Qubes/Tails with persistent usb drive

wilsonb · May 23, 2021, 2:10am

I am trying to create a Tails setup inside QubesOS. It’s not about security/privacy. I think it’s a practical way for Tails documentation (e.g. screenshots).

I already have a running Tails VM by following this guide:

github.com

Qubes-Community/Contents/blob/master/docs/privacy/tails.md


Running Tails in Qubes
============================

[Tails](https://tails.boum.org) stands for The Amnesic Incognito Live System. 
It is a live operating system that aims to preserve your privacy and anonymity. 
Tails is intended to be booted off of a live CD and leave no trace on the computer it is run on, but using Tails this way requires the user to restart their computer every time they want to switch from their installed OS to Tails. 
Despite this, in case that method becomes cumbersome, Tails can be used inside virtualization software and Qubes.

To run Tails under Qubes:

1.  Read about [creating and using HVM qubes](https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/hvm/)

2.  Download and verify Tails from [https://tails.boum.org](https://tails.boum.org) in a qube, (saved as `/home/user/Downloads/tails.iso` on qube "isoVM" for purposes of this guide).

3.  Create a HVM

    - In Manager, click "VM menu" and select "Create VM"
    - Name the new qube - "Tails"
    - Select "HVM"

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I am also aware of the “Tails Troubleshooting guide”:

github.com

Qubes-Community/Contents/blob/master/docs/troubleshooting/tails-troubleshooting.md


# Tails Troubleshooting Guide #

## Black screen during startup

This was reported with earlier versions of Tails -- the problem should now be fixed.
If you do encounter a black screen during Tails startup, you can try to constrain display settings by appending vga codes to the Tails boot parameters.
If you do not know the codes, append `vga=999`, and a helpful prompt will appear.

Note: Tails 2.3 does not appear to honour the vga code.

## Window extends beyond the bottom of the screen

This problem seems to arise because Tails sizes to the height of the screen, but there is a title bar at the top of the window.
Either remove the title bar altogether, or move the window upwards using ALT+drag.

## Persistent tools do not work
The persistence tools, such as persistent volume, may not work because Tails has not been launched from USB. 
The HVM disk(s) can be configured and mounted from within Tails to provide persistent storage.
If you want to use an existing USB persistent volume:

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However, I don’t understand how to create a persistent storage for Tails. I do not have one at hand. I would like to create a new one. Either using part of my main hard drive or adding a USB stick.

Please help me out. Thanks.

ezpect · December 15, 2023, 4:08pm

Hey brother did you solve it? Trying to do the same now!

Cheers

janglingquo_575 · January 11, 2024, 5:24pm

See the following article:

gonzalo-bulnes · January 11, 2024, 9:42pm

You may not need the peristent volume for documentation purposes, but this is a good find indeed!

janglingquo_575 · January 11, 2024, 9:47pm

what do you mean for documentation purposes?

gonzalo-bulnes · January 11, 2024, 9:52pm

The purpose of the OP is writing documentation for TAILS.

The setup described in the article you linked is explicitly for development purposes, what that means is that if you’re looking at using TAILS for the features it’s been designed for (e.g. not leaving traces on your computer) you should seriously consider using it the way it’s designed to be used (not virtualized as this article describes).

But writing docs for TAILS is exactly what this kind of setup can help with.

janglingquo_575 · January 11, 2024, 10:07pm

Can Qubes replicate the anti-forensic features of TailsOS?

gonzalo-bulnes · January 11, 2024, 11:13pm

I’d second this reply on the other thread (let’s continue there, as it goes beyond the scope of this one):