machines/configuration.nix

@@ -1,198 +0,0 @@
-{ self
-, nixpkgs-unstable
-, nixpkgs
-, sops-nix
-, inputs
-, nixos-hardware
-, home-manager
-, ...
-}:
-let
-  nixosSystem = nixpkgs.lib.makeOverridable nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem;
-  nixosSystemUnstable = nixpkgs-unstable.lib.makeOverridable nixpkgs-unstable.lib.nixosSystem;
-
-  baseModules = [
-    # make flake inputs accessiable in NixOS
-    { _module.args.inputs = inputs; }
-    {
-      imports = [
-        ({ pkgs, ... }: {
-          nix = {
-            extraOptions = ''
-              experimental-features = nix-command flakes
-            '';
-
-            settings = {
-              substituters = [
-                "https://cache.dynamicdiscord.de"
-                "https://cache.nixos.org/"
-              ];
-              trusted-public-keys = [
-                "cache.dynamicdiscord.de:DKueZicqi2NhJJXz9MYgUbiyobMs10fTyHCgAUibRP4="
-              ];
-              trusted-users = [ "root" "@wheel" ];
-            };
-          };
-        })
-
-        sops-nix.nixosModules.sops
-      ];
-    }
-  ];
-  defaultModules = baseModules;
-
-  makeMicroVM = hostName: ipv4Addr: macAddr: modules: [
-    inputs.microvm.nixosModules.microvm
-    {
-      microvm = {
-        hypervisor = "cloud-hypervisor";
-        mem = 2560;
-        shares = [
-          {
-            source = "/nix/store";
-            mountPoint = "/nix/.ro-store";
-            tag = "store";
-            proto = "virtiofs";
-            socket = "store.socket";
-          }
-          {
-            source = "/var/lib/microvms/${hostName}/etc";
-            mountPoint = "/etc";
-            tag = "etc";
-            proto = "virtiofs";
-            socket = "etc.socket";
-          }
-          {
-            source = "/var/lib/microvms/${hostName}/var";
-            mountPoint = "/var";
-            tag = "var";
-            proto = "virtiofs";
-            socket = "var.socket";
-          }
-        ];
-
-        interfaces = [
-          {
-            type = "tap";
-            id = "vm-${hostName}";
-            mac = "${macAddr}";
-          }
-        ];
-      };
-
-      systemd.network.enable = true;
-      
-      systemd.network.networks."20-lan" = {
-        matchConfig.Type = "ether";
-        networkConfig = {
-          Address = [ "${ipv4Addr}/24" ];
-          Gateway = "10.0.0.1";
-          DNS = ["1.1.1.1"];
-          DHCP = "no";
-        };
-      };
-    }
-  ] ++ defaultModules ++ modules;
-
-  inputsMod = inputs // { malobeo = self; };
-in
-{
-  louise = nixosSystem {
-    system = "x86_64-linux";
-    specialArgs.inputs = inputs;
-    modules = defaultModules ++ [
-      ./louise/configuration.nix
-    ];
-  };
-
-  bakunin = nixosSystem {
-    system = "x86_64-linux";
-    specialArgs.inputs = inputs;
-    modules = defaultModules ++ [
-      ./bakunin/configuration.nix
-      inputs.disko.nixosModules.disko
-    ];
-  };
-
-  lucia = nixosSystem {
-    system = "aarch64-linux";
-    specialArgs.inputs = inputs;
-    modules = defaultModules ++ [
-      ./lucia/configuration.nix
-      ./lucia/hardware_configuration.nix
-    ];
-  };
-
-  fanny = nixosSystem {
-    system = "x86_64-linux";
-    specialArgs.inputs = inputsMod;
-    modules = defaultModules ++ [
-      self.nixosModules.malobeo.vpn
-      ./fanny/configuration.nix
-    ];
-  };
-
-  durruti = nixosSystem {
-    system = "x86_64-linux";
-    specialArgs.inputs = inputs;
-    specialArgs.self = self;
-    modules = makeMicroVM "durruti" "10.0.0.5" "52:DA:0D:F9:EF:F9" [
-      ./durruti/configuration.nix
-    ];
-  };
-
-  vpn = nixosSystem {
-    system = "x86_64-linux";
-    specialArgs.inputs = inputs;
-    specialArgs.self = self;
-    modules = makeMicroVM "vpn" "10.0.0.10" "D0:E5:CA:F0:D7:E6" [
-      self.nixosModules.malobeo.vpn
-      ./vpn/configuration.nix
-    ];
-  };
-
-  infradocs = nixosSystem {
-    system = "x86_64-linux";
-    specialArgs.inputs = inputs;
-    specialArgs.self = self;
-    modules = makeMicroVM "infradocs" "10.0.0.11" "D0:E5:CA:F0:D7:E7" [
-      self.nixosModules.malobeo.vpn
-      ./infradocs/configuration.nix
-    ];
-  };
-
-  uptimekuma = nixosSystem {
-    system = "x86_64-linux";
-    specialArgs.inputs = inputs;
-    specialArgs.self = self;
-    modules = makeMicroVM "uptimekuma" "10.0.0.12" "D0:E5:CA:F0:D7:E8" [
-      ./uptimekuma/configuration.nix
-    ];
-  };
-
-  nextcloud = nixosSystem {
-    system = "x86_64-linux";
-    specialArgs.inputs = inputs;
-    specialArgs.self = self;
-    modules = makeMicroVM "nextcloud" "10.0.0.13" "D0:E5:CA:F0:D7:E9" [
-      ./nextcloud/configuration.nix
-    ];
-  };
-
-  overwatch = nixosSystem {
-    system = "x86_64-linux";
-    specialArgs.inputs = inputs;
-    specialArgs.self = self;
-    modules = makeMicroVM "overwatch" "10.0.0.14" "D0:E5:CA:F0:D7:E0" [
-      ./overwatch/configuration.nix
-    ];
-  };
-
-  testvm = nixosSystem {
-    system = "x86_64-linux";
-    specialArgs.inputs = inputs;
-    specialArgs.self = self;
-    modules = defaultModules ++ [ ./testvm ];
-  };
-
-}

machines/fanny/configuration.nix

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ in
       ../modules/sshd.nix
       ../modules/minimal_tools.nix
       ../modules/autoupdate.nix
+      inputs.self.nixosModules.malobeo.vpn
       inputs.self.nixosModules.malobeo.initssh
       inputs.self.nixosModules.malobeo.disko
       inputs.self.nixosModules.malobeo.microvm

machines/hosts.nix

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+{ ... }:
+
+{
+  malobeo = {
+    hosts = {
+      louise = {
+        type = "host";
+      };
+
+      bakunin = {
+        type = "host";
+      };
+
+      fanny = {
+        type = "host";
+      };
+
+      lucia = {
+        type = "rpi";
+      };
+
+      durruti = {
+        type = "microvm";
+        network = {
+          address = "10.0.0.5";
+          mac = "52:DA:0D:F9:EF:F9";
+        };
+      };
+
+      vpn = {
+        type = "microvm";
+        network = {
+          address = "10.0.0.10";
+          mac = "D0:E5:CA:F0:D7:E6";
+        };
+      };
+
+      infradocs = {
+        type = "microvm";
+        network = {
+          address = "10.0.0.11";
+          mac = "D0:E5:CA:F0:D7:E7";
+        };
+      };
+
+      uptimekuma = {
+        type = "microvm";
+        network = {
+          address = "10.0.0.12";
+          mac = "D0:E5:CA:F0:D7:E8";
+        };
+      };
+
+      nextcloud = {
+        type = "microvm";
+        network = {
+          address = "10.0.0.13";
+          mac = "D0:E5:CA:F0:D7:E9";
+        };
+      };
+
+      overwatch = {
+        type = "microvm";
+        network = {
+          address = "10.0.0.14";
+          mac = "D0:E5:CA:F0:D7:E0";
+        };
+      };
+    };
+  };
+}

machines/infradocs/configuration.nix

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ with lib;
   };
 
   imports = [
-    self.nixosModules.malobeo.metrics
+    inputs.malobeo.nixosModules.malobeo.metrics
     ../durruti/documentation.nix
     ../modules/malobeo_user.nix
     ../modules/sshd.nix

machines/lucia/configuration.nix

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ in
 {
   imports =
     [ # Include the results of the hardware scan.
+      ./hardware_configuration.nix
       ../modules/malobeo_user.nix
     ];
 

machines/modules/host_builder.nix

@@ -0,0 +1,242 @@
+{ self
+, nixpkgs-unstable
+, nixpkgs
+, sops-nix
+, inputs
+, hosts
+, ...
+}:
+let
+  pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages."x86_64-linux";
+in
+rec {
+  nixosSystem = nixpkgs.lib.makeOverridable nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem;
+  nixosSystemUnstable = nixpkgs-unstable.lib.makeOverridable nixpkgs-unstable.lib.nixosSystem;
+
+  baseModules = [
+    # make flake inputs accessiable in NixOS
+    { _module.args.inputs = inputs; }
+    {
+      imports = [
+        ({ pkgs, ... }: {
+          nix = {
+            extraOptions = ''
+              experimental-features = nix-command flakes
+            '';
+
+            settings = {
+              substituters = [
+                "https://cache.dynamicdiscord.de"
+                "https://cache.nixos.org/"
+              ];
+              trusted-public-keys = [
+                "cache.dynamicdiscord.de:DKueZicqi2NhJJXz9MYgUbiyobMs10fTyHCgAUibRP4="
+              ];
+              trusted-users = [ "root" "@wheel" ];
+            };
+          };
+        })
+
+        sops-nix.nixosModules.sops
+      ];
+    }
+  ];
+  defaultModules = baseModules;
+
+  makeMicroVM = hostName: ipv4Addr: macAddr: modules: [
+    {
+      microvm = {
+        hypervisor = "cloud-hypervisor";
+        mem = 2560;
+        shares = [
+          {
+            source = "/nix/store";
+            mountPoint = "/nix/.ro-store";
+            tag = "store";
+            proto = "virtiofs";
+            socket = "store.socket";
+          }
+          {
+            source = "/var/lib/microvms/${hostName}/etc";
+            mountPoint = "/etc";
+            tag = "etc";
+            proto = "virtiofs";
+            socket = "etc.socket";
+          }
+          {
+            source = "/var/lib/microvms/${hostName}/var";
+            mountPoint = "/var";
+            tag = "var";
+            proto = "virtiofs";
+            socket = "var.socket";
+          }
+        ];
+
+        interfaces = [
+          {
+            type = "tap";
+            id = "vm-${hostName}";
+            mac = "${macAddr}";
+          }
+        ];
+      };
+
+      systemd.network.enable = true;
+      
+      systemd.network.networks."20-lan" = {
+        matchConfig.Type = "ether";
+        networkConfig = {
+          Address = [ "${ipv4Addr}/24" ];
+          Gateway = "10.0.0.1";
+          DNS = ["1.1.1.1"];
+          DHCP = "no";
+        };
+      };
+    }
+  ] ++ defaultModules ++ modules;
+
+  inputsMod = inputs // { malobeo = self; };
+
+
+    vmMicroVMOverwrites = hostname: options: {
+      microvm = rec {
+        mem = pkgs.lib.mkForce 4096;
+        hypervisor = pkgs.lib.mkForce "qemu";
+        socket = pkgs.lib.mkForce null;
+
+
+        #needed for hosts that deploy imperative microvms (for example fanny)
+        writableStoreOverlay = pkgs.lib.mkIf options.writableStore "/nix/.rw-store";
+        volumes = pkgs.lib.mkIf options.writableStore [ {
+          image = "nix-store-overlay.img";
+          mountPoint = writableStoreOverlay;
+          size = 2048;
+        } ];
+
+        shares = pkgs.lib.mkForce (pkgs.lib.optionals (!options.writableStore) [
+          {
+            tag = "ro-store";
+            source = "/nix/store";
+            mountPoint = "/nix/.ro-store";
+          }
+        ] ++ pkgs.lib.optionals (options.varPath != "") [
+          {
+            source = "${options.varPath}";
+            securityModel = "mapped";
+            mountPoint = "/var";
+            tag = "var";
+          }
+        ]);
+
+        interfaces = pkgs.lib.mkIf (!options.withNetworking) (pkgs.lib.mkForce [{
+          type = "user";
+          id = "eth0";
+          mac = "02:23:de:ad:be:ef";
+        }]);
+
+        #if networking is disabled forward port 80 to still have access to webservices
+        forwardPorts = pkgs.lib.mkIf (!options.withNetworking) (pkgs.lib.mkForce [
+          { from = "host"; host.port = 8080; guest.port = 80; }
+        ]);
+
+      };
+
+      fileSystems = {
+        "/".fsType = pkgs.lib.mkForce "tmpfs";
+
+        # prometheus uses a memory mapped file which doesnt seem supported by 9p shares
+        # therefore we mount a tmpfs inside the datadir
+        "/var/lib/prometheus2/data" = pkgs.lib.mkIf (hostname == "overwatch" && options.varPath != "") (pkgs.lib.mkForce {
+          fsType = pkgs.lib.mkForce "tmpfs";
+        });
+      };
+
+      boot.isContainer = pkgs.lib.mkForce false;
+      services.timesyncd.enable = false;
+      users.users.root.password = "";
+      services.getty.helpLine = ''
+        Log in as "root" with an empty password.
+        Use "reboot" to shut qemu down.
+      '';
+    };
+
+    vmDiskoOverwrites = {
+      boot.initrd = {
+        secrets = pkgs.lib.mkForce {};
+        network.ssh.enable = pkgs.lib.mkForce false;
+      };
+
+      malobeo.disks.enable = pkgs.lib.mkForce false;
+      networking.hostId = "a3c3101f";
+    };
+
+    vmSopsOverwrites = host: {
+      sops.defaultSopsFile = pkgs.lib.mkForce ../${host}/dummy.yaml;
+
+      environment.etc = {
+        devHostKey = {
+          source = ../secrets/devkey_ed25519;
+          mode = "0600";
+        };
+      };
+
+      services.openssh.hostKeys = [{
+        path = "/etc/devHostKey";
+        type = "ed25519";
+      }];
+    };
+
+    vmNestedMicroVMOverwrites = host: sopsDummy: {
+
+      services.malobeo.microvm.deployHosts = pkgs.lib.mkForce [];
+      microvm.vms = 
+      let
+        # Map the values to each hostname to then generate an Attrset using listToAttrs
+        mapperFunc = name: { inherit name; value = {
+          specialArgs.inputs = inputsMod;
+          specialArgs.self = self;
+          config = {
+            imports = (makeMicroVM "${name}" 
+                                   "${hosts.malobeo.hosts.${name}.network.address}"
+                                   "${hosts.malobeo.hosts.${name}.network.mac}" [
+              ../${name}/configuration.nix     
+              (vmMicroVMOverwrites name { 
+                withNetworking = true; 
+                varPath = ""; 
+                writableStore = false; })
+              (if sopsDummy then (vmSopsOverwrites name) else {})
+            ]);
+          };
+        }; };
+      in
+      builtins.listToAttrs (map mapperFunc self.nixosConfigurations.${host}.config.services.malobeo.microvm.deployHosts);
+    };
+
+    buildVM = host: networking: sopsDummy: disableDisko: varPath: writableStore: (self.nixosConfigurations.${host}.extendModules {
+        modules = [
+            (vmMicroVMOverwrites host { 
+              withNetworking = networking; 
+              varPath = "${varPath}"; 
+              writableStore = writableStore; })
+            (if sopsDummy then (vmSopsOverwrites host) else {})
+            (if disableDisko then vmDiskoOverwrites else {})
+          ] ++ pkgs.lib.optionals (hosts.malobeo.hosts.${host}.type != "microvm") [
+            inputs.microvm.nixosModules.microvm
+          ] ++ pkgs.lib.optionals (self.nixosConfigurations.${host}.config ? services.malobeo.microvm.deployHosts) [
+            (vmNestedMicroVMOverwrites host sopsDummy)
+        ];
+      });
+
+  buildHost = hosts: (builtins.mapAttrs (host: settings: nixosSystem {
+    system = if (settings.type == "rpi") then "aarch64-linux" else "x86_64-linux";
+    specialArgs.inputs = inputsMod;
+    specialArgs.self = self;
+    modules = (if (settings.type != "microvm") then
+      defaultModules ++ [ ../${host}/configuration.nix ]
+      else
+      makeMicroVM "${host}" "${settings.network.address}" "${settings.network.mac}" [
+        inputs.microvm.nixosModules.microvm
+        ../${host}/configuration.nix
+      ]);
+  }) hosts);
+}

machines/vpn/configuration.nix

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ with lib;
   };
 
   imports = [
+    inputs.self.nixosModules.malobeo.vpn
     ../modules/malobeo_user.nix
     ../modules/sshd.nix
     ../modules/minimal_tools.nix

outputs.nix

@@ -15,86 +15,8 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
     pkgs-unstable = nixpkgs-unstable.legacyPackages."${system}";
     pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages."${system}";
 
-    vmMicroVMOverwrites = hostname: options: {
+    hosts = import ./machines/hosts.nix ( inputs // { inherit inputs; self = self; });
-      microvm = {
+    utils = import ./machines/modules/host_builder.nix ( inputs // { inherit inputs; self = self; hosts = hosts; });
-        mem = pkgs.lib.mkForce 4096;
-        hypervisor = pkgs.lib.mkForce "qemu";
-        socket = pkgs.lib.mkForce null;
-        shares = pkgs.lib.mkForce ([
-          {
-            tag = "ro-store";
-            source = "/nix/store";
-            mountPoint = "/nix/.ro-store";
-          }
-        ] ++ pkgs.lib.optionals (options.varPath != "") [
-          {
-            source = "${options.varPath}";
-            securityModel = "mapped";
-            mountPoint = "/var";
-            tag = "var";
-          }
-        ]);
-        interfaces = pkgs.lib.mkIf (!options.withNetworking) (pkgs.lib.mkForce [{
-          type = "user";
-          id = "eth0";
-          mac = "02:23:de:ad:be:ef";
-        }]);
-      };
-
-      fileSystems = {
-        "/".fsType = pkgs.lib.mkForce "tmpfs";
-
-        # prometheus uses a memory mapped file which doesnt seem supported by 9p shares
-        # therefore we mount a tmpfs inside the datadir
-        "/var/lib/prometheus2/data" = pkgs.lib.mkIf (hostname == "overwatch" && options.varPath != "") (pkgs.lib.mkForce {
-          fsType = pkgs.lib.mkForce "tmpfs";
-        });
-      };
-
-      boot.isContainer = pkgs.lib.mkForce false;
-      services.timesyncd.enable = false;
-      users.users.root.password = "";
-      services.getty.helpLine = ''
-        Log in as "root" with an empty password.
-        Use "reboot" to shut qemu down.
-      '';
-    };
-
-    vmDiskoOverwrites = {
-      boot.initrd = {
-        secrets = pkgs.lib.mkForce {};
-        network.ssh.enable = pkgs.lib.mkForce false;
-      };
-
-      malobeo.disks.enable = pkgs.lib.mkForce false;
-      networking.hostId = "a3c3101f";
-    };
-
-    vmSopsOverwrites = host: {
-      sops.defaultSopsFile = pkgs.lib.mkForce ./machines/${host}/dummy.yaml;
-
-      environment.etc = {
-        devHostKey = {
-          source = ./machines/secrets/devkey_ed25519;
-          mode = "0600";
-        };
-      };
-
-      services.openssh.hostKeys = [{
-        path = "/etc/devHostKey";
-        type = "ed25519";
-      }];
-    };
-
-    buildVM = host: networking: sopsDummy: disableDisko: varPath: (self.nixosConfigurations.${host}.extendModules {
-        modules = [
-          (vmMicroVMOverwrites host { withNetworking = networking; varPath = "${varPath}"; })
-          (if sopsDummy then (vmSopsOverwrites host) else {})
-          (if disableDisko then vmDiskoOverwrites else {})
-        ] ++ pkgs.lib.optionals (! self.nixosConfigurations.${host}.config ? microvm) [
-          microvm.nixosModules.microvm
-        ];
-      }).config.microvm.declaredRunner;
   in
   {
     devShells.default =
@@ -130,7 +52,7 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
       scripts.run-vm = self.packages.${system}.run-vm;
     };
 
-    vmBuilder = buildVM;
+    vmBuilder = utils.buildVM;
 
     packages = {
       docs = pkgs.stdenv.mkDerivation {
@@ -150,60 +72,7 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
         '';
       };
 
-      run-vm = pkgs.writeShellScriptBin "run-vm" ''
+      run-vm = pkgs.writeShellScriptBin "run-vm"  (builtins.readFile ./scripts/run-vm.sh);
-        usage() {
-            echo "Usage: run-vm <hostname> [--networking] [--dummy-secrets] [--no-disko]"
-            echo "ATTENTION: This script must be run from the flakes root directory"
-            echo "--networking setup interfaces. requires root and hostbridge enabled on the host"
-            echo "--dummy-secrets run vm with dummy sops secrets"
-            echo "--no-disko disable disko and initrd secrets. needed for real hosts like fanny"
-            echo "--var path to directory that should be shared as /var. may require root otherwise some systemd units fail within vm. if dir is empty vm will populate"
-            exit 1
-        }
-        
-        # check at least one arg was given
-        if [ "$#" -lt 1 ]; then
-            usage
-        fi
-        
-        HOSTNAME=$1
-        
-        # Optionale Argumente
-        NETWORK=false
-        DUMMY_SECRETS=false
-        NO_DISKO=false
-        VAR_PATH=""
-        
-        # check argws
-        shift
-        while [[ "$#" -gt 0 ]]; do
-            case $1 in
-                --networking) NETWORK=true ;;
-                --dummy-secrets) DUMMY_SECRETS=true ;;
-                --no-disko) NO_DISKO=true ;;
-                --var) 
-                  if [[ -n "$2" && ! "$2" =~ ^- ]]; then
-                      VAR_PATH="$2"
-                      shift
-                  else
-                      echo "Error: --var requires a non-empty string argument."
-                      usage
-                  fi
-                  ;;
-                *) echo "Unknown argument: $1"; usage ;;
-            esac
-            shift
-        done
-        echo "starting host $HOSTNAME"
-        echo "enable networking: $NETWORK"
-        echo "deploy dummy secrets: $DUMMY_SECRETS"
-        echo "disable disko and initrd secrets: $NO_DISKO"
-        if [ -n "$VAR_PATH" ]; then
-          echo "sharing var directory: $VAR_PATH"
-        fi
-        
-        ${pkgs.nix}/bin/nix run --show-trace --impure --expr "((builtins.getFlake \"$(pwd)\").vmBuilder.x86_64-linux \"$HOSTNAME\" $NETWORK $DUMMY_SECRETS $NO_DISKO \"$VAR_PATH\")"
-      '';
     };
 
     apps = {
@@ -229,11 +98,13 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
       };
     };
 
-  })) // {
+  })) // (
-    nixosConfigurations = import ./machines/configuration.nix (inputs // {
+  let
-      inherit inputs;
+    hosts = import ./machines/hosts.nix ( inputs // { inherit inputs; self = self; });
-      self = self;
+    utils = import ./machines/modules/host_builder.nix ( inputs // { inherit inputs; self = self; hosts = hosts; });
-    });
+  in
+  {
+    nixosConfigurations = utils.buildHost hosts.malobeo.hosts;
 
     nixosModules.malobeo = {
       host.imports = [ ./machines/durruti/host_config.nix ];
@@ -255,4 +126,4 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
       nixpkgs.lib.mapAttrs getBuildEntry self.nixosConfigurations
 
       );
-}
+})

scripts/run-vm.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+usage() {
+    echo "Usage: run-vm <hostname> [--networking] [--dummy-secrets] [--no-disko]"
+    echo "ATTENTION: This script must be run from the flakes root directory"
+    echo "--networking setup interfaces. requires root and hostbridge enabled on the host"
+    echo "--dummy-secrets run vm with dummy sops secrets"
+    echo "--no-disko disable disko and initrd secrets. needed for real hosts like fanny"
+    echo "--writable-store enables writable store. necessary for host with nested imperative microvms like fanny"
+    echo "--var path to directory that should be shared as /var. may require root otherwise some systemd units fail within vm. if dir is empty vm will populate"
+    exit 1
+}
+
+# check at least one arg was given
+if [ "$#" -lt 1 ]; then
+    usage
+fi
+
+HOSTNAME=$1
+
+# Optionale Argumente
+NETWORK=false
+DUMMY_SECRETS=false
+NO_DISKO=false
+RW_STORE=false
+VAR_PATH=""
+
+# check argws
+shift
+while [[ "$#" -gt 0 ]]; do
+    case $1 in
+        --networking) NETWORK=true ;;
+        --dummy-secrets) DUMMY_SECRETS=true ;;
+        --no-disko) NO_DISKO=true ;;
+        --writable-store) RW_STORE=true ;;
+        --var) 
+          if [[ -n "$2" && ! "$2" =~ ^- ]]; then
+              VAR_PATH="$2"
+              shift
+          else
+              echo "Error: --var requires a non-empty string argument."
+              usage
+          fi
+          ;;
+        *) echo "Unknown argument: $1"; usage ;;
+    esac
+    shift
+done
+echo "starting host $HOSTNAME"
+echo "enable networking: $NETWORK"
+echo "deploy dummy secrets: $DUMMY_SECRETS"
+echo "disable disko and initrd secrets: $NO_DISKO"
+echo "use writable store: $RW_STORE"
+if [ -n "$VAR_PATH" ]; then
+  echo "sharing var directory: $VAR_PATH"
+fi
+
+nix run --show-trace --impure --expr "((builtins.getFlake \"$(pwd)\").vmBuilder.x86_64-linux \"$HOSTNAME\" $NETWORK $DUMMY_SECRETS $NO_DISKO \"$VAR_PATH\" $RW_STORE).config.microvm.declaredRunner"