AI in Human Rights
- AI in Human Rights: Server Configuration & Considerations
This article details the server configuration considerations for a MediaWiki instance dedicated to documenting and researching the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Rights. This is intended as a guide for system administrators and those setting up such a platform. It assumes a basic understanding of MediaWiki administration and Linux server management.
Overview
The application of AI technologies presents both opportunities and risks regarding human rights. A dedicated wiki can serve as a central repository for research, case studies, legal analysis, and ethical discussions. This requires a robust and scalable server infrastructure to handle potentially large amounts of data, user traffic, and complex extensions. This document will primarily focus on server-side configuration. Please refer to the Manual:Configuration page for general MediaWiki configuration details.
Hardware Requirements
The necessary hardware will depend on the anticipated scale of the wiki. The following is a tiered recommendation.
| Tier | CPU | RAM | Storage (SSD) | Estimated Users (Concurrent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (Development/Small Scale) | 4 Core Intel Xeon E3 or AMD Ryzen 5 | 8 GB | 256 GB | 50 |
| Standard (Medium Scale) | 8 Core Intel Xeon E5 or AMD Ryzen 7 | 16 GB | 512 GB | 200 |
| Advanced (Large Scale/High Traffic) | 16+ Core Intel Xeon Gold or AMD EPYC | 32+ GB | 1 TB+ | 500+ |
These estimates are starting points. Monitoring server resource usage is crucial and adjustments should be made accordingly. Consider a load balancer (e.g., HAProxy or Nginx as a reverse proxy) for high availability and scalability.
Software Stack
The following software stack is recommended:
- Operating System: Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS or Debian 11. These distributions offer excellent stability and package management.
- Web Server: Apache 2.4 or Nginx 1.18. Both are capable of handling MediaWiki traffic. Nginx is often preferred for its performance and resource efficiency. See Manual:Configuring Apache for details.
- Database: MariaDB 10.6 or PostgreSQL 14. MariaDB is generally simpler to set up, while PostgreSQL offers more advanced features and scalability. Refer to Manual:Database for database configuration.
- PHP: PHP 8.1 or 8.2. Ensure the necessary PHP extensions are installed (see Manual:PHP for a comprehensive list).
- MediaWiki: 1.40 (latest stable version at the time of writing).
Database Configuration
Proper database configuration is paramount for performance. The following table details key settings for MariaDB. Similar settings apply to PostgreSQL, though the specific parameters differ.
| Parameter | Value (Example) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `innodb_buffer_pool_size` | 4G | Amount of memory dedicated to caching InnoDB data and indexes. Adjust based on available RAM. |
| `innodb_log_file_size` | 256M | Size of each InnoDB log file. Larger values improve write performance. |
| `max_connections` | 200 | Maximum number of concurrent database connections. |
| `query_cache_size` | 64M | Size of the query cache. (Consider disabling in newer MariaDB versions, use performance schema instead) |
| `key_buffer_size` | 32M | Size of the key buffer for MyISAM tables (if used). |
Regular database backups are essential. Consider using tools like mysqldump or implementing a full database replication strategy. Refer to Manual:Database backup for more information.
PHP Configuration
Optimize PHP settings for MediaWiki. Edit the `php.ini` file and adjust the following:
| Parameter | Value (Example) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `memory_limit` | 256M | Maximum amount of memory a PHP script can consume. |
| `upload_max_filesize` | 100M | Maximum size of uploaded files. |
| `post_max_size` | 100M | Maximum size of POST data. |
| `max_execution_time` | 300 | Maximum execution time of a PHP script in seconds. |
| `opcache.enable` | 1 | Enable the PHP OPcache for improved performance. |
Ensure the PHP OPcache is enabled and configured correctly. This significantly improves performance by caching compiled PHP code. See Manual:PHP configuration for detailed instructions.
Extensions and Security
Consider these extensions for an "AI in Human Rights" wiki:
- Semantic MediaWiki: Enables structured data and querying, essential for organizing complex information about AI applications and their impact. Extension:Semantic MediaWiki
- Cite: Facilitates proper citation of sources, crucial for academic research. Extension:Cite
- CategoryTree: Provides a visual representation of the wiki's category structure. Extension:CategoryTree
- AbuseFilter: Protects against vandalism and malicious activity. Extension:AbuseFilter
- ConfirmEdit: Reduces vandalism by requiring new users to confirm their edits. Extension:ConfirmEdit
Security is paramount. Implement these measures:
- Enable HTTPS with a valid SSL/TLS certificate.
- Regularly update MediaWiki and all extensions.
- Implement strong password policies.
- Restrict file upload permissions.
- Monitor server logs for suspicious activity.
- Consider a web application firewall (WAF) for added protection.
Load Balancing and Caching
For high-traffic wikis, implement load balancing using Nginx or HAProxy. This distributes traffic across multiple servers, ensuring availability and scalability. Caching mechanisms, such as Varnish or Memcached, can further improve performance by caching frequently accessed pages. Properly configuring these systems requires advanced server administration skills.
Monitoring
Implement comprehensive server monitoring using tools like Nagios, Zabbix, or Prometheus. Monitor CPU usage, memory usage, disk I/O, network traffic, and database performance. Set up alerts to notify administrators of potential issues. Regularly review server logs to identify and address any problems. This is a continuous process to ensure optimal performance and stability.
Intel-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Core i7-6700K/7700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB | CPU Benchmark: 8046 |
| Core i7-8700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 13124 |
| Core i9-9900K Server | 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 49969 |
| Core i9-13900 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i9-13900 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Workstation | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000 |
AMD-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 3600 Server | 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 17849 |
| Ryzen 7 7700 Server | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 35224 |
| Ryzen 9 5950X Server | 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 46045 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X Server | 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 63561 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) | 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB) | 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB) | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 9454P Server | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe |
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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️