I installed Virtual Box in 2023 on Windows 111
[DomO] Error
I don’t think it’s possible to run Qubes OS in Virtual Box, it doesn’t support IOMMU.
You can install Qubes, but the error you are getting is because you are unable to start sys-net which results in sys-firewall not being able to start.
You can’t use Firefox because you are stuck in dom0 without being able to start any appVMs.
I don’t know if there is any way to fix this in Virtual Box, I have not be able to do so. You can run Qubes OS in other hypervisors, like VMware.
If you just want to try Qubes using an external storage device might be easier, than trying to run it virtually.
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adw
March 4, 2023, 8:53pm
3
Qubes OS uses its own Type 1 (bare-metal) hypervisor called Xen. Therefore, Qubes OS is not designed to be installed inside of a virtual machine. It can be done, but no one has stepped up to do the work to make it easy and problem-free yet.
Here are some open issues about it:
opened 03:03PM - 16 May 19 UTC
T: enhancement
C: other
P: default
**The problem you're addressing (if any)**
Qubes installer (and probably instal… led system too) fails to run inside VirtualBox. Known problems:
- Xorg fails to start with `(EE) VESA(0): V_BIOS address 0x0 out of range` message
- a lot of disk I/O errors, especially on heavy I/O (like the installation itself)
Tried with Qubes 4.0.1.
**Describe the solution you'd like**
Fedora 25 runs fine with exactly the same VirtualBox configuration, so I guess it's either missing/misconfigured drivers shipped with Qubes, or Xen interfering with them.
The easiest thing for start would be to try with Qubes 4.1 (updated drivers), but I guess it will not be enough.
**Where is the value to a user, and who might that user be?**
Generally running Qubes OS in a virtual machine is discouraged, as it does not offer protection from the host system. But there are use cases where it makes sense:
- testing / playing / trying
- running Qubes OS as a component in Genode (Sculpt OS), as an intermediate step in using Genode as isolation-provider for Qubes OS
Note that VirtualBox only recently introduced nested virtualization and only for AMD CPUs. And AFAIK none of it include nested IOMMU. This means isolation within such Qubes instance is significantly weaker than bare metal one, as only PV is possible.
**Describe alternatives you've considered**
Alternative for Genode use case may be trying Seoul VMM, which works well with some Linux distributions. I don't know if it's able to run Xen (even with PV only).
**Relevant [documentation](https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/) you've consulted**
Setting up a VirtualBox VM in Sculpt OS: https://genodians.org/m-stein/2019-03-07-vm-with-sculpt-ce-preview
cc @nfeske
opened 08:17PM - 14 Jul 20 UTC
T: enhancement
help wanted
C: doc
P: default
**The problem you're addressing (if any)**
The Qubes OS is missing an installat… ion guide for virtual machines. Users are installing an outdated and unsupported version of Qubes OS (3.2) instead of the supported version. some unofficial installation guide for Qubes OS on a virtual machine is misleading and needed documentation. reference "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mATI8Lht0Js". Usually, users face some errors and mistakes while installing Qubes OS on virtual machine. reference "https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/16771"
**Describe the solution you'd like**
I would like to add an installation guide for Qubes OS using supported Virtual machines on the website.
**Where is the value to a user, and who might that user be?**
Normal Users who would like to try Qubes OS on a virtual machine without installing it in their system. Advanced users that would like to use Qubes OS as a security lab.
**Describe alternatives you've considered**
Adding an installation guide on a virtual machine would give a unified and user-friendly installation guide.
**Relevant [documentation](https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/) you've consulted**
https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/installation-guide/
opened 01:38AM - 16 Aug 16 UTC
T: enhancement
help wanted
C: website
On 2016-08-15 16:21, Andrew Clausen wrote:
> Hi Pixel,
>
> On 9 August 2016 at… 13:59, pixel fairy <pixelfairy@[...].com> wrote:
>
> > virtualbox doesnt support nested virtualization.
> >
> > vmware-fusion does, so qubes runs fine in that. the only issue is the low
> > resolution. vmwares drivers complain if you run them on a xen kernel, so
> > your stuck with low res.
>
> Yes, I finally confirmed that this works. I will be recommending this
> to my students.
>
> Perhaps this advice ought to be somewhere on the Qubes website.
> Specifically, most people will want to try Qubes out before making a
> big investment in finding a well-supported laptop. So perhaps the
> "Getting Started" page [1] could have a "Try Qubes inside a virtual
> machine" button next to the live usb option under "Try Qubes".
>
> Kind regards,
> Andrew
>
> [1] https://www.qubes-os.org/getting-started/
[Full thread](https://groups.google.com/d/topic/qubes-devel/96V85GaogRc/discussion)
1 Like
try vmware and search how to enabled vtx and vtd in the vmware, then you can retry. I have several times install to vmware and its work as normal.
I need to run Qube OS, while im using Windoes 11 for Time Saving Options
I get the same Error Message, Firefox cant get installed and has no Internet Connection
You can make a Windows qube
Running Qubes in a VM is fine for testing, but you shouldn’t do if you need any actual security, if the host OS is compromised it can completely negate any advantage you gain from running Qubes.
1 Like