Introduction

Mg2.org's new user system was designed to "push the envelope"on Internet social structure. It was put into place in order to allow for a self-policing Internet community where the "power" is divided among the users, taking some of the strain off of the system administrators.

The system hierarchy is topped off by 5 "root level sponsors" (RLS). These 5 have the most political clout. They are responsible for all of the users directly sponsored by them, and each subsequent user down the tree. The user tree hierarchy is described below:

There are 5 root level sponsors. Each root level sponsor can sponsor 5 users. These 5 are considered level 1 users. Each level 1 can sponsor 4 level 2 users. The level 2s can sponsor 3 level 3s, level 3s can sponsor 2 level 4s and level 4s can sponsor 1 level 5 user each. Level 5 users can not have any users under them. A table follows:

+----------------------+
|  mg2 user hierarchy  |
+--------+-------------+
| Level  | # Children  |
+--------+-------------+
| root   |      5      |
|    1   |      4      |
|    2   |      3      |
|    3   |      2      |
|    4   |      1      |
|    5   |      0      |
+--------+-------------+

Tool Overview

1. The Tree Viewer allows viewing of the mg2.org user tree. It lists the user's username, level, and number of new users the person can sponsor. Also, if you click on a username, it will bring up the user's profile. If you are logged into the system, and you click on one of the users below you in the hierarchy, you will see slightly more information that if you click on someone above you or from a separate user tree.

2. The Sponsor Picker has the same format as the Tree Viewer, only when you click on someone's username, it will insert that username into the sponsor field of the new user Application. To successfully complete the application, all the user needs to do is indicate their desired username, desired hostname (whatever.mg2.org), then click submit and fill out the application. If, however, you have your own domain that you'l like mg2 to host, leave this part blank and e-mail staff@mg2.org once your account has been approved.

3. After a user submits their application, the chosen sponsor receives an e-mail. The sponsor now must go to the Sponsor Approve tool. If you have user requests waiting for approval, you will see the users' username, City/State, Country, first and last name, what level they would become if added, and some options to "hold", "approve" or "deny". Clicking on the username will open the user's profile, including their "message to sponsors". From here you can approve the user, or deny the user. If you do not want to make the decision right away, you can choose "hold".

4. You can also transfer a user to another user below you on the user tree by using the Sponsor Transfer tool. This tool is in the same format as the Sponsor Approve tool, except instead of "hold", "approve", and "deny", there is just a "Transfer" dropdown box populated with all the users that you can transfer the new user application to.

Coming Soon

1. Delete Tool: Will allow RLS to delete an abusive user, within reason. Deletion will most likely only occur after several complaints from other users in the same tree, in the case of extreme abuse of privileges, or blatant violation of system rules.

2. Mail Tool: Mail subordinates in the user hierarchy.

3. User Audit Tool: Allows an RLS to view/delete subordinate's web files, and files over 10mb. Will also list processes for subordinates (so we can tell if they're running 80 eggdrops or something). Also includes viewing their .bash_history file.

Final Thought

If you have any suggestions for new tools, or modifications to old tools, or other suggestions, ideas, comments, whatever, please either contact your RLS or e-mail staff@mg2.org