How to Build a Home/Media Server with GNU/Linux

Update #1 Room at MIT is now confirmed.
Update #2 Additional presenter, Stan Livitski, will demonstrate a "free as in freedom" alternative to cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive, called Data Bag a.k.a. "the uncloud."

Part 1: Brendan Kidwell will show us how to use our favorite GNU/Linux distribution to build a personal home server for data storage and/or media serving.

Brendan will also discuss the dangers of entrusting your data to the "cloud," in particular a cloud service that you don't control. As an antidote, the home/personal server solution that Brendan will present shows how you can free yourself from a dependence on proprietary cloud services such as Dropbox and Google Drive.

Although Brendan will cover technical steps, his talk is 100% newbie friendly. Users at all levels of GNU/Linux experience are welcome to attend and are sure to get something out of this presentation.

Part 2: Stan Livitski will demonstrate Data Bag - http://www.data-bag.org/ - a secure and "free as in freedom" alternative to using cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive.

Meeting outline:

Motivation / why you should have your own personal server Introduction to the components and what they can do

• Your home router - providing optional off-site access. (Also Dyndns.org or similar service to provide a friendly Internet hostname.)
• Hardware - any old box or not-hot-running laptop will do
• Operating System: Ubuntu Server
• ownCloud - Personal file sharing, syncing; Calendar; Photos
• Subsonic - Audio / Video storage with browser-based playback Demo
• ownCloud
• Subconic Q&A for Brendan The "Uncloud" - Stan Livitski demonstrates Data Bag Discussion / Questions [open ended]