Whonix templates now in qubes-template-community-testing?

qubist · May 17, 2025, 2:49pm

Hi,

According to Qubes Template Manager, Whonix templates are now in qubes-templates-community-testing and not in qubes-templates-community.

Why is that?

Are we supposed to install testing templates now?

alimirjamali · May 17, 2025, 3:00pm

What do you mean?

The stable (tested) Whonix templates are in the templates-community.

The testing Whonix templates are in the templates-community-testing.

If you do not want the testing templates, you could just disable the testing templates in global config:

qubist · May 17, 2025, 3:37pm

What do you mean?

Run Qubes Template Manager and click Refresh. Wait for… I don’t know, it always takes a very long time. It shows whonix-*-17 templates in qubes-templates-community as upgradable.

Rename your existing whonix--17 templates to e.g. whonix--17-BEFORE. Click Refresh again. Then it no longer shows whonix-*-17 as installed. It shows them as available in qubes-templates-community-testing.

The stable (tested) Whonix templates are in the templates-community.

The testing Whonix templates are in the templates-community-testing.

If you do not want the testing templates, you could just disable the testing templates in global config:

My UI looks different (perhaps you are using Qubes 4.3?) but even so I have community and testing disabled in section Template repositories.

alimirjamali · May 17, 2025, 4:09pm

Ah. OK. It appears that it is a known bug for some time:

github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues

New Global Config app template repository chooser has no effect

opened 06:30PM - 28 Dec 23 UTC

UndeadDevel

C: manager/widget P: default needs diagnosis affects-4.2

### Qubes OS release 4.2 ### Brief summary In the new Global Config a…pp, "Updates" category, "Template repositories" section, the different options (checkboxes) seem to have no effect, i.e. if enabling e.g. only the "Official templates" checkbox, the other types of templates are still shown in the Template Manager and can be installed from there, even though the section label states "The Qubes Template Manager will be able to install templates from these repositories". ### Steps to reproduce 1. Enable only the "Official templates" checkbox 2. Launch the Template Manager and install e.g. the archlinux community template ### Expected behavior the Template Manager list excludes templates belonging to categories whose checkboxes have not been activated in the Global Config app FWIW I actually wouldn't mind if that section of the Global Config app was just removed. ### Actual behavior all templates are always available for installation in the Template Manager (i.e. that part of the Global Config app is entirely superfluous)

github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues

Cannot get rid of testing repos for qvm-template-gui

opened 05:40PM - 20 Jul 24 UTC

ddevz

C: manager/widget C: templates P: default needs diagnosis affects-4.2

[How to file a helpful issue](https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/issue-tracking/) #…## Qubes OS release 4.2 ### Brief summary If you try out "testing" template repos for a few seconds, once you try them, the versions from the stable repos are no longer available, and only testing versions are available. ### Steps to reproduce (note: I use the CLI names of programs since there is more then one thing known as "template-manager". They were actually launched from the GUI menu) 1. run qvm-template-gui, refresh the list. 1. run qubes-global-config 2. go to "updates" 3. At the bottom of the screen, turn on all template repositories, hit apply, then ok 4. run qvm-template-gui 5. refresh the list 6. see what all is available (you now see the "testing" versions of several templates) 7. Decide you want the stable versions 8. run qubes-global-config 2. go to "updates" 3. At the bottom of the screen, turn off the testing templates, hit apply, then ok 4. refresh qvm-template-gui 5. still see testing versions of many templates 6. quit qvm-template-gui 7. start qvm-template-gui 4. refresh qvm-template-gui 5. still see testing versions of many templates ### Expected behavior to not see testing versions of templates ### Actual behavior seeing testing versions of templates

github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues

Qubes Global Config: Testing repos can´t be switched off only for a few seconds

opened 12:59PM - 26 Mar 25 UTC

Ionixx

C: manager/widget P: default needs diagnosis affects-4.2

[How to file a helpful issue](https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/issue-tracking/) ###… Qubes OS release Qubes 4.2.4 ### Brief summary If you uncheck the boxes for the testing repositories in the update menu of "Qubes Global Config" to only receive updates for the stable repos, the boxes reappear after about 5 to 7 seconds. Only when you set the corresponding values in the associated file from 1 to 0 in the terminal does it work. ### Steps to reproduce Goto "Qubes Global Config" and try to switch off the testing repos except "Official templates" with the ticks, then apply and wait. ### Expected behavior The testing repos will be switched off permanently and you can leave the window. ### Actual behavior See above: The ticks assigned to the testing-repos return after a few seconds. Only in terminal they can be switched off permantly setting the variables from "1" to "0". ### Additional information

Yes. That is correct. And since there are not stable templates on r4.3 (all of its template are testing), I can not reproduce the bug or try to submit a fix for it. Hopefully someone who has a r4.2 machine and is interested could work on it.

qubist · May 17, 2025, 4:33pm

Ah. OK. It appears that it is a known bug for some time:

Thanks for the links. I understand but what I am wondering is why Whonix templates now show only in community testing. Does that mean there is no stable version of Whonix any more or what?

unman · May 18, 2025, 1:26am

No - if you enable the testing repository then qvm-template only
shows you the latest versions, ie the version in testing. This is not
Whonix specific, but it is imo a fault

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

adrelanos · May 18, 2025, 11:35am

One reason is, quote qubes-template-whonix-gateway-17 4.2.0-202505140948 (r4.2) · Issue #5638 · QubesOS/updates-status · GitHub

Upload-template r4.2 whonix-gateway-17 4.2.0-202505140948 templates-community (available 5 days from now)

Upload to stable command not available yet the time of writing.

Other todo:

testing
release announcement

qubist · May 18, 2025, 4:33pm

No - if you enable the testing repository then qvm-template only
shows you the latest versions, ie the version in testing. This is not
Whonix specific, but it is imo a fault

This is all very weird. Besides the bug mentioned by @alimirjamali, it seems the command line version behaves strangely too:

user@dom0:~ > qvm-template repolist --all
qubes-templates-community          Qubes Community Templates repository  disabled
qubes-templates-community-testing  Qubes Community Templates repository  disabled
qubes-templates-itl                Qubes Templates repository            enabled
qubes-templates-itl-testing        Qubes Templates repository            disabled
user@dom0:~ > qvm-template list
Installed Templates
debian-12-minimal  0:4.2.0-202308031621  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12-xfce     0:4.2.0-202312171103  qubes-templates-itl
Available Templates
debian-11-minimal  0:4.2.0-202307021203  qubes-templates-itl
debian-11          0:4.2.0-202306021016  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12-minimal  0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12-xfce     0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12          0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-37-minimal  0:4.2.0-202305141453  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-37-xfce     0:4.2.0-202305160402  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-37          0:4.2.0-202306020612  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-38-minimal  0:4.2.0-202308251538  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-38-xfce     0:4.2.0-202312171103  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-38          0:4.2.0-202308270125  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-39-minimal  0:4.2.0-202403250044  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-39-xfce     0:4.2.0-202403100103  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-39          0:4.2.0-202403091939  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-40-minimal  0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-40-xfce     0:4.2.0-202411080221  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-40          0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-41-minimal  0:4.2.0-202411262134  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-41-xfce     0:4.2.0-202501300253  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-41          0:4.2.0-202412200202  qubes-templates-itl
user@dom0:~ > qvm-template --enablerepo qubes-templates-itl-testing list
Installed Templates
debian-12-minimal  0:4.2.0-202308031621  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12-xfce     0:4.2.0-202312171103  qubes-templates-itl
Available Templates
debian-11-minimal  0:4.2.0-202307021203  qubes-templates-itl
debian-11          0:4.2.0-202306021016  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12-minimal  0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12-xfce     0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12          0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-37-minimal  0:4.2.0-202305141453  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-37-xfce     0:4.2.0-202305160402  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-37          0:4.2.0-202306020612  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-38-minimal  0:4.2.0-202308251538  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-38-xfce     0:4.2.0-202312171103  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-38          0:4.2.0-202308270125  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-39-minimal  0:4.2.0-202403250044  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-39-xfce     0:4.2.0-202403100103  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-39          0:4.2.0-202403091939  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-40-minimal  0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-40-xfce     0:4.2.0-202411080221  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-40          0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-41-minimal  0:4.2.0-202411262134  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-41-xfce     0:4.2.0-202501300253  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-41          0:4.2.0-202412200202  qubes-templates-itl
user@dom0:~ > qvm-template list
Installed Templates
debian-12-minimal  0:4.2.0-202308031621  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12-xfce     0:4.2.0-202312171103  qubes-templates-itl
Available Templates
debian-11-minimal  0:4.2.0-202307021203  qubes-templates-itl
debian-11          0:4.2.0-202306021016  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12-minimal  0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12-xfce     0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
debian-12          0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-37-minimal  0:4.2.0-202305141453  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-37-xfce     0:4.2.0-202305160402  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-37          0:4.2.0-202306020612  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-38-minimal  0:4.2.0-202308251538  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-38-xfce     0:4.2.0-202312171103  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-38          0:4.2.0-202308270125  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-39-minimal  0:4.2.0-202403250044  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-39-xfce     0:4.2.0-202403100103  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-39          0:4.2.0-202403091939  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-40-minimal  0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-40-xfce     0:4.2.0-202411080221  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-40          0:4.2.0-202409070311  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-41-minimal  0:4.2.0-202411262134  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-41-xfce     0:4.2.0-202501300253  qubes-templates-itl
fedora-41          0:4.2.0-202412200202  qubes-templates-itl
user@dom0:~ > qvm-template repolist --enabled
qubes-templates-itl  Qubes Templates repository  enabled

I don’t know if I am doing something wrong but my expectation is that --enablerepo should do what it says. Apparently, it doesn’t.

qubist · May 18, 2025, 4:33pm

available 5 days from now

That explains it.
Thank you.

qubist · May 26, 2025, 1:53pm

available 5 days from now

It’s been more than 5 and it still shows in qubes-templates-community-testing, regardless of multiple refreshes.

Is that normal?

adrelanos · May 26, 2025, 2:15pm

Qubes-Whonix - user-sysmaint-split - Point Release! - News - Whonix Forum

Therefore…

…no.

Qubes issue. Out of my control. Can be reported to Qubes issue tracker.

qubist · May 26, 2025, 3:33pm

Besides the misplacement, what might be the negative consequences of this?

OvalZero · May 26, 2025, 8:12pm

Nothing I could evaluate. Installed it when it came out and no hiccups so far.

qubist · May 27, 2025, 8:26am

Nothing I could evaluate. Installed it when it came out and no hiccups so far.

Thanks for the feedback.

Could you please check this (last paragraph) on your system?

OvalZero · May 27, 2025, 12:18pm

Works nice as well. (Tested: “Show Tor status” / “Tor control panel” / “Show sdwdate status” / “Open sdwdate’s log” / “[Restart|Stop] sdwdate”)