How to remove unused template countering "It is in use as: - global property default_template"

[tofu]

A kind of “qube in use” prevents me to uninstall fedora-43-xfce template (older template) after I tried to upgrade the template from fedora-43-xfce to fedora-44-xfce.

• I installed fedora-44-xfce by Qubes Template Manager.
• I shutdown qubes which I could reach from Q->Cube Symbol->Apps/Templates/Service. (Some of the did not have the option to shutdown.)
• I switched templates from fedora-43-xfce to fedora-44-xfce by Qubes Templates Switcher.
• I killed qubes I could reach by Q->Cube Symbol->Service (limited to those I could not shutdown).
• I switched templates from fedora-43-xfce to fedora-44-xfce by Qubes Templates Switcher.
• I clicked the rotating icon on the top right of the menu-bar. The notification only mentioned update of fedora-44-xfce. But, dom0, debian-13-xfce (which I installed to see what I can install by apt-command) and fedora-43-xfce were also updated.
• I tried to uninstall fedora-43-xfce template by Qubes Template Manager. The request was refused by the message
  • VM fedora-43-xfce cannot be removed. It is in use as:
  • - global property default_template
  • qvm-template: error: Domain is in use: 'fedora-43-xfce'; see 'journalctl -u qubesd -e' in dom0 for detail
• I restarted Qubes OS and tried uninstalling fedora-43-xfce again. The symptom did not change.

I tried the command journalctl -u qubesd -e in dom0 for detail but I do not understand its output.

• _[0] Fedora 41 - x86_64 … _[?25Repositories loaded., Nothing to do., No packages downloaded.

I read through a thread I found by pretending to create at new topic.

How to switch template for default-dvm?

Assuming you’re ok to restart the “sys qubes” that bother you: open a dom0 terminal check which qubes still use fedora-42-xfce: qvm-ls --fields name,template | grep fedora-42-xfce run qvm-shutdown --force --all run qvm-prefs default-dvm template fedora-43-xfce repeat #4 for any other qubes still using fedora-42-xfce start your sys-qubes using qvm-start sys-usb etc. (or just restart the computer)

I found the command qvm-ls is mentioned. I opened a dom0-terminal and issued the command:

• qvm-ls | grep 43

The result was just one line.

• fedora-43-xfce Halted TemplateVM black - -

On the other hand, the row of default-dvm on Qube Manager has fedora-44-xfce in the field of “Template”.

I read another thread, which I found in the same way as the previous one.

How to change default-mgmt-dvm template?

I’m trying to delete a template but get the error message This qube cannot be removed. It is used as: - template for qube default-mgmt-dvm If you want to remove this qube, you should remove or change settings of each qube or setting that uses it. I’ve tried entering the command qvm-prefs default-mgmt-dvm fedora-41 in dom0 but it is not recognized. Entering qvm-ls does confirm that fedora-41 template is installed. How can I change the default-mgmt-dvm template? Is there a GUI way to achieve this? …

I checked Qube Manager->View->“Show internal qubes”. Still the string “43” is found only once. It is in the field “Name”.

I do not have the courage to use CLI to force change of default template. For example, I see differences in the strings default_template and default-mgmt-dvm template.

What is going on?

What can I do to solve the situation?

Was it a really bad idea to accept updates of templates in between upgrade to new fedora template and uninstallation of the older fedora template?

[barto]

@tofu

The result was just one line.

That’s fine… and did you run the next command from the linked post?
qvm-prefs default-dvm template fedora-44-xfce

Also, your error reads “* global property default_template” which you change in Qubes Global Config app, or from the dom0 command line with:
qubes-prefs default_template fedora-44-xfce
(note: this time is qubes-prefs, not qvm-prefs!)

[tofu]

Thank you barto,

I will try these two commands.