The Empire Ring Open Source Software OSS Stack (No Microsoft)

Flynn · Sep 29, 2025

If you’ve got your Empire Node all built, the next step is turning that hardware into a living system—not just a pile of servers and radios, but the backbone of your private network. Here’s a roadmap for “what now”:

1. Core Configuration

OS & Networking
- Install and harden your chosen OS (likely Ubuntu Server 24.04 or Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit).
- Set up static IPs, VLANs, and WireGuard VPN for secure member access.
- Configure failover between Starlink, cellular, and shortwave SDR.
Cluster Orchestration
- Decide: keep nodes independent (resilient, modular) or orchestrate with Kubernetes / Docker Swarm.
- Implement load balancing so different Pis/Jetsons handle SDR comms, AI tasks, or file hosting.

2. Communication Layer

Shortwave & SDR
- Bring LimeSDR or HackRF online with GNU Radio or CubicSDR.
- Test digital comms (Morse → Text, voice compression, encrypted messaging).
- Build a switching logic: if Wi-Fi/cell is down, SDR automatically takes over.
Mesh Networking
- Add LoRaWAN gateways for local mesh between nodes.
- Test peer-to-peer messaging—Empire members can talk directly via ring/NFC auth.

3. Access & Security

NFC Ring Integration
- Tie your signet ring to Identity + Role-based Access Control (RBAC).
- Ring tap = access to dashboards, SDR channel selection, or transaction approval.
Private DNS & Domains
- Point your ghost domains’ A records to the Node’s front door.
- Run Pi-hole / Unbound DNS for ad-blocking and surveillance shielding.

4. Software Stack

Empire Dashboard
- ASP.NET Core MVC portal for member logins, AI dashboards, and deal analyzers.
- Deploy RabbitMQ + SignalR for real-time comms between nodes and members.
AI Elders
- Connect your Jetson/Hailo accelerators to handle voice-to-text, rules engines, and AI governance.
- Begin training ML models (ML.NET or TensorFlow Lite) for fraud detection, SDR signal analysis, and transaction verification.

5. Practical Deployment

Facilities Tie-In
- Connect Empire Node to shop security: servo locks, cameras, break-beam sensors.
- Test “tap-ring to unlock” doors or “tap-ring to authorize” transactions.
Member Beta Test
- Ship preconfigured Pi 5 mini-nodes to 2–3 trusted guys.
- Have them connect back to HQ and run trial comms + transactions.
- Document feedback in your forum threads.

6. Scaling Path

Phase 1: Secure comms (shortwave, VPN, ring auth).
Phase 2: Deploy media + business apps (forums, video hosting, deal analyzer).
Phase 3: Expand with distributed nodes, edge AI, and white-label LLCAIMachine integration.
Phase 4: Use Empire Node as the core “bank + boardroom” in a box for your members worldwide.

In other words: Now that it’s built, you light it up, tie it into your comms + identity + business systems, and start small-group field testing.

Flynn · Sep 29, 2025

Here’s a categorized master list for what you need to do once your Empire Node is physically built. Think of it as a phased checklist covering infrastructure → comms → access → software → deployment → scaling.

1. Core Infrastructure

Operating System
- Install Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS (or Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit on Pi boards).
- Harden OS (disable root SSH, fail2ban, ufw firewall).
- Apply latest kernel + firmware updates.
Networking
- Assign static IPs for each Pi/Jetson module.
- Configure VLAN segmentation (separate comms, AI, and admin traffic).
- Set up WireGuard VPN for secure remote member access.
- Configure DNS with Pi-hole + Unbound for privacy and ad-blocking.
Cluster / Orchestration
- Decide between independent nodes (resilience) vs. Docker/K8s (central management).
- Install Docker + Portainer for container management.
- Implement backup + snapshot system for all configs and DBs.

2. Communications Layer

SDR & Radio
- Install GNU Radio / CubicSDR.
- Configure LimeSDR or HackRF for shortwave digital comms.
- Set up Morse-to-text conversion and encrypted digital messaging.
- Script auto-failover: Wi-Fi/Cell down → SDR link kicks in.
Mesh Networking
- Deploy LoRaWAN gateways for member-to-member messaging.
- Test direct node-to-node mesh communication.
- Implement “priority relay” rules for emergencies.
Switching Logic
- Configure monitoring daemon (systemd or custom) to detect outages.
- Auto-switch comms channel based on priority (LAN → VPN → SDR → LoRa).

3. Access & Security

Identity Management
- Implement ASP.NET Core Identity (or Keycloak) for user accounts.
- Role-based access (Admin, Member, Guest).
- Link NFC Ring authentication → user profiles.
NFC Integration
- Program NFC ring tap = login, unlock, or authorize transaction.
- Test with servo locks, electronic doors, and software login.
Encryption & Certificates
- Install Let’s Encrypt or internal CA for SSL/TLS.
- Encrypt all SDR traffic (AES-256 or ChaCha20).
- Secure RabbitMQ + SignalR connections with certificates.

4. Software Stack

Empire Dashboard (ASP.NET Core MVC)
- Member login + role dashboard.
- Real-time comms panel (SignalR + RabbitMQ).
- AI Elders console (send prompt → aggregate AI responses).
Database Layer
- Deploy SQL Server (or PostgreSQL if lighter).
- Setup EF Core migrations for data models.
- Enable replication + backup to external drive.
AI Elders & Machine Learning
- Connect Jetson Orin + Hailo accelerators.
- Install ML.NET / TensorFlow Lite.
- Train models for:
  - Signal decoding (SDR).
  - Transaction fraud detection.
  - Business rules governance.

5. Physical Integration

Security
- Connect break-beam sensors, cameras, and servo locks.
- NFC tap = unlock/lock + log event.
- Add alert system (SMS via Twilio, or shortwave broadcast).
Facilities
- Tie Node into shop/building (HVAC monitoring, access logs, energy tracking).
- Add power monitoring + UPS failover.
- Document wiring, schematics, and power loads.

6. Testing & Beta

Small Team Rollout
- Ship 2–3 Pi 5 nodes to trusted members.
- Test:
  - VPN login
  - SDR messaging
  - NFC ring authentication
  - Business dashboard transactions
Feedback Loops
- Create private forum threads for testers.
- Log bugs + feature requests.
- Refine onboarding documentation.

7. Scaling & Expansion

Distributed Nodes
- Package pre-configured Empire Nodes for Platinum members.
- Auto-sync configs from HQ to member nodes.
- Build self-healing mesh (if one node fails, traffic reroutes).
Business Integration
- Add deal analyzers (ROI dashboards, arbitrage calculators).
- Connect QuickBooks / Stripe / PayPal for financial transactions.
- Expand to video membership + trades mentorship portal.
Global Growth
- Add nodes abroad (Philippines, Thailand, EU).
- Build “Empire Ring International Mesh” with redundancy across continents.
- Run stealth-mode marketing funnel: movie → site → forum → membership.

In short:

Harden the core (OS, VPN, networking).
Get comms online (SDR, mesh, auto-failover).
Secure access (NFC + RBAC).
Deploy the dashboard + AI elders.
Integrate with physical security + facilities.
Beta test with trusted members.
Scale into global distributed infrastructure.

Flynn · Sep 29, 2025

Perfect. Here’s your step-by-step execution checklist. It’s organized so you can literally sit at your desk, power up your Empire Node, and follow line by line.

1. Core Infrastructure Setup

OS & Updates

Flash Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS (or Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit for Pis).
First boot:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y sudo apt install net-tools curl git htop ufw fail2ban -y
Harden SSH:

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config # PermitRootLogin no # PasswordAuthentication no sudo systemctl restart ssh

Firewall & Security

sudo ufw allow ssh sudo ufw allow 51820/udp # WireGuard sudo ufw allow 80,443/tcp # Web sudo ufw enable

2. Networking & VPN

WireGuard VPN

sudo apt install wireguard -y wg genkey | tee privatekey | wg pubkey > publickey

Configure /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf for HQ server.
Set static IPs for each Pi/Jetson.

Pi-hole + Unbound

curl -sSL https://install.pi-hole.net | bash sudo apt install unbound -y

3. Communications Layer

SDR (LimeSDR / HackRF)

sudo apt install gnuradio gqrx-sdr -y git clone https://github.com/cjcliffe/CubicSDR.git

Test reception on shortwave.
Install fldigi for Morse → Text.

Auto-Failover Script

#!/bin/bash if ! ping -c1 8.8.8.8 &>/dev/null; then systemctl start sdr-link.service else systemctl stop sdr-link.service fi

4. Access & Security

Identity + ASP.NET Core

Install .NET 8 SDK:

wget https://dot.net/v1/dotnet-install.sh -O dotnet-install.sh bash dotnet-install.sh --channel 8.0
Create project:

dotnet new mvc -n EmpireDashboard cd EmpireDashboard dotnet add package Microsoft.AspNetCore.Identity.EntityFrameworkCore dotnet add package Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer

NFC Integration

Install libnfc:

sudo apt install libnfc-bin pcscd pcsc-tools -y
Write script: NFC tap → login event.

5. Software Stack

RabbitMQ + SignalR

sudo apt install rabbitmq-server -y sudo systemctl enable rabbitmq-server --now 

In ASP.NET Core:

builder.Services.AddSignalR(); builder.Services.AddSingleton<IConnectionFactory>(new ConnectionFactory() { HostName = "localhost" });

Database

sudo apt install mssql-server -y # if using SQL Server # OR sudo apt install postgresql postgresql-contrib -y

6. AI Elders & ML

Jetson Orin / Hailo

Install NVIDIA JetPack SDK on Jetson.
Install ML.NET on .NET project:

dotnet add package Microsoft.ML

Example AI Model

Train anomaly detector for SDR:

var pipeline = mlContext.Transforms.DetectAnomalyBySrCnn("Predictions", "SignalInput");

7. Physical Integration

Servo Lock Control (GPIO on Pi)

sudo apt install python3-gpiozero -y 

Python test:

from gpiozero import Servo servo = Servo(17) servo.min() # lock servo.max() # unlock

Break Beam Sensor

Connect to GPIO, log events → RabbitMQ.

8. Beta Testing

Prepare 2–3 Pi 5 mini-nodes with:
- WireGuard pre-configured.
- SDR fallback scripts.
- Pi-hole enabled.
- Dashboard client mode.
Ship to trusted members.
Test:
- VPN → HQ Node.
- SDR → Text.
- NFC tap login.
- Transaction in dashboard.

9. Scaling

Package Empire Node image with pre-installed stack (Pi + SSD).
Create Ansible script to auto-deploy configs.
Expand mesh: HQ ↔ Member nodes ↔ Global nodes.
Document onboarding process.

This checklist gets you from first boot → secure comms → NFC access → AI governance → beta rollout.

Do you want me to expand this into a single scripted install package (bash + dotnet + python setup) so you can run one command and bootstrap everything automatically?

The Empire Ring Open Source Software OSS Stack (No Microsoft)

The Empire Ring OSS Stack (No Microsoft)​

Flynn

Administrator

1. Core Configuration​

2. Communication Layer​

3. Access & Security​

4. Software Stack​

5. Practical Deployment​

6. Scaling Path​

Flynn

Administrator

1. Core Infrastructure​

2. Communications Layer​

3. Access & Security​

4. Software Stack​

5. Physical Integration​

6. Testing & Beta​

7. Scaling & Expansion​

Flynn

Administrator

1. Core Infrastructure Setup​

OS & Updates​

Firewall & Security​

2. Networking & VPN​

WireGuard VPN​

Pi-hole + Unbound​

3. Communications Layer​

SDR (LimeSDR / HackRF)​

Auto-Failover Script​

4. Access & Security​

Identity + ASP.NET Core​

NFC Integration​

5. Software Stack​

RabbitMQ + SignalR​

Database​

6. AI Elders & ML​

Jetson Orin / Hailo​

Example AI Model​

7. Physical Integration​

Servo Lock Control (GPIO on Pi)​

Break Beam Sensor​

8. Beta Testing​

9. Scaling​

Similar threads

The Empire Ring OSS Stack (No Microsoft)

1. Core Configuration

2. Communication Layer

3. Access & Security

4. Software Stack

5. Practical Deployment

6. Scaling Path

1. Core Infrastructure

2. Communications Layer

3. Access & Security

4. Software Stack

5. Physical Integration

6. Testing & Beta

7. Scaling & Expansion

1. Core Infrastructure Setup

OS & Updates

Firewall & Security

2. Networking & VPN

WireGuard VPN

Pi-hole + Unbound

3. Communications Layer

SDR (LimeSDR / HackRF)

Auto-Failover Script

4. Access & Security

Identity + ASP.NET Core

NFC Integration

5. Software Stack

RabbitMQ + SignalR

Database

6. AI Elders & ML

Jetson Orin / Hailo

Example AI Model

7. Physical Integration

Servo Lock Control (GPIO on Pi)

Break Beam Sensor

8. Beta Testing

9. Scaling