Maker Community Rack Agreement

Merri-bek Tech (MBT): Currently an unincorporated collective, described in detail https://www.merri-bek.tech/. Agreements with Merri-bek Tech are currently really agreements with Jade (Craig Ambrose), but will move to being with Merri-bek Tech once it incorporates

Maker Community Inc (MCI): The not-for-profit incorporated association that runs the Makerspace at 70 Saxon St, as described at https://makercommunity.org.au/

MBT wishes to run not-for-profit web hosting on computers located in the makerspace run by MCI. MBT's goals in doing so include:

• Reducing barriers for locals to use open source web software
• Building local involvement in web software, including skills development and DIY mentality
• Increasing local resilience through having software locally hosted
• Experimenting with reducing climate emissions by attempting to run the servers on renewables where possible

These goals align fairly well with MCI's goals. It's possible that there will be an overlap in interest between MCI members and MBT volunteers and users.

The reason for selecting the MCI makerspace for this web hosting installation is not because it is an ideal location (it contains dust and is often hot). Instead, it is a local hub for makers and tinkerers, and so it seems ideal for a first experimental server setup. MBT plans to have several sites across Merri-bek eventually, and it's possible that the MCI site will eventually become the experimental one that volunteers learn on, rather than the most efficient primary site.

MBT would like to use a small rack, about the size of a bar fridge, initially containing a network switch and 1-3 rack servers with room to expand to several more. This will consume power, and create heat. It will create very low levels of noise. It will be susceptible to dust. The rack will contain a network switch connected to MCI's internet connection or network in some way, and it will be using both upstream and downstream bandwidth. It will have static IPs on the MCI network, the MCI internet account will be given a static IP, and certain ports on the MCI internet gateway will be open and forwarded to the MBT rack for public hosting.