[DATAGOV Core] infrastructure: my 1c

[Jonas Breuer]

Can you let me know if you will answer Seda and Joris her or if I should?

I understand that perhaps you prefer to be independent from any centralised (and in the case of Surf even government related) organisation. But on the other hand, I do believe in the power of groups and collaboration as well. I do not know the exact nature of Surf etc. though but I think this might be interesting to consider.



From: Core <core-bounces at lists.datagovlab.net> on behalf of Stefania Milan via Core <core at lists.datagovlab.net>
Date: Wednesday, 3 December 2025 at 21:59
To: Federico Bonelli <fredd at trasformatorio.net>, core at lists.datagovlab.net <core at lists.datagovlab.net>
Subject: Re: [DATAGOV Core] infrastructure: my 1c

Thanks, Federico!
I had literally zero time to reflect on this, and there are promising messages from and via Seda.. but I will read tomorrow with fresher eyes.
What I want to clarify is that the budget we spend on infrastructure is budget for consumables and infrastructures, and the like (open access fees, buying whatever we may need like recorders or whatever). Unfortunately, it is not and cannot be for personnel. Budgets cannot be moved around that way. This should make us worry less to spend money for infrastructure.
More soon! Stefania

From: Core <core-bounces at lists.datagovlab.net> on behalf of Federico Bonelli via Core <core at lists.datagovlab.net>
Date: Wednesday, 3 December 2025 at 09:18
To: core at lists.datagovlab.net <core at lists.datagovlab.net>
Subject: [DATAGOV Core] infrastructure: my 1c


Dear all,

I write about the problem of having a workable and easy access file sharing space outside the microsoft tied UvA cloud.

As we understood there are rules and limitations: from UvA policy, from greenhost. the hosting service Stefania fought to use within the previous project.

As I have learned from Stefania yesterday Greenhost nextcloud service if hosted by them is quite costly. It would almost need during the years of the project of as much resources as a kickstart event !

of the two alternative solutions I proposed, a) self hosting is explicitly forbidden by the ethical commission and b) alternative hosting on another provider that offers nextcloud as a service is not practicable because of the administrative overhead it would imply.

Yes, I can arrange a nextcloud installation on a virtual machine on greenhost. Is about 6 times more expensive than an independent provider that has not the "green" in the name. But it would be slow and space would cost us. Plus I would be the only point of contact in case of malfunctions or mistakes. I am a fiddler not a professional administrator, and I don't want to be the point of failure of our important tech backbone.

As I see it, at the moment to have a shared file vault is necessary, and for the day to day organisation we are already using it. We have freedom to set up and control mailing lists (thanks Stef) and so obfuscate a bit our contact list to m$ ;) and many more things can be done for our independence from a US infrastructure, and documented could be interesting for the project. But as it is now is a status quo we must deal with.

My proposal is to go with it for now and start focusing on a system to keep relevant data away from windows but still available for us.

It can be done if necessary using cryptography, installing a offline vault with redundance in the office and in many other fun to do ways. I am testing now a small project that goes in that direction, but is going to be used for a surprise, if it works ;)

The spared money can be better used to pay for people to work with us, loads of excellent artists are starving and their work can be more relevant for the project imho than a "green" host.

f

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