A pages/blog/signal-vmm.md

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+---
+template:
+slug: signal-vmm
+title: Signal Desktop on OpenBSD via vmm(4)
+subtitle: X11 forwarding to the rescue
+date: 2021-12-26
+---
+
+Early this year, I completely switched over to Signal and I'm fortunate enough
+to have everyone that I talk to switch over as well. I know I wrote what some
+might view as a [hit piece on Signal](/blog/signal), but I have immense respect
+for the project and will continue to use it until an actually viable
+alternative comes along.
+
+Unfortunately, their desktop application isn't natively available for OpenBSD.
+A solution that's worked decently enough for me is to run it via X11 forwarding
+on a Ubuntu VM running on [vmm(4)](https://man.openbsd.org/vmm) -- OpenBSD's
+built-in hypervisor.
+
+## setting up the VM 
+
+I recommend reading the [FAQ on
+Virtualization](https://www.openbsd.org/faq/faq16.html) first, but here's a
+quick overview. Note that I'll be skipping the networking bits so I highly
+recommend reading the FAQ to get your VM connected to the internet.
+
+Create a disk image for the VM to install onto.
+
+```sh
+$ vmctl create -s 30G ubuntu.img
+```
+
+I'm using the Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
+[mini.iso](archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/bionic/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/mini.iso).
+I ran into issues with the 20.04 LTS ISO, but I think you should be able to
+`dist-upgrade` from 18.04 without much trouble. Once you have the ISO
+downloaded somewhere, edit `/etc/vm.conf`:
+
+```conf
+vm "ubuntu" {
+    memory 2G 
+    cdrom "/path/to/mini.iso"
+    disk "/path/to/ubuntu.img"
+    interfaces 1
+    local interface tap
+    owner icy   # this is your user
+    disable
+}
+```
+
+Start and (optionally) enable [vmd(8)](https://man.openbsd.org/vmd).
+
+```sh
+$ doas rcctl -f start vmd
+$ doas rcctl enable vmd
+```
+
+We can now boot into the VM, and interface via the serial console. This can be
+done using [vmctl(8)](https://man.openbsd.org/vmctl).
+
+```sh
+$ vmctl start -c ubuntu  # note -c for console
+```
+
+Hit Tab on the bootloader screen to edit the kernel parameters. We want to
+force it to use the serial console for installation. This is done by adding
+`console=ttyS0,115200` on the line shown. If there's a `quiet`, delete that and
+add the above. You can then continue on with the installation -- install
+OpenSSH, add your keys etc.
+
+Once installed, remove the `cdrom` line from your `vm.conf` and start the VM
+without the serial console.
+
+```
+$ vmctl start ubuntu
+```
+
+## installing and running Signal Desktop
+
+SSH into the VM with X11 forwarding enabled:
+
+```sh
+$ ssh -Y myvmhost
+```
+
+Install `signal-desktop`, following the instructions at
+https://signal.org/download. You can now run the `signal-desktop`
+command from the VM's shell. As long as it spawns a GUI, the multitude
+of warnings and errors it produces can ge ignored.
+
+Below is a helper script to launch Signal from your host machine:
+```sh
+#!/bin/sh
+# signal: launch signal-desktop via a vm (vmm(4))
+
+status="$(vmctl status ubuntu | grep running)"
+[[ "$status" == "" ]] && {
+    vmctl start ubuntu
+    sleep 10
+}
+
+ssh -Y pantwo signal-desktop &> /dev/null
+```
+
+![signal desktop](https://x.icyphox.sh/HwF45.png)
+
+## caveats
+
+- Files to be shared will have to be transferred to the VM's filesystem
+  for upload. Images/text can be pasted into the text-box from the
+  clipboard, however.
+- UI elements are slightly laggy but text input is fast enough.
+- No notifications, but I think that's a feature.

M static/style.css → static/style.css

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+  font: 25px;
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+main h2 {
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+
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