Qubes OS updates Weekly Review - Y2025-W30

General Discussion
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Qubes OS updates Weekly Review - Y2025-W30

Introduction

Weekly review of new packages uploaded to Qubes OS repositories. Link to previous Newsletter here.

Alphabetically sorted list of new packages uploaded to Qubes OS repositories 
kernel-6.12.39-1.qubes.fc37.x86_64.rpm
kernel-6.12.39-1.qubes.fc41.x86_64.rpm
kernel-devel-6.12.39-1.qubes.fc37.x86_64.rpm
kernel-devel-6.12.39-1.qubes.fc41.x86_64.rpm
kernel-latest-6.15.7-1.qubes.fc37.x86_64.rpm
kernel-latest-6.15.7-1.qubes.fc41.x86_64.rpm
kernel-latest-devel-6.15.7-1.qubes.fc37.x86_64.rpm
kernel-latest-devel-6.15.7-1.qubes.fc41.x86_64.rpm
kernel-latest-modules-6.15.7-1.qubes.fc37.x86_64.rpm
kernel-latest-modules-6.15.7-1.qubes.fc41.x86_64.rpm
kernel-latest-qubes-vm-6.15.7-1.qubes.fc37.x86_64.rpm
kernel-latest-qubes-vm-6.15.7-1.qubes.fc41.x86_64.rpm
kernel-modules-6.12.39-1.qubes.fc37.x86_64.rpm
kernel-modules-6.12.39-1.qubes.fc41.x86_64.rpm
kernel-qubes-vm-6.12.39-1.qubes.fc37.x86_64.rpm
kernel-qubes-vm-6.12.39-1.qubes.fc41.x86_64.rpm
python3-qui_4.2.27-1+deb12u1_amd64.deb
python3-qui_4.2.27-1+deb13u1_amd64.deb
python3-qui_4.2.27-1+jammy1_amd64.deb
python3-qui_4.2.27-1+noble1_amd64.deb
python3-qui_4.3.16-1+deb12u1_amd64.deb
python3-qui_4.3.16-1+deb13u1_amd64.deb
python3-qui_4.3.16-1+jammy1_amd64.deb
python3-qui_4.3.16-1+noble1_amd64.deb
qubes-ansible-1.1.0-1.3.fc41.noarch.rpm
qubes-ansible-tests-1.1.0-1.3.fc41.noarch.rpm
qubes-core-admin-addon-whonix-4.3.1-1.fc41.noarch.rpm
qubes-core-dom0-4.3.31-1.fc41.noarch.rpm
qubes-desktop-linux-common-4.2.15-1.fc40.noarch.rpm
qubes-desktop-linux-common-4.2.15-1.fc41.noarch.rpm
qubes-desktop-linux-common-4.2.15-1.fc42.noarch.rpm
qubes-desktop-linux-common_4.2.15-1+deb12u1_amd64.deb
qubes-desktop-linux-common_4.2.15-1+deb13u1_amd64.deb
qubes-desktop-linux-common_4.2.15-1+jammy1_amd64.deb
qubes-desktop-linux-common_4.2.15-1+noble1_amd64.deb
qubes-desktop-linux-manager-4.2.27-1.fc37.noarch.rpm
qubes-desktop-linux-manager-4.2.27-1.fc41.noarch.rpm
qubes-desktop-linux-manager-4.2.27-1.fc42.noarch.rpm
qubes-desktop-linux-manager-4.3.16-1.fc40.noarch.rpm
qubes-desktop-linux-manager-4.3.16-1.fc41.noarch.rpm
qubes-desktop-linux-manager-4.3.16-1.fc42.noarch.rpm
qubes-desktop-linux-manager_4.2.27-1+deb12u1_amd64.deb
qubes-desktop-linux-manager_4.2.27-1+deb13u1_amd64.deb
qubes-desktop-linux-manager_4.2.27-1+jammy1_amd64.deb
qubes-desktop-linux-manager_4.2.27-1+noble1_amd64.deb
qubes-desktop-linux-manager_4.3.16-1+deb12u1_amd64.deb
qubes-desktop-linux-manager_4.3.16-1+deb13u1_amd64.deb
qubes-desktop-linux-manager_4.3.16-1+jammy1_amd64.deb
qubes-desktop-linux-manager_4.3.16-1+noble1_amd64.deb
qubes-menus-4.2.15-1.fc40.noarch.rpm
qubes-menus-4.2.15-1.fc41.noarch.rpm
qubes-menus-4.2.15-1.fc42.noarch.rpm
qubes-menus_4.2.15-1+deb12u1_amd64.deb
qubes-menus_4.2.15-1+deb13u1_amd64.deb
qubes-menus_4.2.15-1+jammy1_amd64.deb
qubes-menus_4.2.15-1+noble1_amd64.deb
qubes-template-debian-13-4.3.0-202507250259.noarch.rpm
qubes-template-debian-13-minimal-4.3.0-202507250259.noarch.rpm
qubes-template-debian-13-xfce-4.3.0-202507250259.noarch.rpm

Highlights

  • Fedora 42 stable template is released.
  • Considerable work to reduce memory usage of preloaded disposables.
  • Possible signs of Debian 13 stable template?

Details

In addition to the usual minor fixes and patches (full list here):

  • qubes-template-debian-13-minimal 4.3.0-202507250259 (r4.3)
    qubes-template-debian-13 4.3.0-202507250259 (r4.3)
    qubes-template-debian-13-xfce 4.3.0-202507250259 (r4.3)
    A new set of Debian 13 (Trixie) testing templates. Which makes me wonder if Qubes OS 4.3 will be released with this version as the default Debian template. Official upstream release date for Trixie is scheduled for 9th August. Trixie’s Qubes template has been under testing for a considerable time.

  • desktop-linux-manager v4.2.27 (r4.2)
    In addition to two minor fixes, this update includes OS end-of-life indicator (discussed in week 29 newsletter).

  • core-admin-addon-whonix v4.3.1 (r4.3)
    . Preventing Whonix-Workstation qubes to open files/URLs/Apps in non-Whonix based disposables (to avoid IP leaks).
    . Preventing Whonix-Workstation based StandaloneVMs to change their NetVM or DispVM to a non-Whonix based qube.
    . Rework for sdwdate-gui architecture.

  • linux-kernel-latest v6.15.7-1-latest (r4.3)
    linux-kernel-latest v6.15.7-1-latest (r4.2)
    linux-kernel v6.12.39-1 (r4.2)
    linux-kernel v6.12.39-1 (r4.3)
    A fresh set of Kernel (stable & current lts).

  • desktop-linux-common v4.2.15 (r4.3)
    . Addition to unittests.

  • core-admin v4.3.31 (r4.3)
    . Fix for backing up volumes with no snapshot.
    . Core part of implementing qemu-extra-args to allow adding extra qemu options (for HVM qubes).
    . Enabling debugging for a QWT crash after installation.
    . Bumping zfs-release version to support Fedora 42.
    . Shutting down a qube while it has devices attached to it will emit notifications (e.g. for USB or block devices).
    . There has been considerable rework on memory ballooning algorithm this week, mostly related to preloaded disposables (and to reduce their RAM usage).

Epilogue

I have been testing Fedora 42 template since March. It appears that the GCC and LLVM optimization has made it considerably faster compared to Fedora 41 template (details here). Some users were reluctant to migrate to Fedora 41 template (due to SELinux, memory ballooning or other issues). If anyone is still on Fedora 40 (which has been EOL for over a month), I would recommend skipping Fedora 41 and migrate directly to Fedora 42 template.

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I would like to, but depends on its state. I’m going through openQA logs (there are still quite a few failures), and linking issues / PRs into debian-13 template · Issue #8841 · QubesOS/qubes-issues · GitHub.

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