How to create DVM Templates in Qubes OS 4?

[qber...@gmail.com]

In Qubes OS 3, the documented way of creating DVM Templates is to use qvm-create-default-dvm (see https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/dispvm-customization/)

qvm-create-default-dvm was removed in Qubes OS 4, so what's the new way to create DVM Templates (https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/glossary/)?

I would like to install something in a TemplateVM, configure it in a DVM Template, and run it in a disposable VM.

Thanks!

[Tom Zander]

The documentation is outdated, there is an article that explains the 4.0
way;
https://blog.invisiblethings.org/2017/10/03/core3.html
See heading; "Disposable VMs redesigned"

--
Tom Zander
Blog: https://zander.github.io
Vlog: https://vimeo.com/channels/tomscryptochannel

[qber...@gmail.com]

On Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 3:50:16 PM UTC-7, Tom Zander wrote:
> The documentation is outdated, there is an article that explains the 4.0
> way;
> https://blog.invisiblethings.org/2017/10/03/core3.html
> See heading; "Disposable VMs redesigned"

Here's how I tried to create a DVM Template:
qvm-create --template debian-8 --label green --property template_for_dispvms=True --class AppVM my-dvm

I compared `qvm-prefs my-dvm` with `qvm-prefs fedora-25-dvm`. They look similar.

I see that I can launch a disposable VM from the command line:
qvm-run --dispvm=my-dvm xterm

What I don't understand is that my-dvm shows up as "Domain: my-dvm" in the Applications menu, and fedora-25-dvm shows up as "Disposable: fedora-25-dvm". How do I get my-dvm to show up as Disposable, so that launching applications from it automatically creates disposable VMs?

Also, my-dvm doesn't show up as an option for Default DispVM in VM Settings.

[qber...@gmail.com]

On Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 11:09:35 PM UTC-7, qber...@gmail.com wrote:
> What I don't understand is that my-dvm shows up as "Domain: my-dvm" in the Applications menu, and fedora-25-dvm shows up as "Disposable: fedora-25-dvm". How do I get my-dvm to show up as Disposable, so that launching applications from it automatically creates disposable VMs?

https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/1339#issuecomment-338813581 looked promising.

Unfortunately, `qvm-features my-dvm appmenus 1` did not help, even after restarting the computer.

> Also, my-dvm doesn't show up as an option for Default DispVM in VM Settings.

Still don't know how to solve this.

[qber...@gmail.com]

On Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 11:26:30 PM UTC-7, qber...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 11:09:35 PM UTC-7, qber...@gmail.com wrote:
> > What I don't understand is that my-dvm shows up as "Domain: my-dvm" in the Applications menu, and fedora-25-dvm shows up as "Disposable: fedora-25-dvm". How do I get my-dvm to show up as Disposable, so that launching applications from it automatically creates disposable VMs?
>
> https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/1339#issuecomment-338813581 looked promising.
>
> Unfortunately, `qvm-features my-dvm appmenus 1` did not help, even after restarting the computer.

To clarify: it's `qvm-features my-dvm appmenus-dispvm 1`, but it also doesn't work.

[qber...@gmail.com]

Also, note that `qvm-features fedora-25-dvm` returns the same thing as `qvm-features my-dvm`:
appmenus-dispvm 1

I think by clicking "Refresh Applications" in my-dvm's VM Settings, I was able to get my-dvm to show up as "Disposable: my-dvm".

However, launching applications from the menu does not launch disposable VMs, which means I must be missing something else. Not sure what.

[qber...@gmail.com]

Never mind...

I guess I needed to let something sync in the background, or something.

I'm now able to launch disposable VMs from the Applications menu using my-dvm.

I still have one outstanding issue, though: how can I set my-dvm's Default DispVM to my-dvm? my-dvm doesn't show up as an option in the menu. My options are:
default (fedora-25-dvm) (current)
disp<1>
disp<2>
disp<3>
disp<4>
disp<5>
(none)

[Tom Zander]

On Sunday, 10 December 2017 07:09:35 CET qber...@gmail.com wrote:
> What I don't understand

Just want to point out that the 4.0 support for dispVMs is extremely basic
and honestly quite broken.
The concept works, most of the tools don't or are just shitty.

Happy to hear you made it work :)