MT Server — Project Info

MT Server — Project Info

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MT Server is free software. Dan Peters Designs does not sell computer hardware.

MT Server is a local-first, open-source server platform being built for households, creators, small businesses, education, community organizations, and other people who want useful technology they can own and keep.

Most people do not wake up wanting a server. They want their photos safe, their files organized, their work protected, and useful tools they can actually afford.

What it is

MT Server packages capable open-source services behind a guided setup and a simple local dashboard. The goal is to keep the technical complexity inside the system instead of requiring every user to learn Linux administration, Docker, storage layouts, and recovery procedures.

One USB, one catalog

The planned production MT Server release is intended to ship on one external 128 GB USB flash drive containing the complete supported container catalog for that release.

Applications are organized by what people want the server to do. Any supported service can be selected or deselected during guided setup. That lets the same install media build a straightforward family server, a specialized system, or a broad general-purpose installation, depending on the user’s needs and the hardware available.

Defaults

Nextcloud • Nextcloud Memories • Papra • RomM • Mealie • MT Server Home • local routing • installation and maintenance machinery

Selectable categories

  • Family and household services
  • Offline knowledge / Kiwix
  • Education
  • Preschool / young kids
  • Books, audiobooks, and media
  • Games
  • Creative Studio
  • Business and organization tools
  • Website and publishing services
  • Optional secure remote access
  • Local AI on suitable hardware

Not every service is appropriate for every machine. Hardware requirements still matter, and the installer is intended to guide users toward combinations their system can support safely.

Offline knowledge uses Kiwix as the engine for ZIM files. The release media will not necessarily include every ZIM database. Space permitting, releases will try to include a useful starter knowledge set, and additional compatible ZIM files can be added later.

MT Server is not a proprietary container ecosystem. It uses standard Docker containers. Users are not limited to the applications in the MT Server catalog and can add other compatible Docker containers, services, and contained applications as their hardware allows. User-added containers may fall outside the project’s tested release catalog and automated support.

Local-first

MT Server is designed so supported releases can install from local media and core services can remain usable on the local network during an Internet outage. Remote access is optional, not a requirement for normal use.

The computer is replaceable

The disaster-recovery design uses two portable items: the external 128 GB MT Server installation USB and the recommended external backup drive. The backup is intended to keep the system configuration, Docker/application configuration, accounts and permissions, application state, and protected user files and media together.

128 GB MT Server installation USB + external backup drive + compatible replacement computer with suitable drives = restored MT Server.

After the operating system is installed, the restore system is intended to rebuild the environment with a few guided steps. This is a core design requirement and will not be called production-ready until it passes the destructive clean-machine offline recovery test.

Current status

  • 478 automated tests passing.
  • One external 64 GB USB flash drive — the current alpha test stick — carries both the Debian installer and MT Server payload.
  • Disconnected end-to-end VM installation completed with no network adapter.
  • Payload verification, checksum/readback, and post-copy filesystem checks passed on the physical 64 GB test media.
  • Next major step: disposable physical target-machine installation after the final read-only media checks.

MT Server is under active development and is not yet available for general public installation.

How you can help

You do not have to code or spend money to help. Useful contributions include real-world testing, spare or loaned test hardware, household or organization pilot sites, documentation, technical help, open-content research, useful introductions, or funding a few development and testing hours.

Nontechnical testers are especially valuable. If something only works because the tester already understands Linux, the job is not finished.

Project: danpetersdesigns.com/mt-server
Help / testing: [email protected]
Dan Peters Designs — South Bend, Indiana