Cleanup: Remove reverse SSH tunnel code, fix documentation accuracy

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/naturallaw777/staging_alpha/sessions/3941ead1-cb20-4686-92bb-46e447791ae3

Co-authored-by: naturallaw777 <99053422+naturallaw777@users.noreply.github.com>

docs/remote-deploy-headscale.md

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ This guide covers the Sovran Systems remote deployment system built on [Headscal
 **Components:**
 - **`sovran-provisioner.nix`** — NixOS module deployed on a separate VPS; runs Headscale + provisioning API + Caddy.
 - **Live ISO** (`iso/common.nix`) — Auto-registers with the provisioning server and joins the Tailnet on boot.
-- **`remote-deploy.nix`** — Post-install NixOS module that uses Tailscale/Headscale for ongoing access (plus the existing reverse SSH tunnel as a fallback).
+- **`remote-deploy.nix`** — Post-install NixOS module that uses Tailscale/Headscale for ongoing access.
 
 ---
 
@@ -83,9 +83,6 @@ Add the following to your VPS's `/etc/nixos/configuration.nix`:
     domain        = "prov.yourdomain.com";
     headscaleDomain = "hs.yourdomain.com";
 
-    # Optional: set a static token instead of auto-generating one
-    # enrollToken = "your-secret-token-here";
-
     # Optional: customise defaults
     headscaleUser = "sovran-deploy";   # namespace for deploy machines
     adminUser     = "admin";           # namespace for your workstation
@@ -114,7 +111,7 @@ Caddy will automatically obtain TLS certificates via Let's Encrypt.
 cat /var/lib/sovran-provisioner/enroll-token
 ```
 
-Keep this token secret — it is used to authenticate ISO registrations. If you set `enrollToken` statically in `configuration.nix`, that value is used directly (but avoid committing secrets to version control).
+Keep this token secret — it is used to authenticate ISO registrations. The token is auto-generated on first boot and stored at this path. You never need to set it manually. Just `cat` it from the VPS and copy it to `iso/secrets/enroll-token` before building the ISO.
 
 ---
 
@@ -209,19 +206,18 @@ The resulting ISO is in `./result/iso/`.
    ```
 
 5. **Run the headless installer**:
-   ```bash
-   # Basic install (relay tunnel)
-   sudo sovran-install-headless.sh \
-     --disk /dev/sda \
-     --role server \
-     --deploy-key "ssh-ed25519 AAAA..." \
-     --relay-host relay.yourdomain.com
 
-   # With Tailscale for post-install access
+   The `--deploy-key` is your SSH public key that gets injected into `root`'s `authorized_keys` on the deployed machine. This grants full root access for initial setup. Generate it once on your workstation if you haven't already:
+   ```bash
+   ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -f ~/.ssh/sovran-deploy -C "sovran-deploy"
+   ```
+   After deployment is complete and you disable deploy mode, this key is removed.
+
+   ```bash
    sudo sovran-install-headless.sh \
      --disk /dev/sda \
      --role server \
-     --deploy-key "ssh-ed25519 AAAA..." \
+     --deploy-key "$(cat ~/.ssh/sovran-deploy.pub)" \
      --headscale-server "https://hs.yourdomain.com" \
      --headscale-key "$(headscale preauthkeys create --user sovran-deploy --expiration 2h --output json | jq -r '.key')"
    ```
@@ -229,15 +225,17 @@ The resulting ISO is in `./result/iso/`.
 6. **Machine reboots into Sovran_SystemsOS** — `deploy-tailscale-connect.service` runs:
    - Reads `/var/lib/secrets/headscale-authkey`
    - Joins the Tailnet with a deterministic hostname (`sovran-<hostname>`)
-   - The reverse SSH tunnel also activates if `relayHost` was set
 
 7. **Post-install SSH and RDP**:
    ```bash
    # SSH over Tailnet
    ssh root@<tailscale-ip>
 
-   # RDP over Tailnet (if desktop role)
+   # RDP over Tailnet (desktop role) — Sovran_SystemsOS uses GNOME Remote Desktop (native Wayland RDP)
-   xfreerdp /v:<tailscale-ip> /u:free /p:free
+   # Retrieve the auto-generated RDP password:
+   ssh root@<tailscale-ip> cat /var/lib/gnome-remote-desktop/rdp-password
+   # Then connect with any RDP client (Remmina, GNOME Connections, Microsoft Remote Desktop):
+   #   Host: <tailscale-ip>:3389   User: sovran   Password: <from above>
    ```
 
 8. **Disable deploy mode** — edit `/etc/nixos/custom.nix` on the target, set `enable = false`, then:
@@ -254,18 +252,20 @@ The resulting ISO is in `./result/iso/`.
 ```bash
 # Over Tailnet
 ssh root@100.64.x.x
-
-# Over reverse tunnel (if configured)
-ssh -p 2222 root@relay.yourdomain.com
 ```
 
 ### RDP (desktop/server roles)
 
+Sovran_SystemsOS uses **GNOME Remote Desktop** (native Wayland RDP — not xfreerdp). The RDP service auto-generates credentials on first boot.
+
+**Username:** `sovran`
+**Password:** auto-generated — retrieve it via SSH:
 ```bash
-# Over Tailnet
+ssh root@<tailscale-ip> cat /var/lib/gnome-remote-desktop/rdp-password
-xfreerdp /v:100.64.x.x /u:free /p:free /dynamic-resolution
 ```
 
+Connect using any RDP client (Remmina, GNOME Connections, Microsoft Remote Desktop) to `<tailscale-ip>:3389`.
+
 ---
 
 ## Security Model
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ Then rebuild:
 nixos-rebuild switch
 ```
 
-This stops the reverse tunnel and Tailscale connect services.
+This stops the Tailscale connect service.
 
 ### Revoke All Active Pre-Auth Keys
 

iso/sovran-install-headless.sh

@@ -10,10 +10,6 @@ Options:
   --data-disk /dev/sdb         Data disk for Bitcoin (optional)
   --role server|desktop|node   Installation role (default: server)
   --deploy-key "ssh-ed25519 AAAA..."  SSH pubkey for remote access after install
-  --relay-host HOST            Reverse tunnel relay hostname
-  --relay-user USER            Relay username (default: deploy)
-  --relay-port PORT            Relay SSH port (default: 22)
-  --tunnel-port PORT           Reverse tunnel port on relay (default: 2222)
   --headscale-server URL       Headscale login server for post-install Tailnet
   --headscale-key KEY          Headscale pre-auth key for the installed OS
 USAGE
@@ -26,10 +22,6 @@ DISK=""
 DATA_DISK=""
 ROLE="server"
 DEPLOY_KEY=""
-RELAY_HOST=""
-RELAY_USER="deploy"
-RELAY_PORT="22"
-TUNNEL_PORT="2222"
 HEADSCALE_SERVER=""
 HEADSCALE_KEY=""
 
@@ -58,10 +50,6 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
         --data-disk)   DATA_DISK="$2";   shift 2 ;;
         --role)        ROLE="$2";        shift 2 ;;
         --deploy-key)  DEPLOY_KEY="$2";  shift 2 ;;
-        --relay-host)  RELAY_HOST="$2";  shift 2 ;;
-        --relay-user)  RELAY_USER="$2";  shift 2 ;;
-        --relay-port)  RELAY_PORT="$2";  shift 2 ;;
-        --tunnel-port) TUNNEL_PORT="$2"; shift 2 ;;
         --headscale-server) HEADSCALE_SERVER="$2"; shift 2 ;;
         --headscale-key)    HEADSCALE_KEY="$2";    shift 2 ;;
         -h|--help)
@@ -220,21 +208,17 @@ EOF
 # ── Step 10: Write custom.nix with deploy config ──────────────────────────────
 log "=== Writing custom.nix ==="
 
-if [[ -n "$DEPLOY_KEY" ]]; then
+if [[ -n "$DEPLOY_KEY" || -n "$HEADSCALE_SERVER" ]]; then
-    cat > /mnt/etc/nixos/custom.nix <<EOF
+    {
-{ config, lib, ... }:
+        echo '{ config, lib, ... }:'
-{
+        echo '{'
-  sovran_systemsOS.deploy = {
+        echo '  sovran_systemsOS.deploy = {'
-    enable = true;
+        echo '    enable = true;'
-    authorizedKey = "${DEPLOY_KEY}";
+        [[ -n "$DEPLOY_KEY" ]]        && echo "    authorizedKey = \"${DEPLOY_KEY}\";"
-    relayHost = "${RELAY_HOST}";
+        [[ -n "$HEADSCALE_SERVER" ]]  && echo "    headscaleServer = \"${HEADSCALE_SERVER}\";"
-    relayUser = "${RELAY_USER}";
+        echo '  };'
-    relayPort = ${RELAY_PORT};
+        echo '}'
-    reverseTunnelPort = ${TUNNEL_PORT};
+    } > /mnt/etc/nixos/custom.nix
-$([ -n "${HEADSCALE_SERVER}" ] && echo "    headscaleServer = \"${HEADSCALE_SERVER}\";")
-  };
-}
-EOF
 else
     cp /mnt/etc/nixos/custom.template.nix /mnt/etc/nixos/custom.nix
 fi
@@ -265,7 +249,5 @@ nixos-install \
 log "=== Installation complete! ==="
 log "You can now reboot into Sovran_SystemsOS."
 log "After reboot, the machine will be accessible via SSH on port 22 (if --deploy-key was provided)."
-[[ -n "$RELAY_HOST" ]] && \
-    log "Reverse tunnel will connect to ${RELAY_USER}@${RELAY_HOST}:${RELAY_PORT} — forward port ${TUNNEL_PORT} maps to the machine's SSH."
 [[ -n "$HEADSCALE_SERVER" ]] && \
     log "Tailscale will connect to Headscale at ${HEADSCALE_SERVER} on first boot."

modules/core/remote-deploy.nix

@@ -8,30 +8,6 @@ in
   options.sovran_systemsOS.deploy = {
     enable = lib.mkEnableOption "Remote deploy mode";
 
-    relayHost = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.str;
-      default = "";
-      description = "SSH relay server hostname or IP for the reverse tunnel";
-    };
-
-    relayPort = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.port;
-      default = 22;
-      description = "SSH port on the relay server";
-    };
-
-    relayUser = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.str;
-      default = "deploy";
-      description = "Username on the relay server";
-    };
-
-    reverseTunnelPort = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.port;
-      default = 2222;
-      description = "Port on the relay that maps back to this machine's SSH (port 22)";
-    };
-
     authorizedKey = lib.mkOption {
       type = lib.types.str;
       default = "";
@@ -120,29 +96,6 @@ in
       path = [ pkgs.tailscale pkgs.coreutils ];
     };
 
-    # ── Reverse tunnel service (only when relayHost is configured) ───────────
-    systemd.services.deploy-reverse-tunnel = lib.mkIf (cfg.relayHost != "") {
-      description = "Deploy reverse SSH tunnel to ${cfg.relayHost}";
-      wantedBy = [ "multi-user.target" ];
-      after = [ "network-online.target" "sshd.service" ];
-      wants = [ "network-online.target" ];
-      serviceConfig = {
-        Restart = "always";
-        RestartSec = "10s";
-        ExecStart = "${pkgs.openssh}/bin/ssh"
-          + " -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new"
-          + " -o ServerAliveInterval=30"
-          + " -o ServerAliveCountMax=3"
-          + " -o ExitOnForwardFailure=yes"
-          + " -i /var/lib/secrets/deploy-relay-key"
-          + " -N"
-          + " -R ${toString cfg.reverseTunnelPort}:localhost:22"
-          + " -p ${toString cfg.relayPort}"
-          + " ${cfg.relayUser}@${cfg.relayHost}";
-      };
-      path = [ pkgs.openssh ];
-    };
-
     # ── Safety auto-expiry service ────────────────────────────────────────────
     systemd.services.deploy-auto-expire = {
       description = "Auto-expire remote deploy mode after 48 hours";
@@ -155,7 +108,7 @@ in
       script = ''
         # 48 hours = 172800 seconds
         sleep $((48 * 60 * 60))
-        systemctl stop deploy-reverse-tunnel || true
+        systemctl stop deploy-tailscale-connect || true
         mkdir -p /etc/sovran
         echo "expired" > /etc/sovran/deploy-mode
       '';

sovran-provisioner.nix

@@ -151,12 +151,6 @@ in
       description = "Domain for the Headscale coordination server (e.g. hs.sovransystems.com)";
     };
 
-    enrollToken = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.str;
-      default = "";
-      description = "Static enrollment token. If empty, one is auto-generated on first boot.";
-    };
-
     headscaleUser = lib.mkOption {
       type = lib.types.str;
       default = "sovran-deploy";
@@ -251,17 +245,13 @@ in
       script = ''
         mkdir -p ${cfg.stateDir}
 
-        # Generate enrollment token if not exists and not set statically
+        # Auto-generate enrollment token on first boot if not already present
         TOKEN_FILE="${cfg.stateDir}/enroll-token"
-        ${if cfg.enrollToken != "" then ''
+        if [ ! -f "$TOKEN_FILE" ]; then
-          echo "${cfg.enrollToken}" > "$TOKEN_FILE"
+          ${pkgs.openssl}/bin/openssl rand -hex 32 > "$TOKEN_FILE"
-        '' else ''
+          chmod 600 "$TOKEN_FILE"
-          if [ ! -f "$TOKEN_FILE" ]; then
+          echo "Generated new enrollment token: $(cat $TOKEN_FILE)"
-            ${pkgs.openssl}/bin/openssl rand -hex 32 > "$TOKEN_FILE"
+        fi
-            chmod 600 "$TOKEN_FILE"
-            echo "Generated new enrollment token: $(cat $TOKEN_FILE)"
-          fi
-        ''}
 
         # Ensure headscale users exist
         ${pkgs.headscale}/bin/headscale users create ${cfg.headscaleUser} 2>/dev/null || true