SDF Public Access Unix System: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Shell provider}}

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[[File:SDF Heart.jpg|thumb|The heart of SDF with a few spares. This also includes the diaspora pod, the Plan9 cluster and the bifrost cluster. (tour 2012)]]

'''Super Dimension Fortress''' (abbreviated as ''SDF'', also known as freeshell.org) is a [[non-profit]] public access [[UNIX]] [[shell provider]] on the [[Internet]]. It has been in continual operation since 1987 as a non-profit [[social club]]. The name is derived from the Japanese [[anime]] series ''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross]]''; the original SDF server was a [[Bulletin board system|BBS]] created by Ted Uhlemann for fellow Japanese anime fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heise.de/netze/meldung/PUBNIX-System-SDF-1-feiert-20-jaehriges-Jubilaeum-140770.html |title=PUBNIX-System SDF-1 feiert 20-jähriges Jubiläum &#124; heise Netze |date=18 June 2007 |publisher=Heise.de |access-date= |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref> From its BBS roots, which have been well documented as part of the ''[[BBS: The Documentary]]'' project, SDF has grown into a [[Software feature#Feature-rich software and feature creep|feature-rich]] provider serving members around the world.

==Services==

SDF provides free [[Unix shell]] access, [[World Wide Web|web]] hosting and many other features at the user membership level. Additional programs, capabilities and resources are available at "patron" and "sustaining" level memberships, which are granted with one-time or recurring dues in support of the SDF system.

SDF provides free [[Unix shell]] access and [[World Wide Web|web]] hosting to its users. In addition, SDF provides increasingly rare services such as [[Dial-up Internet access|dial-up internet access]], and [[Gopher (protocol)|Gopher]] hosting <ref>{{cite web|title=SDF Provides Free Unix Shell Account And Shell Access To All|url=https://www.ostechnix.com/sdf-provides-free-shell-account-and-shell-access-to-all/|website=OSTechNix|publisher=Senthil Kumar Palani, OSTechNix |date=21 January 2020|accessdate=6 July 2020}}</ref>. SDF is one of very few organizations in the world still actively promoting the gopher protocol<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to Floodgap Systems' official gopher server|url=http://gopher.floodgap.com/gopher/gw|website=Floodgap Systems|publisher=Cameron Kaiser|accessdate=6 July 2020}}</ref>, an alternate protocol that existed at the introduction of the modern World Wide Web.<ref>{{cite web|title=Where have all the gophers gone?|url=https://ils.unc.edu/callee/gopherpaper.htm|website=University of Michigan School of Information|publisher=Christopher (Cal) Lee|accessdate=8 January 2017}}</ref>

The SDF network of systems that serves its membership currently includes [[NetBSD]] servers for regular use (running on [[DEC Alpha]]- and [[Opteron|AMD Opteron]]-powered hardware) as well as [[retrocomputing]] environments: a [[TOPS-20|TWENEX]] system running the Panda Distribution TOPS-20 MONITOR 7.1 on two [[XKL]] TOAD-2 computers,<ref>{{cite web|title=Twenex Public Access System|url=http://www.twenex.org/?network|website=Twenex|accessdateaccess-date=8 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite andweb|title=Twenex History|url=http://twenex.org/?history|website=Twenex|access-date=11 October 2021}}</ref> a [[Symbolics]] [[Genera (operating system)|Genera]] system, and an [[Incompatible Timesharing System|ITS]] system<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hactrn.org/ |title=Home |website=hactrn.org}}</ref>

SDF also hosts its own instances of [[social media]] websites from the [[fediverse]], including a [[Mastodon_(software)|Mastodon]] microblogging service,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mastodon at SDF|url=https://mastodon.sdf.org|website=mastodon.sdf.org|access-date=10 June 2023}}</ref> a [[Pixelfed]] image sharing service,<ref>{{cite web|title=Pixelfed at SDF|url=https://pixelfed.sdf.org|website=pixelfed.sdf.org|access-date=10 June 2023}}</ref> and a [[Lemmy (software)|Lemmy]] link aggregator with discussion.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lemmy at SDF|url=https://lemmy.sdf.org|website=lemmy.sdf.org|access-date=10 June 2023}}</ref> In addition, SDF hosts a [[Matrix (protocol)|Matrix]] chat server.<ref>{{cite web|title=matrix.sdf.org/|url=https://matrix.sdf.org|website=matrix.sdf.org|access-date=26 June 2023}}</ref>

=== Free Membership Services ===

SDF provides free [[Unix shell]] access and [[World Wide Web|web]] hosting to its users. In addition, SDF provides increasingly rare services such as [[Dial-up Internet access|dial-up internet access]], and [[Gopher (protocol)|Gopher]] hosting. SDF is one of very few organizations in the world still actively promoting the gopher protocol,<ref>{{cite web|title=SDFWelcome Providesto FreeFloodgap UnixSystems' Shellofficial Accountgopher And Shell Access To Allserver|url=httpshttp://wwwgopher.ostechnixfloodgap.com/sdf-provides-free-shell-account-and-shell-access-to-allgopher/gw|website=OSTechNixFloodgap Systems|publisher=Senthil Kumar Palani, OSTechNixCameron Kaiser|access-date=21 January 2020|accessdate=6 July 2020}}</ref>. SDF is one of very few organizations in the world still actively promoting the gopher protocol<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to Official FloodgapSite Systems'of officialthe gopherInternet serverGopher Club Underground Syndicate|url=http://gopher.floodgap.com/gopher/gw?gopher://gopher.club|website=Floodgap SystemsPhlogosphere.org|publisher=CameronSDF KaiserPublic Access Unix|accessdateaccess-date=611 JulyAugust 2020}}</ref>, an alternate protocol that existed at the introduction of the modern World Wide Web.<ref>{{cite web|title=Where have all the gophers gone?|url=https://ils.unc.edu/callee/gopherpaper.htm|website=University of Michigan School of Information|publisher=Christopher (Cal) Lee|accessdateaccess-date=8 January 2017}}</ref>

The system contains thousands of programs and utilities, including a [[Command-line interface|command-line]] BBS called BBOARD,<ref>{{cite web|title=BBOARD command line BBS|url=http://sdf.org/?tutorials/bboard-tutorial|website=SDF.org|publisher=SDF|accessdateaccess-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> a chat program called COMMODE,<ref>{{cite web|title=COMMODE on SDF|url=http://sdf.org/?tutorials/comnotirc#whatis|website=SDF.org|accessdateaccess-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> email programs, webmail, social networking programs, and developer tools and games. Most of the applications hosted at SDF are accessed via the command-line, and SDF provides classroomsK-12 withand college classrooms the free use of computing resources for Unix education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sdf.org/?join |title=SDF Public Access UNIX System - Free Shell Account and Shell Access |publisher=Sdf.org |access-date= |accessdate=6 July 2020}}</ref>

SDF also supports multiple [[Retrocomputing]]retrocomputing experiences, including free user accounts on [[TOPS-20]] and [[Symbolics_GeneraGenera (operating system)|Symbolics Genera]] operating systems that are running live and accessible via the internet.

=== Dues-paying membership services ===

There are additional services that are made available on SDF systems to users who apply to be "patrons" and pay a one-time dues of US$36 USDfor "Lifetime Membership" fee, and still more services available for at US$9 USD/quarter "sustaining membership", including services such as [[Nextcloud|NextCloud]], and access to a large disc-array server. At the sustaining membership level, members are authorized to validate new users to SDF's free User level of membership (otherwise, new members may submit US$1 USD to be validated).

There are also specialized privileges which patron and sustaining level users can obtain to gain access to particular technologies, including [[Electronic mailing list|mailing lists]], [[Voice over IP|Voice-over-IP]], [[Database]]s, Virtual Private Network [[Virtual private network|(VPN)]], and [[Domain registration]].

The SDF network of systems that serves its membership currently includes [[NetBSD]] servers for regular use (running on [[DEC Alpha]]- and [[Opteron|AMD Opteron]]-powered hardware) as well as retrocomputing environments: a [[TOPS-20|TWENEX]] system running the Panda Distribution TOPS-20 MONITOR 7.1,<ref>{{cite web|title=Twenex Public Access System|url=http://www.twenex.org/?network|website=Twenex|accessdate=8 January 2017}}</ref> and a [[Symbolics]] [[Genera (operating system)|Genera]] system.

==History==

In 1987, Ted Uhlemann started SDF on an [[Apple IIe]] [[microcomputer]] running "Magic City Micro-BBS" under [[Apple ProDOS|ProDOS]]. The system was run as a "Japanese Anime [[Special Interestinterest Groupgroup|SIG]]" known as the SDF-1. In 1989, Uhlemann and Stephen Jones operated SDF very briefly as a [[Citadel (software)|DragCit Citadel BBS]] before attempting to use an Intel x86 UNIX clone called [[Coherent (operating system)|Coherent]].

Unhappy with the restrictive menu driven structure of existing BBS systems, Uhlemann, Jones and Daniel Finster created a [[UNIX]] [[UNIX System V|System V]] BBS in 1990, initially running on an [[IA-32|i386]] system, which later became an [[3B series computers#3B2|AT&T 3B2]]/400 and 500, and joined the lonestar.org [[UUCP]] network. Three additional phone lines were installed in late 1991.

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In 1997, SDF (then with about 15,000 users) migrated to [[Linux]]. The migration to Linux marked a turning point, as the system started coming under attack like it never had before in its history. Jones calls the Linux period ''the dark age''.

[[File:Bye-bye-leenox.png|frameless|left|This happens when you type 'linux' as a command on SDF]] In part due to the number of attacks undertaken by malicious users against SDF, the years 2000 and 2001 saw SDF migrate from Linux to [[NetBSD]] and from Intel [[x86]] to [[DEC Alpha]]. This migration included relocation of the servers from [[Lewisville, Texas]] to [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. The Linux system was officially decommissioned on August 17, 2001. The occasion was captured in a [http://bch.sdf.org/bye-bye-leenox.htm COMMODE Log] preserved by one of SDF's users.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bch.sdf.org/bye-bye-leenox.htm |title=pooderNet: bye-bye-leenox |publisher=Bch.sdf.org |access-date= |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref> (COMMODE is a [[TOPS-20|DEC TOPS-20]] [[Online chat|chat system]] ported by Jones to [[Unix]] as an executable [[KornShell]] script.)

Although SDF Public Access UNIX System was registered as an operating business in 1993 according to the Dallas County Records Office, it wasn't until October 1, 2001, that the SDF Public Access UNIX System was formed as a [[Delaware]] not-for-profit corporation and subsequently granted [[501(c)(7)]] non-profit membership club status by the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]].<ref>{{citeCite web |title=ExemptDetails Organizationabout TaxSDF LookupPublic forAccess 'sdf public access unix system'UNIX System|url=https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/displayAll.dodetailsPage?dispatchMethodein=displayAllInfo800016172&Idname=1468604SDF%20PUBLIC%20ACCESS%20UNIX%20SYSTEM%20INC&eincity=&state=800016172&countrycountryAbbr=US &dba=&type=COPYOFRETURNS&orgTags=COPYOFRETURNS|websiteaccess-date=IRS Tax2021-Exempt Organization Search08-15|publisherwebsite=US Internal Revenue Service |accessdate=7 July 2020}}</ref>. SDF had operated under the auspice of the MALR corporation between 1995 and 2001.

{{As of|May 2016}}, SDF was composed of 47,572 users from around the world.{{cncitation needed|date=February 2019}} SDF users include engineers, computer programmers, students, artists and professionals.

SDF.org is a development site for [[NetBSD]], and in 2018, SDF was the largest NetBSD installation in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=What’sWhat's in store for NetBSD 9.0|url=https://www.netbsd.org/gallery/presentations/sevan/eurobsdcon2018.pdf|website=The NetBSD Project |publisher=Sevan Janiyan|date=22 September 2018| accessdateaccess-date=6 July 2020}}</ref>

==References==

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*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419052745/http://www.vintage.org/gallery.php?grouptag=VCF60 |date=19 April 2016 |title=Vintage Computer Festival SDF Exhibit}}

*[https://www.npr.org/2012/04/17/150817325/in-noisy-digital-era-elegant-internet-still-thrives 2012 Feature Story on NPR, "In Noisy Digital Era, 'Elegant' Internet Still Thrives"]

*[https://archive.org/details/BBS.The.Documentary BBS: The Documentary] at the [[Internet Archive]]

*[https://https://www.netbsd.org NetBSD Project Web Site]

{{gopher clients}}