antsle antMan 4
antMan 4.1 · edgeLinux 3

antMan 4 is here, and it's Ubuntu-based.

The antMan you know, now running on Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS: a modern, supported foundation for your KVM and LXC antlets, with ZFS storage and bridged networking built in.

Install antMan 4 Upgrading from antMan 3?

What's new

Same antMan on top, a new foundation underneath.

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

edgeLinux 3 is built on Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS, which gets security updates until 2029.

The antMan you know

The same dashboard, antlets, templates, snapshots and backups you already use.

Antlets on your LAN

Open vSwitch bridges your network card, so antlets get addresses on your network like any other machine.

ZFS storage

Antlets live on a dedicated ZFS pool, with snapshots built in.

Your license carries over

Every existing antMan license works with antMan 4, including Homelab.

Install antMan 4

A fresh install on a dedicated machine. Plan on about 30 minutes.

Before you start

  • A 64-bit Intel or AMD machine with virtualization (VT-x / AMD-V) turned on in the BIOS.
  • Two drives: one for Ubuntu, one for your antlets. The antlets drive will be erased completely.
  • Wired Ethernet, getting its address from your router (DHCP).
  • A USB stick with Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS. Not 26.04: antMan 4 doesn't support it yet.
Got an NVMe drive you're not using for Ubuntu or antlets?If the machine has a drive at /dev/nvme0n1 that holds neither Ubuntu nor your antlets, the installer erases it too and uses it as a ZFS cache. Take anything you need off it first.

  1. Install Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS

    Put it on the drive meant for the operating system and leave the antlets drive alone. The default options are fine. Tick Install OpenSSH server if you'd like to do the next steps over SSH.

  2. Find your antlets drive

    Log in and list the drives:

    lsblk -d -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL

    Note the name of the drive for your antlets, for example sdb or nvme1n1. Double-check it: everything on that drive will be erased.

  3. Run the installer

    Become root, start a tmux session, and run the installer. Replace /dev/sdb with your antlets drive:

    sudo -i
tmux
curl -L hau.to/s | ZPOOL_DRIVE=/dev/sdb bash

    Type yes when it asks you to confirm. If your SSH connection drops, log back in and run sudo tmux attach: the installer keeps running. It also writes everything to /var/log/el3-install.log.

  4. Wait, then reboot

    This takes about 10 to 20 minutes. The network drops for a moment while the bridge is set up; the server keeps its IP address. When you see Installation complete. Reboot now?, answer yes.

  5. Open antMan

    In your browser, go to http://SERVER-IP:3000. To see the address, run ip -4 addr show br0 on the server. Log in with your Ubuntu username and password. Then choose New install on my own hardware and activate with your free antHill account. Moving over from antMan 3? Choose Reinstall with existing serial number instead, so you keep your license.

Upgrading from antMan 3

There's no in-place upgrade: antMan 4 needs Ubuntu underneath, so the server is reinstalled from scratch. Your antlets come along through backups.

  1. Back up every antlet you want to keep

    In antMan 3, open each antlet and back it up from its Backups tab, to the Antsle Cloud or to your own storage with Local Backups. Wait until every backup has finished.

  2. Write down what you'll need again

    Your antlets' names and IP addresses, your port forwards, and the email of your antHill account. Backups cover your antlets, not files you keep on the server itself, so copy those off too.

  3. Install antMan 4

    Follow the install steps above. This erases the server's drives.

  4. Activate and restore

    In antMan's setup, choose Reinstall with existing serial number and enter your antHill account's email. antMan emails you a token, and your server gets its serial number and license back. Then open Heal Antlets and restore your antlets from their backups.

FAQ

Can't I just click "Update now" in antMan 3?

That updates antMan 3 itself. antMan 4 runs on a different operating system, so it needs the fresh install described above.

Will my server's IP address change?

The bridge keeps your network card's hardware address, so routers usually hand out the same IP. After a full reinstall some routers treat the server as a new device, though. A DHCP reservation on your router keeps the address fixed; otherwise check ip -4 addr show br0 on the server.

Which Ubuntu version do I need?

Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS. Newer releases such as 26.04 aren't supported yet.

Do I need a paid license?

No. antMan 4 works with every antMan license, including the free Homelab plan.

Something went wrong during the install. Where do I look?

The full installer output is in /var/log/el3-install.log. Email us at support@antsle.com and attach it.