qubes-doc/HCL.md

---
layout: wiki
title: HCL
permalink: /wiki/HCL/
---

Hardware Compatibility List for Qubes OS
========================================

The following is a list of systems that have been tested and seem to work fine with Qubes OS

General system requirements
---------------------------

Minimum:

-   4GB of RAM
-   64-bit Intel or AMD processor (x86\_64 aka x64 aka AMD64)
-   Intel GPU strongly preferred (if you have Nvidia GPU, prepare for some [troubleshooting](/wiki/InstallNvidiaDriver); we haven't tested ATI hardware)
-   At least 20GB of disk (Note that **it is possible to install Qubes on an external USB disk**, so that you can try it without sacrificing your current system. Mind, however, that USB disks are usually SLOW!)
-   Fast SSD disk strongly recommended

Additional requirements:

-   Intel VT-x or AMD-v technology (this is needed to run HVM domains only, such as Windows-based AppVMs)
-   Intel VT-d or AMD IOMMU technology (this is needed for effective isolation of your network VMs)
-   TPM with proper BIOS support if you want to use option [Anti Evil Maid](http://theinvisiblethings.blogspot.com/2011/09/anti-evil-maid.html)

If you don't meet the additional criteria, you can still install and use Qubes. It still offers significant security improvement over traditional OSes, because things such as GUI isolation, or kernel protection do not require special hardware.

**Note:** We don't recommend installing Qubes in a virtual machine!

**Note:** There is a problem with supporting keyboard and mouse on Mac, and so Mac hardware is currently unsupported (patches welcomed!)

Specific systems Hardware Compatibility List
--------------------------------------------

Device

<table>
<col width="100%" />
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td align="left"><p>Qubes R1</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<table>
<col width="25%" />
<col width="25%" />
<col width="25%" />
<col width="25%" />
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td align="left"><p>Kernel</p></td>
<td align="left"><p>Xorg</p></td>
<td align="left"><p>VT-d</p></td>
<td align="left"><p>PCI</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
-												HCL changed

Initial version

											
										
										
											2012-05-02 06:44:45 -04:00
+								---
 								layout: wiki
 								title: HCL
 								permalink: /wiki/HCL/
 								---
-												HCL changed

											
										
										
											2013-01-02 01:22:08 -05:00
+								Hardware Compatibility List for Qubes OS
 								========================================
-												HCL changed

Initial version

											
										
										
											2012-05-02 06:44:45 -04:00
-												HCL changed

											
										
										
											2013-01-02 01:22:08 -05:00
+								The following is a list of systems that have been tested and seem to work fine with Qubes OS
-												HCL changed

Initial version

											
										
										
											2012-05-02 06:44:45 -04:00
-												HCL changed

Added General Hardware Requirements

											
										
										
											2012-05-02 06:49:03 -04:00
+								General system requirements
 								---------------------------
 								Minimum:
 								-   4GB of RAM
 								-   64-bit Intel or AMD processor (x86\_64 aka x64 aka AMD64)
 								-   Intel GPU strongly preferred (if you have Nvidia GPU, prepare for some [troubleshooting](/wiki/InstallNvidiaDriver); we haven't tested ATI hardware)
 								-   At least 20GB of disk (Note that **it is possible to install Qubes on an external USB disk**, so that you can try it without sacrificing your current system. Mind, however, that USB disks are usually SLOW!)
 								-   Fast SSD disk strongly recommended
 								Additional requirements:
-												HCL changed

											
										
										
											2013-01-02 01:22:08 -05:00
+								-   Intel VT-x or AMD-v technology (this is needed to run HVM domains only, such as Windows-based AppVMs)
-												HCL changed

Added General Hardware Requirements

											
										
										
											2012-05-02 06:49:03 -04:00
+								-   Intel VT-d or AMD IOMMU technology (this is needed for effective isolation of your network VMs)
 								-   TPM with proper BIOS support if you want to use option [Anti Evil Maid](http://theinvisiblethings.blogspot.com/2011/09/anti-evil-maid.html)
 								If you don't meet the additional criteria, you can still install and use Qubes. It still offers significant security improvement over traditional OSes, because things such as GUI isolation, or kernel protection do not require special hardware.
-												HCL changed

											
										
										
											2012-05-04 10:27:36 -04:00
+								**Note:** We don't recommend installing Qubes in a virtual machine!
 								**Note:** There is a problem with supporting keyboard and mouse on Mac, and so Mac hardware is currently unsupported (patches welcomed!)
-												HCL changed

Added General Hardware Requirements

											
										
										
											2012-05-02 06:49:03 -04:00
-												HCL changed

											
										
										
											2013-01-02 01:22:08 -05:00
+								Specific systems Hardware Compatibility List
 								--------------------------------------------
 								Device
 								<table>
 								<col width="100%" />
 								<tbody>
 								<tr class="odd">
 								<td align="left"><p>Qubes R1</p></td>
 								</tr>
 								</tbody>
 								</table>
 								<table>
 								<col width="25%" />
 								<col width="25%" />
 								<col width="25%" />
 								<col width="25%" />
 								<tbody>
 								<tr class="odd">
 								<td align="left"><p>Kernel</p></td>
 								<td align="left"><p>Xorg</p></td>
 								<td align="left"><p>VT-d</p></td>
 								<td align="left"><p>PCI</p></td>
 								</tr>
 								</tbody>
 								</table>
-												HCL changed

Initial version

											
										
										
											2012-05-02 06:44:45 -04:00
-												HCL changed

Known systems that don't work

											
										
										
											2012-08-23 07:39:18 -04:00