Month of using Qubes

Current update using Qubes OS.

Going on a month now of using Qubes OS on a Dell laptop. I can say its quite usable, again as long as you have the hardware for it.

My set up is currently as follows,

Debian 9 templet

Debian 9 kali templet

Fedora 26 templet

Fedora 28 Templet

Whonix 13 gw – org install

Whonix 13 ws – org install

Whonux 14 gw – upgraded from 13

Whonux 14 ws – upgraded from 13

Ubuntu 1604 Server – standalone hvm

Kali 2018.3 – standalone hvm

Parriot 4.x – standalone hvm

Windows 7 – standalone hvm

Windows 10 – standalone hvm

AppVM include, some default and some I created.

Kali using the Debian 9 kali templet – my creation

Securemachine using the Debian 9 secure machine templet – my creation

The default Personal using Fedora 28 templet – default

The default work also using Fedora 28 templet – default

It also includes disposable VM’s for whonux and general use, most of these were installed with base install of system. It also included personal, work, vault as well. I added kali test and secure machine for testing of special apps base on business work.

Windows 7 and Windows 10 were not too difficult to install, it did take a few times to get the disk space correct. You need to expand the disk using the command line in Dom0, just a note if wondering. I am not able to run windows apps seamlessly like in ver 3 of qubes, maybe at later version or I am still missing something. Other than that, the standalone VM works fine. Even works on external monitor. I am having an issue getting USB devices to connect, but it seems like it’s just windows VM’s that are having the issue. I have installed the qubes-tools but no luck. Using apps like word and excel with no problems.

I first tested installing kali in a standalone VM, it works fine, even wireless works, most of the time. It can still give errors that can’t find the driver for my ALFA USB wifi device. Most everything else works fine, I can do pen testing of machines, and it’s quite quick as well in its functions. Then I created a templet using Debian 9 and by following different instructions got a displayVM version working, that allows me to have my seamless apps running, yay. Also, my ALFA wifi works perfectly, no issues or problems. Parrot OS 4.x is still standalone VM, not been able to find instructions that work for me, oh well. So, my pen testing setup is workable.

I created what I called a ‘securemachine’, this I use to test Apples like i2p, tor stand alone, freenet and other security related applications. The application i2p works great, tor stand alone installs but not able to set up a runtime browser instance on the appvm, freenet not even able to install, all kinds of link errors for that so something to look into, I guess.

With the Ubunti1604Server VM, I was able to get it installed with little issues, the main issue was the networking setup. It did not like the way Qubes OS defiend its IP and mask, I had to define it using what they called CNI settings. A mix of dot notification and slash numbers. With a bit of googling I was able to get it to work. I was able to even get tor and a tor hidden service working. Connections qubes VM to each other is on my list to work with so keep tuned for that.

Qubes OS has a built-in backup and restore program, that works nicely so no complaints as of yet.

Templet/OS system updates run fine, I have to do them manually but that is ok, I would prefer to do that anyway. I currently have an issue with the whonix-gw templet not updating. It will start but will not let me run a terminal. So far not an issue because its only for the whonix VM’s. I may reinstall the whonix updates and templets to see if runs any better. I hope to have the 4.1 version out in a few months with all the updates so no need to worry about it.

Still no way yet to easily burn DVD’s, I have read of option but not able to get them to work with my system, again looking into it. My printer and local wifi works, did not have to do any modifying, it just worked.

Still slow to boot and shutdown on the laptop but did expect that, it’s more designed for a powerful desktop but its usable for me. Most of the time I will start the laptop and keep in running for a few hours before shutting down, so it’s not that big of an issue for me anyways.