Hello. I have been using wireguard for all my remote access to the routers, have never used anything else. But sadly, wireguard on my Macbook with OS Catalina stopped working somehow, and I cannot reinstall it, because the current version is offered only for newer OS, and there is no old version available. Since my Macbook is from mid 2012, I cannot upgrade the OS.
Now, I found that remote.it can do remote access to OpenWRT. Set up seems very easy.
Is it supposed to be good/safe? Could someone suggest me good alternatives to wireguard, which works for Catalina? (Or, how I could keep using wireguard on Catalina?)
@AndrewZ Thank you for your reply! I was using OpenWRT router as my main VPN server with wireguard. I have Raspberry Pi running, I can make it as a VPN Server. But then my Catalina is going to need VPN client to connect, right? Then isn't it the same thing if I look for another VPN server for OpenWRT, so that VPN client works on Catalina?
@AndrewZ I was reading it right but am not understanding it right. Because, when I use wireguard, I have to turn on wireguard first, in order to be able to ssh to my router (=wireguard server in this case). So I thought VPN comes first, before one can ssh. Is it not so?
@alphamatic Now I checked: unfortunately, Tailscale requires higher version of Mac OS than Catalina, even though it says Catalina is OK on their webpage. It almost looks like Apple disallow many applications for an OS which is EOL.
Try open core legacy patcher... should allow to let your macbook limp over to less ancient and insecure macos versions... or install Linux on that thing, but think hard before connecting that thing to the internet with ancient macos...
@moeller0 yeah... you are right.... I have been unable to decide what to do: Linux or legacy patch, and then, which version, or just buy a new win laptop....
Monterey is already EOL, but Virtual Box can run on it, while it doesn't on later ones. Is Monterey safer?
Depends on the software you need/want to use... and how well Linux supports the hardware (wifi?). If you try core legacy patcher use either the current macos 15.2 or version 14 everything else will ot get updates anymore (and 14 is already being neglected).
As far as I can tell virtualbox will run on macos 14 why do you think that will not work?
@moeller0 thanks for letting me know about possible problem with wifi supports by Linux. I didn't think about it. I checked with USB-Ubuntu: sadly, wifi doesn't work. So I will have to drop the plan of installing linux: I don't want to carry wifi dongle around.
I simply asked grok Well, it didn't say Virtualbox doesn't work on later OS, but it said "macOS Ventura (13.x) and newer require more modern hardware features that your 2012 MacBook Pro might struggle with, like AVX2 support for some features, potentially leading to reduced performance or compatibility issues with VirtualBox."
I just need Win 8.1 (with 32bit und with 64bit for different purposes) actually even XP is OK most of the time, and it's strictly when I'm home, for some local devices and USB. I think I will try 15.2 or 14, and if Virtual box doesn't work, I could just use a super old IBM Thinkpad with XP somebody gave me....
@alphamatic Thanks for the link! The installation worked on Catalina!
Now I tried to do the setup for openwrt and didn't work;; I followed https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/services/vpn/tailscale/start
linuxfw: clear iptables: exec: "iptables": executable file not found in $PATH
linuxfw: clear ip6tables: exec: "ip6tables": executable file not found in $PATH
flushing log.
logger closing down
root@OpenWrt-erx:~# tailscale up
failed to connect to local tailscaled; it doesn't appear to be running
But I think @moeller0 is right, I should upgrade my mac rather soon, and till then, perhaps remote.it is OK.... according to grok.
@moeller0 Just upgraded to OS 15.2 on my Macbook pro mid 2012 using legacy patcher. Virtualbox, WireGuard, MS Teams, everything works, and it's even faster than Catalina. Thanks a lot for your suggestions! I should have done that earlier. I think it's good to go for the next 10 years:)
Given the Apple ecosystem you should keep installers for software you care about around, for when they move on. Don't count on being able to download anything again in the future.
Actually that last statement is true on every platform.
Well, it didn't say Virtualbox doesn't work on later OS, but it said "macOS Ventura (13.x) and newer require more modern hardware features that your 2012 MacBook Pro might struggle with, like AVX2 support for some features, potentially leading to reduced performance or compatibility issues with VirtualBox."