Title: Install OpenBSD in Qubes OS

	Title: Install OpenBSD in Qubes OS
	Author: Solène
	Date: 03 June 2023
	Tags: qubesos openbsd
	Description: In this article, you will learn how to install OpenBSD as
	a VM in Qubes OS

	# Introduction

	Here is a short guide explaining how to install OpenBSD in Qubes OS, as
	an HVM VM (fully virtualized, not integrated).

	# Get OpenBSD

	Download an ISO file to install OpenBSD, do it from an AppVM. You can
	use the command `cksum -a sha256 install73.iso` in the AppVM to
	generate a checksum to compare with the file `SHA256` to be found in
	the OpenBSD mirror.

	# Create a Qube

	In the XFCE menu > Qubes Tools > Create Qubes VM GUI, choose a name,
	use the type "StandaloneVM (fully persistent)", use "none" as a
	template and check "Launch settings after creation".

	# Configuration

	In the "Basic" tab, configure the "system storage max size", that's the
	storage size OpenBSD will see at installation time. OpenBSD storage
	management is pretty limited, if you add more space later it will be
	complicated to grow partitions, so pick something large enough for your
	task.

	Still in the "Basic" tab, you have all the network information, keep
	them later (you can open the Qube settings after the VM booted) to
	configure your OpenBSD.

	In "Firewall rules" tab, you can set ... firewall rules that happens at
	Qubes OS level (in the sys-firewall VM).

	In the "Devices" tab, you can expose some internal devices to the VM
	(this is useful for networking VMs).

	In the "Advanced" tab, choose the memory to use and the number of CPU.
	In the "Virtualization" square, choose the mode "HVM" (it should
	already be selected). Finally, click on "Boot qube from CD-ROM" and
	pick the downloaded file by choosing the AppVM where it is stored and
	its path. The VM will directly boot when you validate.

	# Installation

	The installation process is straightforward, here is the list (in order
	of appearance) of questions that require a specific answer:

	* choose network device xnf0 to configure
	* set the IPv4 address given in the Qube network information
	* set the netmask to 255.0.0.0
	* there is no IPv6 (well, it's possible in Qube but I let you have fun)
	* Default IPv4 route is given in the Qube network information
	* DNS nameservers are the two addresses in the Qube network information
	* Use the disk sd0
	* Format the disk using MBR (Xen doesn't support UEFI it seems)
	* Sets are located in cd0

	Whether you reboot or halt the VM, it will be halted, so start it
	again.

	# Enjoy

	You should get into your working OpenBSD VM with functional network.

	Be careful, it doesn't have any specific integration with Qubes OS like
	the clipboard, USB passthrough etc... However, it's a HVM system, so
	you could give it an USB controller or a dedicated GPU.

	# Conclusion

	It's perfectly possible to run OpenBSD in Qube OS with very decent
	performance, the setup is straightforward when you know where to look
	for the network information (and that the netmask is /8 and not /32
	like on Linux).