Qubes OS

Qubes OS is a <a href="/facts/Security-focused_operating_system/wQP8zlbh">security-focused</a> desktop operating system that aims to provide <a href="/facts/Computer_security/7E5dIy7G">security</a> through isolation. Isolation is provided through the use of <a href="/facts/Virtualization/bEqH0Wtf">virtualization</a> technology. This allows the segmentation of applications into secure <a href="/facts/Virtual_machine/BLevU3sx">virtual machines</a> called qubes. Virtualization services in Qubes OS are provided by the <a href="/facts/Xen/U5fq6ESl">Xen</a> hypervisor. 
The runtimes of individual qubes are generally based on a unique system of underlying operating system templates. Templates provide a single, immutable root file system which can be shared by multiple qubes. This approach has two major benefits. First, updates to a given template are automatically "inherited" by all qubes based on it. Second, shared templates can dramatically reduce storage requirements compared to separate VMs with a full operating install per secure domain. 
The base installation of Qubes OS provides a number of officially supported templates based on the <a href="/facts/Fedora_(operating_system)/LJ2ocge5">Fedora</a> and <a href="/facts/Debian/cBd93qfJ">Debian</a> Linux distributions. Alternative community-supported templates include <a href="/facts/Whonix/bJfE26Gz">Whonix</a>, <a href="/facts/Ubuntu/0WDd7hkb">Ubuntu</a>, <a href="/facts/Arch_Linux/MTFCkLqH">Arch Linux</a>, <a href="/facts/CentOS/FGGc2cIx">CentOS</a>, or <a href="/facts/Gentoo_Linux/zX81Cqs8">Gentoo</a>. Users may also create their own templates.
Operating Systems like Qubes OS are referred to in academia as Converged Multi-Level Secure (<a href="/facts/Multilevel_security/yyCAmDEP">MLS</a>) Systems. Other proposals of similar systems have surfaced and SecureView and <a href="/facts/VMware_vSphere/cyGTG0od">VMware vSphere</a> are commercial competitors.

Qubes OS open-in-new

Qubes OS