How can I make sys-net from disposable to non-disposable

The plan here is to delete sys-net qube to recreate it with as a non disposable. As sys-net can’t be stopped if sys-firewall is up, and sys-firewall is up can’t be stopped as long as a qube using it as a netvm is up, you have to:

  • stop all qubes using networking
  • stop sys-firewall
  • stop sys-net
  • open Qubes Manager
  • set sys-firewall network to none
  • open sys-net settings, check the “devices” tabs and write down the numbers of each lines in the right colums, this is the internal address of network devices attached to sys-net, it should look like hexadecimal numbers with 5 digits (i.e. 00:14.3 or 2e:00.4)
  • rename sys-net (in case you need to restore it)
  • create a new qube named sys-net
    • name: sys-net
    • type: AppVM
    • template: whatever you want to use
    • networking: none
    • check “launch settings after creation”
    • click on “OK”
  • in Advanced tab
    • on “mode” choose HVM
    • check “Provides network”
  • in “Devices”, add the network devices
  • in “Services” tab, add “clocksync” service
  • Apply changes and exit the settings window
  • Start sys-net
  • Edit sys-firewall and set sys-net as its netvm
  • Enjoy

If you have no network manager, add the service “network-manager” to sys-net, it is not set on mine although I need to add it to VPN qubes, so I guess you won’t have to add this service manually.

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