Hi all Always keep in mind that we are dealing with two things: a) the OSM-toolserver and b) the OSM production boxes, that is, database and renderer. From an organizational point of view, they are hanldes very differently, especially with regards to root access: a) the OSM-toolserver is part of the toolserver cluster and run by wikimedia germany. Getting root there entails getting root on the toolserver cluster in gbeneral. This in turn means access to private user data of all of wikimedia's wikis (settings, IPs, emial address, password hashes, etc). This is why we are very restricting with handing out such access, and why the foundation has the final word in who does get access. The process is basically that the existing toolserver admins suggest someone for access, and Brion approves (or not). Basically, the question is if the wikimedia community (tens of thousands of active contributors!) can be expected to trust these people with their personal info. b) the OSM database and renderer boxes are part of the squid cluster in amsterdam, and run by the wikimedia foundation. We (wikimedia germany and the toolserver admins) don't have any say over them. Getting root there does not imply any additional access though, nor does it give access to private user data (beyond the IPs of people loading tiles, i guess). These boxes are maintained by Jens Frank (who is hard to reach these days), the cluster is maintained by Mark Bergsma. The final word has, again, Brion. We, or better, you, can of course make suggestions. Getting access here is probably simpler than getting root on the toolserver - they are production systems, but breaking them just breaks OSM support, nothing else (hopefully). And there's no access to private data, so there's little potential for abuse. In any case potential admins would need to provide proof of identity, be of legal age (i think this means at least 18 *and* legal in their country of residence). Also, they would be bound by the foundation's privacy policy <http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Privacy_policy> and, in case of the Toolserver, the Toolserver terms of use and adminship <https://wiki.toolserver.org/view/Rules>. I can imaging that the foundation would also like to have some paper signed, especially with people they don't really know. Usually, this kind of access is granted to people known for a long time and in person. Regards, Daniel Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason schrieb: -- Daniel Kinzler Software Developer Wikimedia Deutschland Phone +49 30 219 158 260 Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. Help us achieve that! http://spenden.wikimedia.de/ Wikimedia Deutschland - Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e. V. Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Berlin-Charlottenburg unter der Nummer 23855 Nz. Als gemeinnützig anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für Körperschaften I Berlin, Steuernummer 27/681/51985.