Erich Blume
a18a424866
## Summary - Add `nixpkgs-services` flake input pinned to a specific nixpkgs commit, with an overlay that pulls `forgejo-runner`, `snowflake`, and `k3s` from it instead of the rolling `nixpkgs` - Dagger `flake-update` pipeline now excludes `nixpkgs-services` via `--exclude` - Fix stale nix-container-builder version in service-versions.yaml (was 12.6.4, actually running 12.7.2) - Add k3s and minikube to service-versions.yaml tracking - Document the pinning approach in review-services how-to and ringtail reference ## Motivation During service review, discovered that flake updates had silently upgraded forgejo-runner from 12.6.4 → 12.7.2 without updating service-versions.yaml. This "sneak-in upgrade" bypasses the service review process. The overlay ensures these three services only change versions deliberately. ## Test plan - [ ] Verify `nix flake update` from `nixos/ringtail/` does not change `nixpkgs-services` lock entry - [ ] Verify `mise run provision-ringtail` builds successfully with the overlay - [ ] Confirm running service versions unchanged after deploy 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Reviewed-on: #321
5.6 KiB
| title | modified | tags | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ringtail | 2026-02-22 |
|
Ringtail
Service host and gaming PC. Custom-built PC running NixOS.
Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Motherboard | ASUS ROG Crosshair VI Hero (Wi-Fi AC) |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 1700X (8-core/16-thread, 3.4 GHz) |
| RAM | 32 GB DDR4 (4x8 GB Corsair Vengeance CMK16GX4M2B3200C16, 3200 MT/s DOCP) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (AD103, 16 GB VRAM) |
| Monitor | HP OMEN 27i IPS (2560x1440, 165 Hz, DisplayPort) |
| Storage (boot) | Samsung 970 PRO 1TB NVMe |
| Storage (SATA) | Samsung 850 EVO 1TB (/mnt/games), 850 EVO 500GB (/mnt/storage1), 840 PRO 120GB (/mnt/storage2) |
| Peripherals | Das Keyboard 4, Logitech MX Master 3, 8BitDo Ultimate 2 controller |
| OS | NixOS 25.11 (Sway/Wayland) |
| Tailscale hostname | ringtail.tail8d86e.ts.net |
Software
Managed declaratively via nixos/ringtail/configuration.nix. Home-manager handles ringtail-specific sway/waybar config; chezmoi manages cross-platform dotfiles.
- Desktop: Sway (Wayland, Catppuccin Macchiato theme) with waybar and wezterm
- Browser: LibreWolf
- Gaming: Steam (library on
/mnt/games), 8BitDo controller via Steam Input - Audio: Edifier R1280DBs (Bluetooth), PipeWire
- Secrets: 1Password CLI + GUI (NixOS modules for polkit/setgid integration)
- Runtimes: mise manages Node, Python, Rust, .NET; nix-ld enables dynamically linked binaries
- Dotfiles:
chezmoi init eblume && chezmoi apply
Deployment
mise run provision-ringtail
This locks new flake inputs via Dagger, verifies the current commit is pushed to forge, then deploys the exact commit via ansible. If the lockfile changed, it stages the file and exits so you can commit and re-run. To update all inputs to latest versions, see manage-lockfile.
K3s Cluster
Ringtail runs a single-node k3s cluster for native amd64 workloads, registered in argocd on indri as k3s-ringtail.
- Disabled components: Traefik, ServiceLB, metrics-server (minimal footprint)
- TLS SAN:
ringtail.tail8d86e.ts.net(ArgoCD connects via Tailscale) - Registry mirrors: Containerd pulls through Zot on indri (
registry.ops.eblu.me) - Token:
/etc/k3s/token(generated on first provision) - Kubeconfig:
/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml(world-readable via--write-kubeconfig-mode=644)
Secrets Management
1Password Connect + External Secrets Operator syncs secrets from 1Password to k8s, matching the 1password. Bootstrap credentials (op-credentials, onepassword-token) are provisioned by Ansible; ArgoCD manages the operator stack.
Sync order: 1password-connect-ringtail -> external-secrets-crds-ringtail -> external-secrets-ringtail -> external-secrets-config-ringtail
Workloads
| Workload | Namespace | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| frigate | frigate |
NVR with GPU-accelerated detection (RTX 4080) |
| frigate-notify | frigate |
Webapi-to-ntfy alert bridge |
| authentik | authentik |
OIDC identity provider |
| ntfy | ntfy |
Push notification server |
| ollama | ollama |
LLM inference with GPU (RTX 4080) |
| nvidia-device-plugin | nvidia-device-plugin |
Exposes GPU to pods via CDI + nvidia RuntimeClass |
Manual Cluster Registration
After first provision, register the cluster in ArgoCD:
ssh ringtail 'sudo cat /etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml' | \
sed 's|127.0.0.1|ringtail.tail8d86e.ts.net|' > /tmp/k3s-ringtail.yaml
set -x KUBECONFIG /tmp/k3s-ringtail.yaml
kubectl get nodes # verify access
argocd cluster add default --name k3s-ringtail
Systemd Services
Snowflake Proxy
A Tor snowflake-proxy that helps censored users reach the Tor network. Runs as a simple systemd service using the snowflake nixpkgs package. The proxy is not a Tor exit node — it only bridges encrypted WebRTC connections to Tor relays.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Service unit | snowflake-proxy.service |
| Metrics | localhost:9999/metrics (Prometheus) |
Forgejo Actions Runner
A native Forgejo Actions runner (ringtail-nix-builder) runs as a systemd service via the NixOS services.gitea-actions-runner module. It builds containers using nix-build and pushes them to Zot via skopeo.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Label | nix-container-builder |
| Execution | Host (no containers) |
| Token | /etc/forgejo-runner/token.env (provisioned by Ansible) |
| Service unit | gitea-runner-nix_container_builder.service |
The runner resolves <nixpkgs> from the flake registry at build time. Container trust policy (/etc/containers/policy.json) and registry search order (/etc/containers/registries.conf) are configured minimally in configuration.nix for skopeo — no full virtualisation.containers module needed.
Pinned Service Versions
Versioned services (forgejo-runner, snowflake, k3s) are pinned via a nixpkgs-services overlay in flake.nix, separate from the rolling nixpkgs input. This prevents nix flake update from silently upgrading them. The Dagger flake-update pipeline excludes nixpkgs-services automatically. See review-services for the upgrade procedure.
Maintenance Notes
1Password: Desktop app must be running for op CLI. Use $mod+Shift+minus to send to scratchpad.
NVIDIA: Proprietary drivers. Sway launched with --unsupported-gpu via greetd.
No TPM: systemd.tpm2.enable = false prevents 90s boot delay.
RAM speed: Running at 3200 MT/s via DOCP 1 (BIOS 8902+).