Is it OK to use Qubes OS LVM pool for own partitions?

User Support General
1

I want to use some part of free space that is inside Qubes OS default encrypted LVM.
E.g. I want to create several partitions and mount them to the Windows (as a second D disk) and fedora-template qubes.
This way I will be able easily backup files from these disks, even from other qubes.

I would be happy for advice and answers:

  1. Is it OK to use Qubes OS LVM pool for creating own partitions that Qubes OS knows nothing about? Can it break things, like internal counters or any other contracts that the system expects? Maybe some additional information about naming this partitions, making them or anything?

  2. How should I attach such a partition? Is it possible to attach it as usual block device?

  3. Does somebody uses setup like that? Maybe for sharing/moving a large amount of data between 2 or more qubes? What is the best way and setup to such things?

2

  1. I think its okay, and i believe it cannot break things.

  2. in the windows i dont know how to do that. Also i believe windows not support those file system, even standart ext4 not.

  3. Its easy to move files from qubes to windows or windows to qubes, just mount windows partition and move it.

1 Like
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@51lieal thanks for reply.

We are not talking about file system of partitions. Why would I use ext4 for windows, I will format it to NTFS or exfat.

I want to have his partition. I do not want to use additional flash disk or actual physical drive. That’s why I opened this topic.

Any other pieces of advice are welcome, maybe somebody had done something like that before.

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E.g. I want to create several partitions and mount them to the Windows (as a second D disk) and fedora-template qubes.
This way I will be able easily backup files from these disks, even from other qubes.

I would be happy for advice and answers:

Yes

Not in my experience.
It’s just a standard pool: treat it as such

Attach it with qui-devices as any other device.

Yes.
For sharing/moving a large amount of data on a more regular basis, I use rsync over
qrexec, or syncthing - both
packaged as part of the tasks project

I never presume to speak for the Qubes team.
When I comment in the Forum or in the mailing lists I speak for myself.

1 Like
5

then how you open encrypted device? like i say, it doesnt even support ext4

thats why i said, just mount windows partition and you move it.

6

Because it is encrypted on the higher level, than filesystem. All pool is encrypted, and encryption does not care if partitions have ext4, ntfs or any raw binary data.

Thanks, @unman, for your sufficient answer, I am marking it as a Solution.
About attaching with qvm-devices I have a question though. Aren’t all LVM partitions hidden in Qubes OS (via udev) from showing in the qvm-devices?
I thought that I will have to do something with qubesdb- tools or something to make it work.

7

No, not all.