---
layout: wiki
title: NetworkBridgeSupport
permalink: /wiki/NetworkBridgeSupport/
---

Network Bridge Support (EXPERIMENTAL and UNSUPPORTED)
=====================================================

The Qubes developpement team does not support bridging the network interfaces found in NetVM and don't plan to support it at all. Several reasons for that:

-   Using a bridged VM is almost only necessary for developpers testing or working on OSI layer 2 or layer 3 tools (MAC or routing protocols). If not for testing, such tools are almost only used directly on routers ...).
-   Most of these tools can be anyway used directly inside the NetVM, which has direct access to the network card.
-   It is also possible to use a secondary network card plugged into a specific development VM.
-   Such a setup could break security features of Qubes such as AppVM firewalling.

Now if you really want to work with OSI layer2 / layer 3 tools, that you don't have a secondary network card, or that you want to completely expose services of a given AppVM (at your own risk), a bridged setup may help you.

Qubes manager patch (Qubes R2B3)
--------------------------------

The following patches can be applied to the Qubes Manager GUI in order to add an option to easily bridge a VM. Use it at your own risk. If the patch breaks the Qubes Manager, you can try to restore the qubes packages:

``` {.wiki}
# qubes-dom-update qubes-core-dom0 qubes-manager
# yum reinstall qubes-core-dom0
# yum reinstall qubes-manager
```

First, retrieve the attachment of this Wifi article in dom0. Then apply the three patches the following way:

``` {.wiki}
# patch /usr/lib64/python2.7/site-package/qubes/qubes.py < qubes.py-bridge.diff
# patch /usr/lib64/python2.7/site-package/qubesmanager/settings.py < settings.py-bridge.diff
# patch /usr/lib64/python2.7/site-package/qubesmanager/ui_settingsdlg.py < ui_settingsdlg.py-bridge.diff
```

Finally restart the qubes manager GUI.

A new option is now available in the AppVM Settings to enable set the NetVM in bridge mode. For a bridged AppVM, you should the select a netvm instead of a firewall vm, enabled the Bridge option and restart your AppVM.

NetVM patch (Qubes R2B3)
------------------------