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The Bunker Ops Server Build-Out

Introduction

The following guide is for installing The Bunker Ops (bnkops) Server Build-out. This project is a effort to provide a free open-source software stack alternative to Nationbuilder or similar services.

Inspired by this paper: If you do politics who is reading your secrets - why you should de-corp your software stack.

The tldr is that corporate software services are designed to trap advocacy organizations on their systems. Once trapped, they extract data and dollars from local communities and funnel it to corporate hierarchies; often to systems that local advocacy organizations are actively working against. A simple question to highlight this phenomenon; who owns the software you use? Who are you giving your money and data to? Who is profiting off your labor?

This software stack, deployed on low-cost hardware, provides the following:

Further, these systems are the same ones that bnkops uses, with custom apps already produced, such as:

  • bnkops Simple Targeter - Simple Targeter is a open source web-app that facilitates a email campaign pointed at a single inbox.

In active testing by bnkops, which manuals will be produced for free, are apps for:

  • Local LLM's and data computing (Ai) Completed - Daisy
  • Cloud storage & docs
  • Collaborative image and video editing

Not only do we replace your expensive subscription software, we provide a system that is fully customize-able, accessible, locally secured, and yours to keep. Never do you have to worry about a external system going down and taking your work with it; keep it all for yourself, all the time.

We don't promise this to be a easy transition. There is learning involved in this process. We have found that a computer savvy human can install this stack in a day and can become comfortable with the system in a few weeks. Taking the time to learn how to deploy your own apps will have long term benefits, such as thousands of saved dollars, and a learning that will open up a whole new world of opportunity.

Development Path

bnkops goal is to provide pre-configured plug and play machines that come with this full stack of software pre-configured to get a organization online with a full nationbuilder alt

In that process, we hope to develop a single command install (likely using docker) that installs this software on any hardware, for free.

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Does seem intimating or you just want a simpler solution?

Want to deploy on your own hardware? We provide technical support for deployment: send us a email

Don't have any budget for support? All good, keep reading, this thorough guide will help you deploy your system on any hardware you can get your hands on.

That all sound like a lot of work and you want support along the way? Daisy can answer your technical questions and we provide free access according to need: Daisy

Worried about your system going obsolete? We also use the exact same system, and as long as we are doing advocacy work, we will be publishing updated manuals. Plus, if you ever need support, you get to support a local organization fighting for change in your community.

Don't want to manage your server at all? bnkops can host your machine for you, and if you ever want to leave our services, you can have your unit delivered directly to you: send us a email

Cost Savings

Total savings, for the average starter advocacy organization, we calculate to be ~$400/month. For larger organizations with databases over 10,000 entries; this easily could be thousands of dollars in monthly savings. Over a year, savings in the tens of thousands. In a organizations lifetime, we suspect savings could enter the hundreds of thousands.

Service Replaces Costs/Month for bnkops server Savings/Month
Website & Host Squarespace, Wordpress, Nationbuilder, etc. $0/month ~$30/month
Automation Zapier, App Script, etc. $0/month ~$250/month
Database Google Sheets, Nationbuilder, etc. $0/month ~$30/month
Operating System Windows, Mac, etc. $0/month ~$20/month
Email Targeter Newmode, Nationbuilder, etc. $0/month ~$50/month
Knowledge Management Notion, Notes, etc. $0/monthj ~$20/month

savings calculated based on bnkops own savings.

Prerequisites

Hardware

bnkops uses a refurbished HP ProDesk as hardware. System can be run on any similar hardware and we have had success deploying on used hardware for under $50.

Recommend minimum hardware specifications:

RAM Storage Processor Hardwire Internet Connection
16GB 256GB 3GHZ 1GB

Power and internet connections are required. System can be deployed over WIFI however wired connection is strongly recommend as this guide does not account for networking over WIFI.

Theoretically, this system can be deployed on much less capable hardware, however we will be developing for these minimum specs.

Operating System - Ubuntu 24

This system uses Ubuntu 24, which is a free and open-source operating system. The interface is similar to a mac computer and is quite user friendly.

As a bonus, Ubunutu OS comes bundled with several open source tools, including a full office suite. If adopted, this can lead to even more savings:

Service Replaces Costs/Month for bnkops server Savings/Month
Office Management Docs, Sheets, etc. $0/month ~$35/month
Cloud Storage Dropbox, Google Cloud, etc. $0/month ~$30/month
Image & PDF Editors Adobe, PDF Expert, etc. $0/month ~40/month

Further, Ubuntu comes preinstalled with a app store, where you can find apps that replace nearly any standard app you would find on other operating systems.

Cloudflare

Cloudflare is a suite of security, performance, and content delivery network (CDN) services that helps protect and accelerate websites, applications, and APIs from various types of online threats, including DDoS attacks, malware, and more, while also improving page load times and user experience.

We are going to make use of Cloudflare's free hosting services, specifically their dns services and tunneling, to securely get your systems online.

You must open a account and host a domain with them for this guide. We will be exploring localized alternatives in the future however this has worked for us so far.

Cloudflare

You can register a domain with them directly or transfer one. Full installation manual below.

Email

This system requires you to have a smtp capable email client. bnkops uses Mailgun, which provides 100 emails for free a day, and has a user friendly dashboard.

Almost any mailbox provider will also provide smtp compatibility. For example, Gmail ships with these features on all mailboxes (however you may find your emails throttled).

Installation

Ubuntu

Install the latest Ubuntu release on hardware.

Throughout this installation, there may be dependencies that are required. Your system prompt will often tell you what is required for installation. Any average LLM, such as Daisy, will also be able to help you debug as you go.

Getting Started

Have you never used the command line? No? This section is for you! Ubuntu, and other Linux systems, do often require you to use the command line. The command line is an interface where you interact with your computer using text-based commands and inputs, allowing you to automate tasks, manage files, run programs, and access system settings.

To open the command line on Ubuntu press the Ctrl.Alt.T keys.

And voila! You'll open a command window.

terminal

The command window is what we will use to install most of the apps below.

The default configuration of your command line also has some particular keyboard shortcuts. For example, copy and paste work slightly differently:

  • Copy = Ctrl.Shift.C
  • Paste = Ctrl.Shift.V

You can read a in depth terminal guide here

Here is where you'll enter your commands. This build out utilizes the command line to install your software. Once you get used to it, it is by far the the best way to install applications.

Along the installation journey, your system will likely require dependencies to be installed. These are just the building blocks for the wider software set. The command line feedback should give you enough information to move forward. In cases where you are stumped, Ai services like Daisy can help you debug. If you want help from a human, you can send us a email anytime.

Nice to Haves

glances

Glances is a terminal app that gives a overview of system resourcing. Helps with debugging. Think of it as your activity monitor.

To instal glances: 

pipx install glances[all]

To launch Glances 

glances

terminator

Terminator is a alternative terminal app (command line input) to the stock terminal app that comes with gnome. Lots of nifty features, including tiling windows. 

sudo apt install terminator

To launch terminator now just press Ctrl.Alt.T

Core Components

curl

Curl (Command Line Utility and Resource) is a powerful tool that lets you transfer data to and from servers over various protocols, such as HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and more, using simple text-based commands. 

sudo apt update
sudo apt install curl

cloudflared tunnel

A Cloudflare Tunnel is a reverse proxy service that allows you to securely expose services running on your local machine or behind a firewall to the public internet, while keeping them hidden from view and protecting them with Cloudflare's security features. It is a tunnel that puts your website online.

You will need a Cloudflare account to get started, including your account identifier and password.

To install run: 

wget -q https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared/releases/latest/download/cloudflared-linux-amd64.deb

dpkg -i cloudflared-linux-amd64.deb

Follow all on screen instructions.

obsidian

Obsidian is the knowledge app of choice and is the system in which we will write content. It will be the platform that publishes your website and manages your cloud files.

We cannot praise obsidian enough. Learning this software can introduce you to a whole new way of thinking about data and infromation; empowering you to make connections in your thinking that other software simply doesn't do.

A overview video on obsidian we like: video

Install through the snap store.

syncthing

Syncthing is an open-source, peer-to-peer (P2P) syncing solution that lets you securely synchronize files across multiple devices, regardless of whether they're running the same operating system or not, using a decentralized and encrypted method. It is the system that will allow you to edit your site remotely through obsidian.

Further instructions on remote editing found here: {inster link}

Follow instructions for installation here.

If that gives you trouble, try installing through the snap store.

After installation the app will be available here: localhost:8384

mkdocs

mkdocs, specifically mkdocs-publisher, is the system that will build and serve your website. Combined with cloudflared tunnel, it will get your website online.

Full tutorial here: How to Replicate this Repo

A expanded mkdocs-publisher deployment available here: Updated Website Install Guide

Documentation on how to adjust website here.

docker

Docker is a containerization platform that allows you to package your applications and their dependencies into isolated, self-contained units called containers, which can be easily run on any machine with Docker installed, without worrying about conflicting libraries or environments.

Set up Docker's apt repository. 

# Add Docker's official GPG key:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ca-certificates curl
sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
sudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

# Add the repository to Apt sources:
echo \
  "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \
  $(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME") stable" | \
  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
sudo apt-get update

Install Latest Version 

 sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

Confirm: 

 sudo docker run hello-world

Docker Compose

Docker Compose is a tool that allows you to define and run multi-container Docker applications in a single command, making it easier to manage complex services and their dependencies. With Docker Compose, you can create a YAML file (called a "docker-compose.yml" file) that specifies the containers you want to run, along with their ports, volumes, and other configurations.

With time, we hope to get the entire system down to a single docker-compose install command. For now we are doing everything one at a time.

Install Docker Compose 

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install docker-compose-plugin

Docker Network

Create a network: 

docker network create my_network

n8n & budibase

Intro

These are two different software however this section combines them. We do so because these two software work in tandem to deliver bnkops like Simple Targeter.

n8n (pronounced "eighten") is a free, open-source workflow automation tool that helps you connect and synchronize data across various services and APIs, using a visual interface to create custom workflows, making it easier to automate repetitive tasks and integrate different systems.

n8n documentation here: n8n

Budibase is a low-code platform for building custom business applications, allowing users to design, build, and deploy web-based apps without extensive coding knowledge, using a drag-and-drop interface to connect data sources, add workflows, and create user interfaces.

Budibase documentation here: Budibase

Install

First we create a docker network to nestle our two software inside.

Run n8n in that network:

docker run -it --rm --name n8n --network my_network -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n

Run Budibase in the same network:

docker run -d -t \
  --name=budibase \
  --network my_network \
  -p 10000:80 \
  -v /local/path/data:/data \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  budibase/budibase:latest

Local Access

Both of these apps will be locally accessible upon installation: - Budibase: localhost:10000 - n8n: localhost:5678

Public Access

We are going to use cloudflare to get both of these services online (in the same process you got your website online).

Manual for creating tunnels here: Cloudflare Guide

Configure

Both n8n and Budibase require some configuration after start up. For both apps, you will need to input email credentials (smtp).

{insert more info}

bnkops Budibase & n8n apps

Simple Targeter

bnkops Simple Targeter is a app that facilitates a email campaign pointed at a single inbox. Simple Targeter itself replaces Newmode and several Simple Targeter instances combined with you mkdocs site provides a full replacement for Nationbuilder.

Simple Targeter Budibase code is available here:

Simple Targeter n8n code is available here:

{instert more info}

Listmonk

Listmonk is an open-source newsletter management platform written in Rust. It's designed to help publishers manage their email newsletters, including features like subscriber management, email sending, and analytics.

Listmonk Installation

Prerequisites

  • Docker and Docker Compose are installed
  • You have an existing Docker network named my_network

Step 1: Create a Directory for Listmonk

mkdir listmonk && cd listmonk

Step 2: Create docker-compose.yml

Create a file named docker-compose.yml and add the following content:

version: '3'

services:
  listmonk:
    image: listmonk/listmonk:latest
    container_name: listmonk
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - TZ=UTC
    volumes:
      - ./config.toml:/listmonk/config.toml
    depends_on:
      - db
    networks:
      - my_network

  db:
    image: postgres:12
    container_name: listmonk_db
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=your_strong_database_password
      - POSTGRES_USER=listmonk
      - POSTGRES_DB=listmonk
    volumes:
      - ./listmonk-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    networks:
      - my_network

networks:
  my_network:
    external: true

Replace your_strong_database_password with a secure password.

Step 3: Create config.toml

Create a file named config.toml and add the following content:

[app]
address = "0.0.0.0:9000"
admin_username = "listmonk"
admin_password = "your_secure_admin_password"

[db]
host = "listmonk_db"
port = 5432
user = "listmonk"
password = "your_strong_database_password"
database = "listmonk"
ssl_mode = "disable"

[privacy]
individual_tracking = false

Replace your_secure_admin_password with a strong password for the admin account, and ensure your_strong_database_password matches the one in docker-compose.yml.

Step 4: Initialize the Database

Run the following command to initialize the database: 

docker compose run --rm listmonk ./listmonk --install

Step 5: Start Listmonk

Start the Listmonk services: 

docker compose up -d

Step 6: Access Listmonk

Listmonk should now be accessible at http://localhost:9000. Use the admin_username and admin_password from your config.toml to log in.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues, you can check the logs:

docker compose logs listmonk
docker compose logs db

Updating Listmonk

To update Listmonk in the future, run:

docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

Remember to back up your data before updating.

Configure

Listmonk also requires some internal configuration.

How to update your public form: Customizing Your Listmonk Subscription Form

smtp public address

{insert more info}

Security Notes

  • Change the default admin username and password in config.toml.
  • Ensure your firewall is configured to protect the Listmonk port (9000) if exposed.
  • Regularly update Listmonk and its dependencies.

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