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Dark arts mastery: Created a Linux x86 VM on my M1 Pro MacBook Pro

Within that Linux VM, created a docker container of Ubuntu with some personalised stuff.

On that container, built another one with the OpenWRT builder for RPi 4

Used that docker container to build a new OpenWRT image

Booted it on a spare RPi 4 and restored the backup of my OpenWRT config to it.

Took my actual OpenWRT router down, inserted the flash card I'd just created, and powered it back up.

Everything. Worked.

If you roll your own router, it's useful to know that you can recreate it were it to go tits-up, and I can!

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Sarah Brown
@Becky UTM. My Friendica server, what I am typing this on right now, is also a bunch of Docker containers running on a UTM Debian box (native, not emulated this time) on a Mac Mini M2. The Debian VM in question is on a VLAN that can only access the Internet and not my internal network, which makes me feel a lot better about hosting a web server on my home network (even if it's compromised, they're stuck in VLAN jail with just the gateway which they can only access for DHCP and DNS for company).
in reply to Andy Buckley

@Andy Buckley Well the OpenWRT builder doesn't run on ARM, and the only x86 box I own is a knackered old MacBook Pro, 2015, that I once poured beer through by accident and currently has some ancient crusty barely functioning Ubuntu on it.

I should probably chuck it out.

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Sarah Brown
@Becky I use UTM a lot. My Linux boxes are all either RPis, or Macs pretending.
in reply to Sarah Brown

I would not go to those lengths, but I sincerely & heartily respect that you have done so.
in reply to Sarah Brown

in reply to Sarah Brown

OpenWRT is useful (using it on two APs currently), but boy can networking and setting it up be an endless circle of confusion🙁

Good luck!

in reply to Gen X-Wing

@Breadbin I don't run it on any APs, but I love having it on my gateway!
in reply to Sarah Brown

Got a box for a router now, so it’s going to be pfSense or OpnSense for now. Hoping they will give me lots of good features.

But swapping over will be a bit of a nervous thing. But also why I need APs 😀

Also running on open software, because I don’t trust networking stuff anymore. Especially not the terrible ISPs🙁

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Sarah Brown

@Becky I'll also note that you can't bridge VMs on 2 different VLANs to the same physical ethernet port on UTM and if you try, neither will work.

I discovered this in the traditional manner.

(UTM on a different VLAN to the one the Mac is using natively is fine, this only applies to VMs)

Which is why my Mac Mini has TWO ethernet ports both connected now.