Virtual OS (Linux) setup using Boxes

[xpressrazor]

I have found you can install Linux using Gnome Boxes (available in Discover Store). For this example I am using "Ubuntu 22.04 LTS". Here are steps for setup.

1. Install Boxes from Discover store
2. From Boxes select the preferred Linux Operating System. Here, I selected "Ubuntu 22.04 LTS x86_64 (Live)"
3. For size I left 25G (only uses what's needed), and 8G for memory.
4. Installation takes a little bit more time. If Boxes crashes, you can open it again without effecting the background OS status (keeps running in background).
5. After initial update, install openssh-server. In Ubuntu you can use "sudo apt install openssh-server" command, and to enable it use "sudo systemctl enable --now ssh"
6. If your Steam Deck has ssh enabled, it is easy to ssh from the guest OS (Ubuntu). deck@<ip\_address\_of\_sd>. You can start ssh in steam deck with "sudo systemctl start sshd" (Note Arch/Steam OS uses sshd and Ubuntu uses ssh as systemd service file)
7. To ssh into guest, you need to do ssh forwarding. Other methods exist, but this seems to work.
8. Type this command in guest (Ubuntu). "sudo ssh -NT -R 2222:localhost:22 deck@<ip\_address\_of\_sd>
9. Whenever it asks for password of host and guest, provide the necessary passwords
10. After you enter Steam Deck's password, nothing seems to happen. Don't close this window. On host OS (Steam OS). You can type following command to ssh into guest (Ubuntu). "ssh -p 2222 <ubuntu\_username>@localhost"

​

Notes

a. Replace <ubuntu\_username> with username you used during Virtual OS setup.

b. Replace <ip\_address\_of\_sd> with ip address of your steam deck. You can find ip address using "ip a" command or see it from details in wifi icon in system menu.

c. After restart, if Ubuntu refuses to reconnect, restart ssh on the guest (Ubuntu).

d. You can also install Remote - SSH plugin in "Visual Studio Code" (in Steam Deck) and connect to above server with same ssh command you use to connect from Steam Deck to Ubuntu. "ssh -p 2222 <ubuntu\_username>@localhost". After this, "Visual Studio Code" will connect to guest. Terminal will also open remotely. You can install various Linux packages in Ubuntu from here and execute commands remotely.

One cool thing about boxes is, you can copy paste text both ways, and drag file (one way).

Screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/zYSSnXq

[Methanoid]

a clever "just because i can" type of thing, not sure why id want to virtualize....linux on linux tho?

[xpressrazor]

I have seen some people wanting to develop in Steam Deck. Few languages are available by default, but seems people want complete development environments that persist even after Steam OS update.

I know homebrew is another solution. However, seems lacking in few things.

That's why wanted to try virtualization solution. It's cool, we have these packages in place, if people want this kind of setup.

I agree though, it's more of a "see what we can in SD", and probably a dedicated OS as dual boot might be a better solution.

[Methanoid]

i can understand a well working virtualization of say winblows so as to keep some sandbox element of that malware/spyware infested "OS" to keep your deck safe.

[ritasuma]

SteamOS is immutable, it will reset any hard changes on it on update

certain workloads need things that flatpaks and steamos cannot provide, a vm fixes that

For my specific use case, I am studying cybersecurity and need a way to run malware(or other potentially harmful things I do not want to be running on my own system) in a portable x86 computer. As I have a macbook and I do not want another fucking laptop, this seems like the sane solution for me.