NODE-PC Setup, Restore & Maintenance

Install Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Install Ubuntu 24.04 LTS on the GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra. During installation, set the hostname to NODE-PC and create user brent-rosen. Select Xorg (not Wayland) as the display server — Splashtop requires Xorg.

Lock Ubuntu to 24.04 — Prevent OS Upgrade

This prevents Ubuntu from ever offering or auto-installing a major version upgrade to 25.x or beyond.

sudo sed -i 's/Prompt=.*/Prompt=never/' /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades

Verify it took:

grep Prompt /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades

Prompt=never

Remove Unnecessary Software

Remove Firefox, Flatpak, Bottles, and Docker — NODE-PC doesn't need any of these.

sudo snap remove firefox
sudo apt remove -y flatpak docker.io docker-compose
sudo apt autoremove -y

Install Splashtop Streamer

Download and install the Splashtop Streamer for remote desktop access. Download from splashtop.com/linux-remote-desktop and install the .deb package:

cd ~/Downloads
sudo dpkg -i splashtop-streamer-*.deb
sudo apt --fix-broken install -y

Open the Splashtop Streamer app and sign in to your Splashtop account.

Install & Configure Tailscale

Install Tailscale and configure NODE-PC as an exit node.

curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh

sudo tailscale up --advertise-exit-node

A login URL will be printed. Open it in a browser and authenticate. Then go to the Tailscale admin console and:

• Find NODE-PC in the machine list
• Click the ⋮ menu → Edit route settings
• Toggle on "Use as exit node"
• Rename the machine to NODE-PC

Verify the Tailscale IP:

tailscale ip -4

100.75.215.100

Enable IP Forwarding (Required for Exit Node)

Tailscale exit nodes require IP forwarding to be enabled on the host.

echo 'net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf
echo 'net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf
sudo sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.d/99-tailscale.conf

Install Google Chrome

wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
sudo apt --fix-broken install -y

Remote SSH Access

Install OpenSSH server so you can SSH into NODE-PC from anywhere on the Tailscale network.

sudo apt install -y openssh-server
sudo systemctl enable ssh
sudo systemctl start ssh

Now you can SSH in from any machine on your Tailscale network:

ssh brent-rosen@100.75.215.100

Install VirtualBox 7.1

Add the Oracle VirtualBox repository and install.

wget -O- https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc | sudo gpg --yes --output /usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg --dearmor
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -cs) contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y virtualbox-7.1

Install VirtualBox Extension Pack

Download and install the Extension Pack matching your VirtualBox version.

VBOX_VER=$(VBoxManage --version | cut -dr -f1)
wget "https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/${VBOX_VER}/Oracle_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-${VBOX_VER}.vbox-extpack"
sudo VBoxManage extpack install --replace "Oracle_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-${VBOX_VER}.vbox-extpack"

Blacklist KVM (Required for VirtualBox on AMD)

KVM claims the AMD-V virtualization extensions before VirtualBox can use them. Blacklist it permanently.

echo -e "blacklist kvm_amd\nblacklist kvm" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-kvm.conf
sudo update-initramfs -u

If KVM is currently loaded, unload it now (no reboot needed):

sudo modprobe -r kvm_amd kvm

Download Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 ISO

Download the full (non-evaluation) ISO from Archive.org. This is the activatable version — do not use the 90-day eval from Microsoft's Eval Center.

cd ~
wget -O Win11_IoT_LTSC_2024.iso "https://archive.org/download/Windows11LTSC/X23-81951_26100.1742.240906-0331.ge_release_svc_refresh_CLIENT_ENTERPRISES_OEM_x64FRE_en-us.iso"

Verify the hash:

sha256sum Win11_IoT_LTSC_2024.iso

4f59662a96fc1da48c1b415d6c369d08af55ddd64e8f1c84e0166d9e50405d7a

Create the Virtual Machine

Run each command one at a time, verifying each succeeds before proceeding.

VBoxManage createvm --name "Win11-LTSC" --ostype Windows11_64 --register

VBoxManage modifyvm "Win11-LTSC" --memory 6144 --cpus 2 --vram 128 --graphicscontroller vboxsvga

VBoxManage modifyvm "Win11-LTSC" --firmware efi

VBoxManage modifyvm "Win11-LTSC" --ioapic on --rtcuseutc on

VBoxManage createhd --filename "$HOME/VirtualBox VMs/Win11-LTSC/Win11-LTSC.vdi" --size 61440 --format VDI

VBoxManage storagectl "Win11-LTSC" --name "SATA Controller" --add sata --controller IntelAhci
VBoxManage storageattach "Win11-LTSC" --storagectl "SATA Controller" --port 0 --device 0 --type hdd --medium "$HOME/VirtualBox VMs/Win11-LTSC/Win11-LTSC.vdi"

VBoxManage storagectl "Win11-LTSC" --name "IDE Controller" --add ide --controller PIIX4
VBoxManage storageattach "Win11-LTSC" --storagectl "IDE Controller" --port 0 --device 0 --type dvddrive --medium ~/Win11_IoT_LTSC_2024.iso

VBoxManage modifyvm "Win11-LTSC" --boot1 dvd --boot2 disk --boot3 none --boot4 none
VBoxManage modifyvm "Win11-LTSC" --clipboard-mode bidirectional --draganddrop bidirectional

Start the VM & Install Windows

Launch the VM with a visible GUI window (connect via Splashtop to see it):

export DISPLAY=:0
VBoxManage startvm "Win11-LTSC" --type gui

When "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" appears, quickly press a key inside the VM window.

Windows Installation Steps

• Select language: English (United States) → click Next
• Select "Install Windows 11" and check the agreement box → click Next
• Select the 60GB unallocated disk → click Next
• Wait for installation to complete (VM will reboot automatically)

Local Account Setup (Bypass Microsoft Account)

Before the OOBE starts asking for a Microsoft account, disconnect the VM's network from SSH:

VBoxManage controlvm "Win11-LTSC" setlinkstate1 off

Then inside the VM, use VirtualBox menu → Input → Keyboard → Soft Keyboard to press Shift + F10. In the Command Prompt that appears, type:

oobe\bypassnro

The VM will reboot. Walk through region/keyboard selection again. This time you'll see "I don't have internet" → click it, then "Continue with limited setup". Create a local account:

Disable all privacy settings when prompted, then finish the OOBE.

Once you're at the desktop, reconnect the VM's network:

VBoxManage controlvm "Win11-LTSC" setlinkstate1 on

Activate Windows

Inside the VM, go to Settings → System → Activation → Change product key and enter:

JTX28-2VNCM-X6G3K-CH6BV-B7YP7

Install VirtualBox Guest Additions

In the VirtualBox menu bar: Devices → Insert Guest Additions CD image. Then inside the VM, open File Explorer, go to the CD drive, and run VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe. Reboot when prompted.

After reboot, the VM display will auto-resize and clipboard sharing will work.

Disable Sleep & Display Timeout

StreamFab needs the VM awake 24/7 for download queues. Inside the VM:

• Go to Settings → System → Power → Screen and sleep → set display to Never

Then open Command Prompt and run:

powercfg /change standby-timeout-ac 0

Install StreamFab

Inside the VM, open Edge and go to:

https://www.dvdfab.cn/download.htm

Download and install StreamFab All-In-One. Activate with your license.

Map NAS Download Folder via Tailscale SMB

The Synology DS1522+ NAS is reachable at Tailscale IP 100.75.215.99. Map the StreamFab download folder as a persistent network drive.

First, verify connectivity from inside the VM:

ping 100.75.215.99

Then map the drive:

net use Z: "\\100.75.215.99\homes\Media\StreamFab Downloads" /user:Brent /persistent:yes

Enter your Synology password when prompted. Then set StreamFab's download folder to Z:\.