WireNix is a Nix Flake designed to make creation of Wireguard mesh networks easier. The simplist and most likely layout is a full mesh network, but Wirenix can also support arbitrary graph topologies. # Reading the README Due to Nix's dynamic typing, I have opted to define configurations in psuedo-typescript to make options more legible. I have chosen typescript because it looks somewhat like JSON and is easy to understand. Examples will still be given in Nix EL. You can start by reading the [[ACL Configuration]] section, then reading [[Quick Start]] section for how to configure your machines. Other sections exist to provide helpful context and advanced usage, but should not be necessary for a working setup. Wirenix assumes a flakes setup, that's what I use. Maybe it works without flakes, maybe not. I'm not familiar enough with the non-flakes landscape to provide support. I am open to making simple changes to make using this project work without flakes if anyone has suggestions or wants to submit a patch. # ACL Configuration The ACL is a nix attrset designed to be represented in JSON for easy importing and potential use outside of the nix ecosystem. The vast majority of all your wirenix configuration will end up in here, with a few exceptions noted later. ## top level acl: ```typescript type ACL = { version?: str; subnets: subnet[]; groups: group[]; peers: peer[]; connections: connection[]; extraArgs?: attrset; // goes to intermediate config }; ``` `Version` is used to check to find the right parser and is required. Using an older. At the moment there is only "v1" builtin. `extraArgs` is explained later, and can be ignored unless you are trying to make your own integrations. ## subnet: ```typescript type subnet = { name: str; endpoints?: endpoint[]; presharedKeyFile?: str; extraArgs?: attrset; // goes to intermediate config subnet }; ``` ## Group: ```typescript type group = { name: str; endpoints?: endpoint[]; extraArgs?: attrset; // goes to intermediate config group }; ``` ## Peer: ```typescript type peer = { name: str; subnets: [subnetName: str]: { listenPort: int; ipAddresses?: str[]; extraArgs?: attrset; // goes to intermediate config subnetConnection }; publicKey: str; privateKeyFile: str; groups?: str[]; endpoints?: endpoint[]; extraArgs?: attrset; // goes to intermediate config peer }; ``` "`[subnetName: str]: {...}`" means "`subnets`" is an attrset with string typed keys, and values that follow the typing of the nested object "`...`". ## Connection: ```typescript type connection = { a: filter; b: filter; subnets: str[]; extraArgs?: attrset; // merged into intermediate config peerConnection }; ``` Connections connect all peers matching filter `a` to all peers matching filter `b`, and all peers matching filter `b` to all peers matching filter `a` subnets filters the connection to only be made over the subnets listed. It is recomended to use the subnets property iff the `subnet` filter is also used (the `subnet` filter on its own will connect all shared subnets of machines in `a` and `b`, even subnets not mentioned in the filters if they are shared). ## Endpoint: ```typescript type endpoint = { match?: filter; ip?: str; port?: int; persistentKeepalive?: int; dynamicEndpointRefreshSeconds?: int; dynamicEndpointRefreshRestartSeconds?: int; extraArgs?: attrset; // merged to intermediate config peerConnection.endpoin }; ``` Endpoints are merged in this order: First lists of endpoints are merged top to bottom, with the bottom endpoints overriding the top ones. Then, lists are merged in this order: subnet -> group -> peer; with peer being the highest priority, overriding others. A good layout is to set ports in subnet, ip in peer, and leave group empty. group endpoints can be useful for specifying connection details across port forwarded NATs, however. Note that `dynamicEndpointRefreshSeconds` and `dynamicEndpointRefreshRestartSeconds` are ignored for connecting networkd peers. ## Filter: ```typescript type filter = { type: ["peer" | "group" | "subnet"]; rule: [ "is" | "not" ]; value: str; }[]; // <==== Important! It's a list ``` A filter is a list of filter rules. Each filter rule has the attributes `type`, `rule` and `value`. `type` selects what to match with, `rule` selects whether to invert the match (`"not"`) or not (`"is"`). `Value` is the value to search for. Multiple filter rules in the filter list combine as the intersection. For example: ```nix [ {type="group"; rule="is"; value="desktops"} {type="peer"; rule="not"; value="joesdesktop"} ] ``` This will select all peers in the `desktop` group, except the peer named `joesdesktop`. ## extraArgs `extraArgs` is intentionally left alone. I promise I won't ever set `extraArgs`, but any value in it will be forwarded on to the corresponding section in the intermediate configuration. Because of this, it can be used to pass data into user defined Configuration Modules. Most users can ignore `extraArgs`. # Quick Start 1. Make your ACL according to the [ACL Configuration]](ACL Configuration) section. You can look in the `examples/acl` folder for examples. 2. Include the module in your flake config: ```nix ... inputs.wirenix.url = "sourcehut:~msalerno/wirenix"; outputs = { self, nixpkgs, wirenix }: { nixosConfigurations = { example = nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem rec { system = "x86_64-linux"; modules = [ ./machines/example.nix wirenix.nixosModules.default ] }; }; ``` 3. Configure wirenix in your nixosConfiguration (`./machines/example.nix` in this case): ```nix wirenix = { enable = true; peerName = "example" # defaults to hostname otherwise configurer = "static" # defaults to "static", could also be "networkd" keyProviders = ["acl"]; # could also be ["agenix-rekey"] or ["acl" "agenix-rekey"] # secretsDir = ../../secrets; # only if you're using agenix-rekey aclConfig = import ../../acl.nix; }; ``` 4. Profit # Architecture WireNix consists of 5 main components: 1. The shared ACL Configuration 2. Parser Modules 3. The intermediate Configuration 4. Configuration Modules 5. The Key Providers The goal of splitting WireNix into modules is both for my own sanity when developing, and to make it hackable without requiring users to make their own fork. Users are able to specify their own Parser Modules, enabling them to use their own preferred ACL syntax if they desire. Users can also specify their own configuration modules, allowing them to add compatibility to for other network stacks or to enable their own modules. It is also possible to add new key providers. Using both custom Parser and Configuration modules enables essentially rewriting this flake however you see fit, all without making a fork (although at that point I may question why you don't write your own module from scratch). ## ACL The shared ACL configuration describes the full network topology. It does not need to consist only of NixOS peers The details of this file are documented in the [[Top Level ACL]] section. You can make your own ACL configuration format so long as you keep the "`version`" field and set it to some unique name. ## Parser Modules Parser Modules are responsible for taking an ACL and converting it to the intermediate configuration format. Parser modules are selected by matching the ACL version field. A parser module must take an ACL and return the corresponding Intermediate Configuration. A parser has the following interface: ```typescript type parser = (inputs: attrset, aclConfig: ACL) => intermediateConfiguration; ``` You can register your own parser module like so: ```nix wirenix.additionalParsers = { myParser = import ./my-parser.nix; } ``` And then, in your ACL, set the version: ```nix ... version = "myParser"; ... ``` ## Intermediate Configuration The Intermediate Configuration is a recursive attrset that is more suited for being used in a NixOS configuration than the ACL Configuration. Unlike the ACL, the intermediate configuration is more verbose, easier to traverse, contains duplicate information, and is recursive. This allows cross version compatibility so long as the intermediate configuration doesn't change. Any changes will likely only be the addition of optional features that do not interfere with existing intermediate configuration use, though at this stage there are no guarentees. Take note while reading that certain structures may be similar to the ACL, but they are not necessarily the same as their ACL counterparts. ### Root Structure ```typescript type intermediateConfiguration = { peers: {[peerName: str]: peer}; subnets: {[subnetName: str]: subnet}; groups: {[groupName: str]: group}; extraArgs?: attrset; } ``` ### Peer ```typescript type peer = { subnetConnections: {[subnetName: str]: subnetConnection}; publicKey: str; privateKeyFile: str; groups?: {[groupName: str]: group} extraArgs?: attrset; }; ``` ### Subnet ```typescript type subnet = { peers: {[peerName: str]: peer}; presharedKeyFile?: str; extraArgs?: attrset; }; ``` ### Group ```typescript type group = { peers: {[peerName: str]: peer}; extraArgs?: attrset; }; ``` ### Subnet Connection ```typescript type subnetConnection = { subnet: subnet; ipAddresses: str[]; listenPort: int; peerConnections: {[peerName: str]: peerConnection}; extraArgs?: attrset; }; ``` ### Peer Connection ```typescript type peerConnection = { peer: peer; ipAddresses: str[]; endpoint: endpoint; extraArgs?: attrset; }; ``` ### Endpoint ```typescript type endpoint = { ip: str; port: int; persistentKeepalive?: int; dynamicEndpointRefreshSeconds?: int; dynamicEndpointRefreshRestartSeconds?: int; extraArgs?: attrset; }; ``` ## Configuration Modules Configuration Modules take the Key provider list and Intermediate Configuration to produce NixOS configurations. By default, there exist configuration modules for setting up wireguard with the static network configuration (default) or networkd configuration. A configurer has the following interface: ```typescript type configurer = (inputs: attrset, keyProviders: keyProvider[], intermediateConfig: intermediateConfiguration) => nixosConfiguration; ``` You can set which module is used (or use your own module) in your flake.nix file: ```nix wirenix.configurer = "networkd"; ``` or for your own module: ```nix wirenix.additionalConfigurers.myConfigurer = import ./my-configurer.nix; wirenix.configurer = "myConfigurer"; ``` ## Key Providers Configurers require a list of key providers to query for information about wireguard key pairs. The providers in the list are queried in order, moving on to the next provider if `null` is returned. This allows keeping key pairs in multiple places, but most likely the key provider list will be a singleton. Key Providers have the following stracture: ```typescript type keyProvider = { config: nixosConfig; getPeerPubKey: (otherPeerName: str) => str; getPrivKeyFile: str; getSubnetPSKFile: (subnetName: str) => str; }; ``` You can add your own key providers like so: ```nix wirenix.additionalKeyProviders.myKeyProvider = import ./my-key-provider.nix; wirenix.keyProviders = ["myKeyProvider"]; ``` # Integrations: By default, WireNix supports setting wireguard keypairs with [agenix-rekey](https://github.com/oddlama/agenix-rekey). WireNix also supports using either networkd or the nixos static network configuration (default). Using networkd: ```nix systemd.network.enable = true; wirenix = { enable = true; configurer = "networkd" aclConfig = import ./my-acl.nix; }; ``` Using static configuration: ```nix wirenix = { enable = true; configurer = "static" aclConfig = import ./my-acl.nix; }; ``` Using agenix-rekey (assuming it's already set up properly) ```nix wirenix = { enable = true; keyProviders = ["agenix-rekey"]; secretsDir = ../../secrets; aclConfig = import ./my-acl.nix; }; ``` Using the ACL's keypairs if specified, otherwise using agenix-rekey (reverse order not possible) ```nix wirenix = { enable = true; keyProviders = ["acl" "agenix-rekey"]; secretsDir = ../../secrets; aclConfig = import ./my-acl.nix; }; ``` # Troubleshooting Wirenix tries to stay seperated from the inner working of your config for as long as possible. As a result, you can do most of your troubleshooting in the nix repl: ```sh $ nix repl $ nix-repl> :l > Added 17766 variables. $ nix-repl> :lf "sourcehut:~msalerno/wirenix" > Added 11 variables. # named the wirenix lib 'wnlib' to prevent issues with nixpkgs.lib in the repl $ nix-repl> parse = wnlib.defaultParsers.v1 {inherit lib;} $ nix-repl> keyProviders = [wnlib.defaultKeyProviders.acl] $ nix-repl> configure = wnlib.defaultConfigurers.static {inherit lib;} keyProviders $ nix-repl> acl = import ./examples/fullMesh/acl.nix # replace with your acl # get intermediate config $ nix-repl> intConfig = parse acl # you can explore the structure $ nix-repl> intConfig > { groups = { ... }; peers = { ... }; subnets = { ... }; } # we can also see what the generated network config would be $ nix-repl> genPeerConfig = configure intConfig # `configure` is only partially applied, and genPeerConfig still needs a peer name $ nix-repl> genPeerConfig > «lambda @ /nix/store/h8gyjv62yddarvr533vi8f2rh5w0wh1p-source/configurers/static.nix:1:33» # we can then inspect the result $ nix-repl> :p genPeerConfig "peer1" > { networking = { wireguard = { interfaces = { ... }; }; } # printing the intermediate config with :p will cause a stack overflow # but we have a helper function for this $ nix-repl> :p wnlib.breakIntermediateRecursion intConfig > { a bunch of hard to read data } # you can get a string and paste it into echo -e for pretty printing $ nix-repl> lib.generators.toPretty {} (wnlib.breakIntermediateRecursion intConfig) > "even uglier result but it copy pastes well" ``` In your terminal: ```sh $ echo -e "paste the big text result from nix repl in here" > a nice result ``` # Current Issues / Drawbacks - WireNix does not do NAT traversal, it's up to you to forward the correct ports on your NAT device(s) and apply the correct firewall rules on your router(s). - WireNix does not allow for dynamic addition of peers. If you need something more dynamic, look into Tailscale/Headscale. - Peers cannot have multiple keys. If this is a desirable feature I may think of adding it, but I cannot think of a good reason for it. - There's no testing infrastructure in place right now, and plenty of untested scenarios. - Currently this will create empty `sops` and `age` top level attributes in your config if you don't already have them. It has to do with some terrible hackery I did in `wire.nix` to prevent infinite recursion. If any wizards out there want to send in a patch it would be mutch appreciated! # License This project is licensed under the MPL 2.0 # Glosary ## ACL Access Control List: This is your shared configuration for the network. ## Subnet In Wirenix, the word subnet represents any network of connected peers. In the implementation, subnets are keyed by their `name` property. Subnet names define the initial 32 bits after `fd` in of an the IPv6 addresses peers connecting to the subnet will use. Generally speaking, one subnet = one wireguard interface for each client on the subnet. ## Peer In Wirenix, peer is any machine with a unique public key In the implementation, peer names define last 80 bits of their IPv6 address. ## Group In Wirenix, a group is just a tag that peers can have. These are used for matching peers and can contain arbitrary names. ## Endpoint In wirenix, an endpoint specifies external IP of a peer that other peers should connect to. In the ACL configuration, endpoints can exist on subnets, groups, and peers, but these are just for convenience. Think of adding an endpoint to a subnet or group as being the same as adding the endpoint to all peers in the subnet or group. Endpoints have filters, which can specify for which connecting clients the endpoint will apply to. ## Filter In Wirenix, a filter is used to select peers by their subnets, groups, and names. A filter is made up of filter rules, specifying multiple rules will yield the intersection of those rules. Note that selecting by peer name will always return a list of 1 or 0 entries, on account of names needing to be unique.