiction, specific regulatory requirements, and the level of oversight for each industry. Here's a comparison: 1. Making Vodka (Alcohol Production) Regulatory Body: In the U.S., alcohol production is regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and state alcohol regulatory agencies. Requirements: Federal Distilled Spirits Plant (DSP) permit. Compliance with zoning laws and building permits. Bonding, tax reporting, and record-keeping requirements. Approval of labeling and marketing. Challenges: Moderate. The licensing process involves paperwork, compliance with local laws, and inspections, but it's relatively straightforward for those with a compliant facility. 2. Operating a Bank Regulatory Body: Banks are regulated by entities like the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Federal Reserve, FDIC, and state banking authorities. Requirements: Submission of a detailed business plan, financial projections, and proof of capital adequacy. Vetting of directors, officers, and significant shareholders. Demonstration of public need and economic viability. Ongoing compliance with banking regulations (e.g., anti-money laundering, customer protection laws). Challenges: High. Banking is one of the most heavily regulated industries, with stringent capital requirements, rigorous background checks, and extensive regulatory oversight. 3. Manufacturing Firearms Regulatory Body: In the U.S., firearms manufacturing is regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Requirements: Federal Firearms License (FFL) for manufacturing. Compliance with local zoning and business laws. Record-keeping and serialization of manufactured firearms. Strict adherence to the Gun Control Act (GCA) and other firearm laws. Challenges: Moderate to high. While the application process for an FFL is clear, manufacturers face regular ATF inspections and need to meet specific security and compliance requirements. Comparison of Difficulty Easiest: Vodka Production – Though not simple, the process is more accessible and less capital-intensive than the others. Moderate: Firearms Manufacturing – The process is heavily regulated but less complex than banking. Hardest: Operating a Bank – This requires significant financial resources, compliance expertise, and regulatory approval at multiple levels.Conclusion Getting a license to produce vodka is generally easier compared to the other two, provided you meet the necessary compliance requirements. Operating a bank is the most challenging due to the capital, regulatory scrutiny, and public accountability involved.