qubes-doc/hardware/hardware.md

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Hardware

Important Information

There is currently no specific hardware (e.g., a specific laptop model) that the Qubes team recommends for individual (as opposed to enterprise) users. However, we're working hard to make a "reasonably secure laptop" a reality, and we look forward to sharing more information about this when the time is right. (Note that this will be distinct from a stateless laptop, which no one has implemented yet.) In the meantime, users are encouraged to make use of the Hardware Compatibility List and System Requirements as sources of information in making hardware selection decisions.

Some users may wish to consider Qubes-certified laptops. However, it is important to note that such laptops are certified only for compatibility with Qubes OS. In particular, the Purism Librem 13 is certified only for compatibility with Qubes R3.x, and it is not likely to be certified for compatibility with Qubes R4.x. Aside from compatibility, we do not believe that it should be considered any safer than other laptops.

Serious prospective business customers should contact us for more information.

Hardware Certification

Become Hardware Certified

If you are a hardware vendor, you can have your hardware certified as compatible with Qubes OS. To view currently certified hardware, please see the Qubes-certified Laptops page.

The benefits of hardware certification include:

• your customers can buy with confidence

• your customers know they can take advantage of the full functionality of Qubes OS on your hardware

• ensure continued compatibility

• your hardware will continue to be compatible with Qubes OS as it further develops

• support the development of Qubes OS

• support the continued development of everyone's favorite "reasonably secure" OS

Hardware Certification Requirements

Please see the updated requirements for Qubes 4.x certification.

Note: These are the requirements for hardware certification, not the requirements for running Qubes 4.x. For the latter, please see the system requirements for Qubes 4.x.

Hardware Certification Process

To have hardware certified, the vendor must:

1. send the Qubes team two (2) units for testing (non-returnable) for each configuration the vendor wishes to be offering,

2. offer to customers the very same configuration -- same motherboard, same screen, same BIOS version, same WiFi module, etc. -- for some sufficiently long period of time (currently approximately a year),

3. pay the Qubes team a portion of the sales of each unit, to be agreed upon between the hardware vendor and the Qubes team.

It is the vendor's responsibility to ensure the hardware they wish to have certified can run Qubes OS, at the very least the last stable version. This could be done by consulting the hardware compatibility list or trying to install it themselves before shipping to us. While we are willing to troubleshoot simple issues, we will need to charge a consulting fee for more engaging work.

If you are interested in having your hardware certified, please contact us.

Qubes-certified Laptops

Qubes-certified laptops are regularly tested by the Qubes developers to ensure compatibility with all of Qubes' features. The developers test all new major versions and updates to ensure that no regressions are introduced. To learn more about the certification process, or if you're interested in getting your company's hardware Qubes-certified, please see the Hardware Certification section.

We aim to partner with a few select computer makers to ensure that Qubes is compatible with them and new users have clear path towards getting started with Qubes if they desire. We look for these makers to be as diverse as possible in terms of geography, cost, and availability.

Note that we certify only that a particular configuration is supported by Qubes. We take no responsibility for our partners' shipping process -- including that the hardware will not be modified in any way (malicious or not).

For more general information about choosing hardware for Qubes, please see the System Requirements and the Hardware Compatibility List.

Certified for Qubes R3.x

Purism Librem 13

For users now who seek to buy a Librem 13, there is an option to have Qubes pre-installed. This will include all the necessary tweaks for maximum compatibility with Qubes.

In addition, the Qubes team will receive a small portion of the revenue from any Librem 13 sale that comes with Qubes pre-installed.

For existing Librem 13 users, please follow the instructions to ensure maximum compatibility with Qubes:

1. In dom0, open a terminal and type:

   sudo qubes-dom0-update --releasever=3.1 xorg-x11-drivers xorg-x11-drv-intel
   

2. (optional) Enable newer kernel:

   sudo qubes-dom0-update --enablerepo=qubes-dom0-unstable kernel
   

Certified for Qubes R4.x

There are updated requirements for Qubes R4.x certification. Currently, no laptops are certified for Qubes R4.x. This page will be updated once R4.x-certified laptops are available.