What’s new in Qubes OS 4.0.1:
- All 4.0 dom0 updates to date, including a lot of bug fixes and improvements for GUI tools
- Fedora 29 TemplateVM
- Debian 9 TemplateVM
- Whonix 14 Gateway and Workstation TemplateVMs
Qubes OS is an open source distribution of Linux built around the Xen hypervisor, the X Window System and Linux kernel open source technologies. It is based on Fedora Linux and designed from the ground up to provide users with strong security for desktop computing.
The distribution has been engineered to run almost all Linux applications and uses all of the drivers implemented in the Linux kernel to automatically detect and configure most hardware components (new and old).
Features at a glance
Key features include a secure bare-metal hypervisor powered by the Xen project, secure system boot, support for Windows-based and Linux-based AppVMs (Application Virtual Machines), as well as centralized updates for all AppVMs that are based on the same template.
In order to sandbox several core components and isolate certain applications from each other, Qubes OS uses virtualization technology. Therefore, the integrity of the rest of the system will not be compromised.
Distributed as Live DVD
It is distributed as a single Live DVD ISO image, supporting only the 64-bit (x86_64) hardware platform, which can be deployed to a USB flash drive or 4GB or bigger, as well as burned onto a DVD disc. From the boot menu, users can try or install the operating system.
The installation process is text-based and allows users to set a timezone, choose the installation source, select software packages to be installed, select the installation destination, set the root password, and create users.
Uses the KDE Plasma desktop environment
The default desktop environment is powered by the KDE Plasma Workspaces and Applications project, which comprises of a single taskbar located on the upper part of the screen, from where users can access the main menu, launch apps, and interact with running programs.
Bottom line
In conclusion, Qubes OS is a unique Fedora-based operating system that implements a “security by isolation” approach and uses lightweight virtual machines called AppVMs that are definable by users.
