Qubes agent for Ubuntu HVM

Eliot1984 · April 11, 2021, 12:12pm

I’ve a Ubuntu HVM and I’m trying to get all of qubes goodies(clipboard copy paste, file move/copy, etc.) to work in my HVM but I couldn’t get it working so far I’ve tried importing qubes public keys and then doing apt-get on qubes-core and other packages but it didn’t work then I stumbled upon https://groups.google.com/g/qubes-devel/c/CB30pD5J56U this but I’m a complete noob and I couldn’t understand how to install those packages can anyone explain this to me in a step by step fashion

qubicrm · April 12, 2021, 12:13am

welcome,

There is not a official ubuntu template, because of some legal constrains imposed by canonical. but you can build the template yourself.

github.com

Qubes-Community/Contents/blob/master/docs/os/ubuntu.md


Ubuntu template(s)
==================

If you would like to use Ubuntu Linux distribution in your AppVMs, you can build and install one of the available Ubuntu templates.
These templates are currently not provided by Qubes in ready to use binary packages, because Canonical does not allow redistribution of a modified Ubuntu.
The redistribution is not allowed by their [Intellectual property rights policy][IP].

Building the Template
-------

Templates can be built using [Qubes Builder][builder]  
(You can also access documentation in the [source code repository][repo].)

Please carefully read the [instructions][builder] for setting up and using Qubes Builder.  
To quickly prepare the builder configuration, you can use the `setup` script available in the repository - it will interactively ask you which templates you want to build.  
Select one of the Ubuntu version options.  
On the "Choose Pre-Built Packages Repositories" page you must not select either option.  
This is because Qubes does not provide offical Pre-Built packages for Ubuntu.

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regards

deeplow · April 12, 2021, 11:46am

I don’t have a solution to your problem, but just wanted to give you my 2 cents on the overarching issue I think you are trying to resolve. If this is not your case, just disregard my reply.

Many times, users coming from other linux distributions (e.g. ubuntu), when jumping on Qubes want to have a template of the OS they were using before. However this is not the recommended way of using Qubes. The default templates (fedora, whonix, debian) as well as community templates already have pretty much everything installed and should be used instead.

unman · April 12, 2021, 2:23pm

But Ubuntu is a supported template - it’s only because of past
stupidity that it’s not included in the Community templates.

You can build Ubuntu templates using Qubes builder - it’s
straightforward, and fully supported.
I make pre-built templates available here:
https://qubes.3isec.org/Templates

On the specific question, current packages cannot be applied to a stock
HVM. It used to work. It doesn’t now.
Because Ubuntu templates are available, and you can also convert a
template based qube to a standalone, (and the packages work there), I
haven’t spent any time investigating.

Sven · April 13, 2021, 6:23pm

I don’t know your reason for using the Ubuntu HVM. Let me share my own
experience:

I wanted to use Ubuntu because it felt most polished
You can download an use the ubuntu templates provided by @unman
(he is a core team member and the maintainer of the Debian and Ubuntu
templates among other things)
It actually is quite easy to create a qubes-builder following the
instructions and build/install the Ubuntu templates yourself

All that being said:

At some point @unman pointed out to me that there is actually very
little difference between the distros when using Qubes. After thinking
it through I copied the Ambiance theme, Humanity icons & Ubuntu font
into a Debian template, learned the color code for the terminal
background (#300a24) and … what should I say: I can’t even tell the
difference between Debian and Ubuntu (I know there are some but I doubt
they are actually important to you).

You won’t have snap, you won’t have those launchpad contributor thingies
(forgot the name) … but I don’t actually need them.

Also if you value stability and polish it stands to reckon Debian is
your ideal distro anyway.