Gladius Beta Program - Now Accepting Applications

[Flodner]

Overview

We are recruiting the first members to join the ranks of the Gladius Legion! We want you to fight with us against slow websites and DDoS attacks in the front lines of the internet!

The Gladius Beta Program is where people can download, test, and give feedback on our software before the full release. During the course of the Beta, we will release a new version every 2 weeks along side our bi-weekly development updates. To be clear, the beta IS NOT just one release. We will continue to improve on and add new features daily (with official releases every 2 weeks) up until full release.

More than anything, Gladius is committed to the safety and security of our user’s information and GLA. We will be testing all code extensively to ensure that it’s safe to run before we add it to our release and we will delay features if we feel there are any security risks.
What to Expect
Command Line Interface

For now we are focusing on the actual backend technology and have made UI/UX integration a lower priority. For the time being the Gladius Node Manager (desktop client for nodes) will be run through the command line. However, aside from onboarding and the initial configuration, the software will run mainly in the background and therefore should not require constant monitoring or configuration from the user.
Cross Platform / Docker Support

We want any system to be able to become a Gladius Node with ease. Therefore, our software will available via a Node.js module. In addition, Docker is a tool that lets users bundle software in its own virtual sandbox separate from their local machine. We are planning on having docker support for users who prefer it at a later date.
Earning GLA

As of now, nodes do not have the ability to earn GLA by renting out their unused bandwidth. This is because we are still testing our payment system in order to ensure GLA is not lost due to bugs and/or malicious actors. In addition, the official Gladius Marketplace will not have any clients purchasing services at the start of the beta. However, these features will be unlocked later in the beta. In addition, we plan to compensate Beta users for their time and feedback.
Bi-Weekly Updates

As mentioned in the Overview we will be releasing bi-weekly updates of our software along side our bi-weekly written updates. These updates will be stable and users will not have to re-onboard or re-signup. Each update will also include a changelog for a more technical and precise explanation of what has been added, removed, and changed.
General Beta Disclaimer

Keep in in mind data caps! The beta is a period where people interested in helping us develop this product can test, critique, and contribute to this open source project. Creating the world’s best decentralized CDN and DDoS protection network takes time and we want to make sure we nail it. During the beta expect bugs, crashes, and for things to break. DO NOT expect to be able to quit your job and run Gladius on all of your computers and retire early. This is BETA software and the more crashes, bugs, and failures we overcome now, the more polished the final product will be. We hope you as a community will stand along side us and help us create an amazing product. Thank you Gladius Legion!
Getting Started

    Fill out an application for Gladius Beta!
    If your application is approved you will be sent further instructions from [email protected] (watch out for phishing!!!)
    Follow the instruction on our wiki to install and setup the software once you are accepted (Not that you will need to be accepted to run it, you just won’t recieve the beta traffic).

At the beginning of the beta Gladius will run one official Gladius beta pool. This means that no other pools will be listed in the public marketplace. We’ve decided to limit enrollment for the initial launch in order to contain any major issues that are presented within the first couple of weeks. We will allow 240 nodes to become members of the first official Gladius pool to represent 3 centuriae in the Gladius Legion! In subsequent updates we will be creating more official pools that will let in more and more nodes and eventually open enrollment up for all nodes and pool managers.

It is essential to remember that this is a Beta program not a one time release. The beta will last until product launch meaning that even if you aren’t selected to be in the first official pool, you will still be able to join the Gladius Army during the beta period! As mentioned in the previous Development Update, participants in the beta will be compensated a small amount of GLA as a reward for helping improve the software. Beta users will be compensated regardless of when they participate so if you aren’t in the first pool do not worry! Submit your application to have a chance at becoming a part of the first official Gladius Pool.
How we will Select Closed Beta Testers

During the initial launch we want to have testers with the technical experience to test our software rigorously and find and report bugs/errors/crashes quickly and precisely. Therefore, we’ve added questions on the beta application to give people the opportunity to tell us about their experiences. In addition, we want testers with unique and diverse setups in operating systems, bandwidth, etc… in order to test our software in a variety of environments. If there is a tie between potential beta users, based on technical experience and performance, the winner will be decided by who is holding the most GLA. If that is also equal, we will select based on which user contributed first (transaction hash). All closed beta testers will be chosen at the sole discretion of Gladius.
Real Disclaimer

The beta version of the Software (the “Beta Software”) is believed to contain defects, errors or inaccuracies that could cause failures, corruption and/or loss of data or information. By accessing the Beta Software, you acknowledge that (i) the primary purpose of your use of the Beta Software is to enable us to conduct testing, obtain feedback, and to identify defects in the Beta Software, and (ii) you have been advised to safeguard important data, to use caution and not to rely in any way on the correct functioning or performance of the Beta Software and/or any accompanying materials.

THE BETA SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE “AS IS”, AND GLADIUS NETWORKS LLC (“GLADIUS” or “WE”) EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, AND PERFORMANCE. WE MAKE NO WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE SUITABILITY OR USABILITY OF THE BETA SOFTWARE OR ANY OF ITS CONTENT, AND WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE BETA SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS OR THAT OPERATION OF THE BETA SOFTWARE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE.   TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU ASSUME ALL RISKS AND ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TESTING, INSTALLATION, OR USE OF THE BETA SOFTWARE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY DAMAGE TO ANY EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE, INFORMATION OR DATA, AND IN NO EVENT WILL GLADIUS BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING DAMAGES FROM LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF GOODWILL, OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES FOR NEGLIGENCE OF ANY CHARACTER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR WORK STOPPAGE, LOSS OF DATA, COMPUTER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, OR FOR ANY OTHER DAMAGE OR LOSS. IN NO EVENT SHALL GLADIUS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES EVEN IF GLADIUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL GLADIUS’ TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES (OTHER THAN AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW) EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF FIFTY DOLLARS ($50.00).  THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS WILL APPLY EVEN IF THE ABOVE STATED REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

GLADIUS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COSTS OR FEES ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER, INCLUDING ANY EXCESS FEES OR OVERAGE CHARGES FOR EXCEEDING DATA PLANS.

Gladius has not promised or guaranteed to you that such Beta Software will be announced or made available to anyone in the future, and it has no express or implied obligation to you to announce or introduce the Beta Software, or to continue to offer access to the Beta Software in the future.