How do i add new Browsers to a VM Template
I am a complete Qubes OS Newbie and a recent Linux Newbie so please speak to me like i am a dummy as i am really very very green here but i am keen.
I have a Linux Laptop with Qubes OS as the host and i was on LMint OS running loads of VMs on Virt Manager so i think i need Qubes, anyways i am struggling to load up new browsers, i have tried C&P of the CLI Commands from Librewolf straight onto a normal Cube VM and it all worked ok according to the CLI but i cant find the browser anywhere on the VM so i then went to try and update the Repo but theres no good idiots guide to do it.
What i would really like to do please is to upload a few browsers to templates so i can easy burn a VM and just spin up a new template already with pre-loaded browsers on it such as; Librewolf, Brave and mullvad for example and maybe freetube would be great, any help would be much appreciated.
p.s. it took me 2 full days just to get the internet to work on Qubes so pls go easy on me. Thanx all
Thanks for that but that description was way to complex for me to understand, i need baby steps please and may i also add that i dont use Whonix or Tor, im just connected via ethernet cable and running via my VPN Router straight to sys-net then sys-firewall gives my internet if that helps any?
If you want instructions with baby steps, could you tell which browsers you would like to install? They may have different steps depending on the browser.
Do you have a preference to run your qubes using Fedora or Debian, if the question makes sense to you?
You are most kind, I think i prefer Debian yet i also wanted different Qube templates such as LM, Elementry, Fedora, POP, Pure etc as i normally do VM Isolation but for now i thought ot try and get the existing Fedora and Debian templates fully loaded.
I would very much love LibreWolf, brave and Mullvad + Freetube as that would get me operational please?
On Linux Mint, were you able to install mullvad browser in some VMs? Are you able to follow some command-line instructions?
If so, following the Mullvad official instructions for Ubuntu/Debian in a template is fine except for one line. You need to add --proxy http://127.0.0.1:8082/ after curl, so, the first command becomes:
I never downloaded anything like that to the Host OS being LM, instead i set up VirtManager and loaded on many different OS’s and all came with Mullvad Browser pre-loaded in their software manager, i did have to add brave but that was just C&P the CLI commands which were very easy and i dont want to use any proxy as not trusting proxy stuff and not understand IP networking either and defo not understanding keyrings etc, yet i can C&P anything into terminal if that makes any sense.
I am currently trying to open up an existing Qubes Template SoftwareManager and put the Template online to see what easy Software Manager Browsers are available in there but i not finding the software manager and i dont know if i succeed then will the proposed added bit of software be auto updated accordingly moving forward im not sure either.
I watched a YT video of someone simply going to their qube template and simply selecting Software Manager in their settings/Applications tab and then selecting the software they wanted, just like one might do in normal Fedora (non Qubes) however he did have to put the said template online which doesnt seem the best security but i would do it out of being despirate if the software manager was even available for me but i dont see any such option at all for some reason.
The YT Vid is called; “QUBES OS How to Install Software to Specific Domains” made by; Coding for Everyone
However in any event i read Qubes instructions on how to do it, which is keep the template offline then dnf install ########### yet there seems to be no way of me seeing whats even inside Fedora Template Qube Repo and/or Software Package Manager for me to see the actual package name to attempt to use dnf Command so im baffled here and would much love any help please? thanx
I wrote a guide explaining how to use the Software Manager to install software.
A small change is required to make it work in the template, this does not affect the security of the template, it is just a workaround for a known bug.
Everything you will install with dnf install will be downloaded through the proxy. Have you tried to install Mullvad browser in Fedora following the previous link ?
I don’t understand what you’re trying to do and what are your security concerns, but I would recommend to stick to the packages available in the default Debian or Fedora templates because most of the time, installing other software may require the proxy.
i just cant work out what to input into the CLI from your work around fix, im just not techy enough to understand, would there be any chance you would be kind enough to simplify it for me pls? thanx
i tried to install Mullvad as per your directions but i just could not understand, wayyyy to complex for little me to comprehend.
I cannot just make do with what im given as not enough browsers for me to carry out Browser Isolation as i need to do as i need more browsers you see, normally i can make do with just 5 browsers, Brave, Librewolf, FF, Mullvad & Chromium those are my most preferred selection for me to be able to operate and stay on Qubes as my main OS as i intend to now hopefully only use QubesOS as my main daily driver.
I would like the best security and privacy possible to a reasonable degree of operation i.e. i don’t want to unnecessarily do something silly to become vulnerable if i dont have to if that makes any sense.
in the Qubes OS menu (top left corner), go to the Templates tab, then choose the template you want to use and click on the terminal icon
wait for the terminal to appear
type the following text in the terminal echo "ip route add default via 127.0.0.2" | sudo tee -a /rw/config/rc.local, now press Enter to validate
type systemctl poweroff in the terminal
in the Qubes OS menu (top left corner), go to the Templates tab, then choose the same template as before and run Software. If it it not available, go to the qube settings, click on Applications tab, search Software in the left column, click on it and then use the button [ > ] to add it to the menu, click on “OK” to validate the changes. Then in the Qubes OS menu (top left corner), go to the Templates tab, then choose the same template as before and run Software.
install a software in the template
stop the template once your are done, because if you start a qube using this template before closing it, the installed program will not be available.
ok, i shut down then i restarted and looked, not there, then i went to settings-application-refresh applications yet still nothing so i shut down and did again yet still nothing?
the only things beginning with R are;
Removable Drives and Media
Ristretto Image Viewer
Run Program…
Run Terminal
and only things with S are;
Screenshot
Session and Startup
Settings Editor
Start Qube
because your instructions said; runSoftware. If it it not available, go to the qube settings, click on Applications tab, search **Software**
and in the settings-applications all options are in alphanumerical order