Reinstall Qubes-Whonix™ Templates

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How to Reinstall Qubes-Whonix Templates

Introduction[edit]

On occasion, it is necessary to reinstall a Whonix template from the Qubes repository. [1]

Info Note: If Qubes-Whonix 16 is installed and you want to get Qubes-Whonix 17, it is unnecessary to follow the instructions on this page. Refer to Install Qubes-Whonix instructions instead, as it is easier. [2]

This chapter usually applies when the template is:

  • Outdated: To upgrade to a newer Point Release or testers-only version of Whonix.
  • Broken: Templates can become broken and/or unbootable for a number of reasons, such as when removing meta-packages that Whonix "depends" on to function properly, or after Kicksecure logo mixing packagesOnion network Logo from a later Debian release.
  • Misconfigured: Not all Template modifications are easily reversible. In some cases, it may be necessary to reinstall the Template.
  • Compromised: Users may suspect their Template has been compromised. For further information on this topic, see: Indicators of Compromise.
  • Testing: To ensure a high quality of future Whonix releases by becoming a Whonix tester.

Warning[edit]

If the Whonix Template is broken, misconfigured, or potentially compromised, discontinue using any App Qubes based on the affected Template.

The reason is that any App Qubes based on the affected Template will inherit the same issues. Disregarding this advice could lead to serious consequences. For example, a core component of the Whonix security model depends on sys-whonix forcing all traffic through Tor or blocking it. If sys-whonix is based on a Template with a misconfigured or broken firewall, the Whonix security model would be broken. [3]

Reinstallation Methods[edit]

Qubes has its own template reinstallation guidearchive.org iconarchive.today icon, however, this Whonix wiki entry should be preferred for reinstallation of Qubes-Whonix. The reason is that this guide is Whonix-specific and contains instructions on how to properly configure all settings. [4]

Info Note: The root file system of the affected Template will be lost during the reinstallation process. It is recommended to create a backup of any important files first.

Use one of the following methods:

Reinstall the Whonix template[edit]

UpdateVM Setting[edit]

Since only Fedora-based UpdateVMs support the --action=upgrade option for reinstalling the Template, it is recommended to create a dedicated Qubes dom0 UpdateVM based on Qubes' Fedora template. Forcing dom0 updates over Tor is still possible by setting sys-whonix as the NetVM for the UpdateVM. [5]

1. Create a new VM named dom0-updatevm.

Qubes VM Manager → VM → Create App Qube

  • Name and label: Name the App Qube. Do not include any personal information (if the App Qube is compromised, the attacker could run qubesdb-read /name to reveal the VM name). Name the App Qube something generic, for example: dom0-updatevm.
  • Color: Choose a color label for the UpdateVM.
  • Use this template: Choose the Fedora-based Template. For example: fedora-34. (There may or may not be a higher version number than 34 than there was at time of writing.)
  • Standalone: Leave the Standalone field unchecked.
  • Type: Choose the type App Qube.
  • Allow networking: Choose the desired NetVM from the list. For example: sys-whonix.
  • Press: OK.

2. Configure the NetVM setting of dom0-updatevm.

  • Option A: If non-torified, clearnet Qubes dom0 updates are preferred, set the NetVM of dom0-updatevm for example to sys-firewall.

Qube Manager → dom0-updatevm → Qube settings → Networking: sys-firewall → OK [6]

  • Option B: If torified Qubes dom0 updates are preferred, set the NetVM of dom0-updatevm to Whonix-Gateway™.

Qube Manager → dom0-updatevm → Qube settings → Networking: sys-whonix → OK [7]

3. The process of configuring the UpdateVM is now complete.

[8]

Update dom0[edit]

1. Launch a dom0 terminal.
Click the Qubes App Launcher (blue/grey "Q") → Open the Terminal Emulator (Xfce Terminal)

2. Upgrade Qubes dom0.

This step is mandatory. [9] [10]

sudo qubes-dom0-update --show-output --console

3. Done.

The dom0 upgrade has been completed.

Configure salt using Qubes dom0 Community Testing Repository[edit]

Optional.

Info Testers only.

If you are an interested tester, click on Expand on the right.

The following command will configure Qubes dom0 salt to use qubes-templates-community-testing for downloading Whonix. [11]

sudo qubesctl top.enable qvm.whonix-testing pillar=true

The following steps to enable the qubes-templates-community-testing repository should no longer be required. Please report if these steps were necessary for you.

If you are an interested tester, click on Expand on the right.

1. Enable qubes-templates-community-testing repository.

View the Qubes Templates .repoarchive.org iconarchive.today icon file.

cat /etc/yum.repos.d/qubes-templates.repo

2. Ensure the file contains [qubes-templates-community-testing].

The following text should be included. 

[qubes-templates-community-testing]
name = Qubes Community Templates repository
#baseurl = https://yum.qubes-os.org/r$releasever/templates-community-testing
metalink = https://yum.qubes-os.org/r$releasever/templates-community-testing/repodata/repomd.xml.metalink
enabled = 0
fastestmirror = 1
gpgcheck = 1
gpgkey = file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-qubes-$releasever-templates-community

3. Fix any missing sections.

If the [qubes-templates-community-testing] section is missing, then the user has probably already modified the file. In this case dnf [12] preserves user changes by saving updates to /etc/yum.repos.d/qubes-templates.repo.rpmnew [13] instead of overwriting the file. Since the .repo.rpmnew file is ignored by qubes-dom0-update, the .repo file must be manually updated.

Either:

  • Manually add the changes from .repo.rpmnew to the .repo file; or
  • Overwrite the .repo file with the .repo.rpmnew file:
    • sudo cp /etc/yum.repos.d/qubes-templates.repo.rpmnew /etc/yum.repos.d/qubes-templates.repo
    • And then manually add back necessary changes. If the command fails because /etc/yum.repos.d/qubes-templates.repo.rpmnew does not exist, then the user probably has [qubes-templates-community-testing] already.

Adjust Whonix Version Number[edit]

1. Introduction.

If the previous sudo qubes-dom0-update was completed, it should not be necessary to verify the version number. However, this is mentioned because many users fail to update dom0 packages beforehand.

2. View local salt Whonix version number.

In dom0.

View contents of file /srv/formulas/base/virtual-machines-formula/qvm/whonix.jinja.

sudo cat /srv/formulas/base/virtual-machines-formula/qvm/whonix.jinja

3. Example output. 

{% set whonix_version = salt['pillar.get']('qvm:whonix:version', '17') %}
{% set whonix_repo = salt['pillar.get']('qvm:whonix:repo', '[omitted for brevity]') %}

4. Interpretation.

Verify whonix_version is 17.

If it shows something else, then Qubes dom0 is outdated. In that case, it is not possible to continue. [14] [15] [16]

5. Done.

Version number verification has been completed.

Reinstall[edit]

In the instructions below, a check is first made for a newer version of the Template.

  • If a newer Template version exists, install it (upgrade).
  • If no newer Template version is available, reinstall the existing version (reinstall).

Unfortunately there is no combined upgrade and reinstall command. [17]

1. Launch a dom0 terminal.
Click the Qubes App Launcher (blue/grey "Q") → Open the Terminal Emulator (Xfce Terminal)

2. First try upgrading the Template.

This will only work if there is a new Point Release of the Template.

Execute the following command.

Notes:

  • Template choice: Replace qubes-template-package with either: qubes-template-whonix-workstation-17 or qubes-template-whonix-gateway-17, respectively.
  • Testers-Only: Testers should replace --enablerepo=qubes-templates-community with --enablerepo=qubes-templates-community-testing.

Syntax: 

qvm-template --enablerepo=qubes-templates-community upgrade <qubes-template-package>

For example, to reinstall and upgrade whonix-gateway-17 Template.

qvm-template --enablerepo=qubes-templates-community upgrade whonix-gateway-17

For example, to reinstall and upgrade whonix-workstation-17 Template.

qvm-template --enablerepo=qubes-templates-community upgrade whonix-workstation-17

3. Read the output of the above command. The following outcomes are possible, either:

  • A) The Template is upgraded. In that case, skip step four below ("Reinstall the Template"); OR
  • B) The commands above might finish relatively quickly and state No new updates available. In that case, proceed with step four below ("Reinstall the Template"); OR
  • C) A Template upgrade is unsupported. This might happen if a non-Fedora based UpdateVM is used in conjunction with the upgrade option. See: UpdateVM Setting for further information; OR
  • D) An error has occurred, such as a networking issue.

4. Optional: Reinstall the Template.

If upgrade at step two did not actually reinstall the Template, this means there is no new Point Release available at present. This also means the Template has not been actually reinstalled and further action is required (see below).

If unsure, the commands below are safe in any case because if you already have the latest Template version, then it will simply be reinstalled again.

Execute the following command.

Notes: Same notes as above apply.

Syntax: 

qvm-template --enablerepo=qubes-templates-community reinstall <qubes-template-package>

For example, to reinstall whonix-gateway-17 Template.

qvm-template --enablerepo=qubes-templates-community reinstall qubes-template-whonix-gateway-17

For example, to reinstall whonix-workstation-17 Template.

qvm-template --enablerepo=qubes-templates-community reinstall qubes-template-whonix-workstation-17

Read the output of the above command. There are two possible outcomes, either:

  • A) The Template was reinstalled; OR
  • B) An error has occurred, such as a networking issue.

Settings[edit]

This step is mandatory. [18]

Use salt to configure dom0 settings. [19]

sudo qubesctl state.sls qvm.anon-whonix

Optional Steps[edit]

Whonix Disposable Template[edit]

In Qubes R4 and above a whonix-workstation-17-dvm Disposable Template can optionally be set up as a base for Disposables. [20]

In dom0, run. [21]

sudo qubesctl state.sls qvm.whonix-workstation-dvm

Updates over Tor[edit]

Templates[edit]

To force all Template updates over Tor, use qubesctl in dom0. [22]

sudo qubesctl state.sls qvm.updates-via-whonix

To undo this setting, modify /etc/qubes-rpc/policy/qubes.UpdatesProxy in dom0. [23] See also How-to: Fix dom0 Qubes-Whonix™ UpdatesProxy Settings.

dom0[edit]

To force dom0 updates over Tor, set Qubes' dom0 UpdateVM to sys-whonix. [24]

  • Qube Manager → System → Global Settings → Dom0 UpdateVM: sys-whonix → OK

To revert this change, set Qubes' dom0 UpdateVM to sys-firewall or another preferred VM. [25]

  • Qubes Manager → System → Global Settings → Dom0 UpdateVM: sys-firewall → OK

Enable AppArmor[edit]

AppArmor is enabled by default. No extra steps required.

Final Steps[edit]

Restart App Qubes[edit]

Any VMs based on the reinstalled Template must be restarted to reflect the updated file system.

Update and Launch Applications[edit]

Before starting applications in the Whonix-Workstation™ App Qube, update both Whonix-Gateway™ and Whonix-Workstation™ Templates.

To launch an application like Tor Browser:

  • Qubes App Launcher (blue/grey "Q") → Domain: anon-whonix → Tor Browser (AnonDist)

Done[edit]

The process of reinstalling Qubes-Whonix Templates is now complete.

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ↑ https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/how-to-reinstall-a-template/archive.org iconarchive.today icon
  2. ↑ This is because the names of the Templates changed from:
    • whonix-gw-16 to whonix-gateway-17
    • whonix-workstation-16 to whonix-workstation-17
  3. ↑ Technical Introduction: With more technical terms
  4. ↑ Using salt.
  5. ↑
    • sys-net → sys-firewall → sys-whonix → UpdateVM
    • UpdateVM → sys-whonix → sys-firewall → sys-net
  6. ↑ qvm-prefs updatevm-name netvm sys-whonix
  7. ↑ qvm-prefs updatevm-name netvm sys-whonix
  8. ↑ If the dom0 UpdateVM is based on a template that is broken or no longer trusted (the template is broken, misconfigured or compromised), an alternate UpdateVM can be used temporarily. In other words, more specifically, if the Whonix-Gateway Template (whonix-gateway-17) and/or its Whonix-Gateway ProxyVM (sys-whonix) are no longer trusted, then configure Qubes dom0 to use a different UpdateVM by applying the following steps. TODO
  9. ↑ Upgrading Qubes dom0 is required to ensure: Older, similar references:
  10. ↑ Using --show-output --console is optional but recommended due to a Qubes upstream bug: qubes-dom0-update shows No updates available if the network is down / qubes-dom0-update fails to detect if repositories are unreachable / network is down.archive.org iconarchive.today icon
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ Which is invoked by qubes-dom0-update.
  13. ↑ Note the file extension .repo.rpmnew.
  14. ↑ It should not be necessary to manually update that file because the Qubes dom0 stable package should have updated it already. If it didn't, then the cause is general issues unspecific to Whonix.
  15. ↑ This is currently not needed and discouraged:

    1. In dom0 open file whonix.jinja with root rights.

    sudo nano /srv/formulas/base/virtual-machines-formula/qvm/whonix.jinja

    2. Change 16 to 17.

    3. Save the file.

  16. ↑ The following Qubes issues are for developers understanding, reference only:
  17. ↑ qubes-dom0-update combined upgrade reinstall commandarchive.org iconarchive.today icon
  18. ↑ phase out manual use of qubes-dom0-update by user / replace it by saltarchive.org iconarchive.today icon
  19. ↑ Dev/Qubes#salt
  20. ↑ For developers only, link to related source code file: https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-mgmt-salt-dom0-virtual-machines/blob/master/qvm/whonix-workstation-dvm.slsarchive.org iconarchive.today icon
  21. ↑ Old command was the following: sudo qubesctl state.sls qvm.whonix-ws-dvm In that case your system is not updated, out-of-date.
  22. ↑
  23. ↑ How to change Template update method from Whonix to just another appvm?archive.org iconarchive.today icon
  24. ↑ Or manually set the torified UpdateVM in dom0 terminal. qubes-prefs updatevm sys-whonix
  25. ↑ To revert this change in dom0 terminal, run. qubes-prefs updatevm sys-firewall
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