Windows Subsystem for Linux: a practical way to run Linux on Windows.
Run Linux GUI applications – through WSLg.
There are situations when a powerful Linux desktop is not given.
In this case WSL can provide some Linux tooling and flexibility.
Operators don’t break. We bend – we adapt.
Install And Update WSL On Windows 11
To install WSL open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
wsl --install
Restart your machine after the operations.
To update an existing WSL system run:
wsl --update
Deploy The First Distro
If the network allows – WSL can list the available distros for installation:
wsl --list --online
To install a new WSL distro:
wsl --install <distro> # e.g. Ubuntu, Debian
You can list the installed distros:
wsl --list --verbose
Configure the default distro:
wsl --set-default <distro>
Remove A Distro
This command will try to remove the virtual disk and metadata of the distro:
wsl --unregister <distro>
Start / Stop
You can start or stop WSL distros individually.
To start a distro and launch a shell:
wsl --distribution <distro>
# or
wsl -d <distro>
List the running distros:
wsl --list --running
Stop a distro gracefully:
wsl --terminate <distro>
Or stop all running distros:
wsl --shutdown
Export A Distro (Backup)
Export a distro to an archive – the best way to back it up with data and metadata.
You can export a WSL distro:
wsl --export <distro> <backup_file>
Set up the export format with:
wsl --export <distro> <backup_file> --format [tar | tar.gz] # if supported
Store the archive securely on an external device, or off-site.
Import (Restore)
You can import a backup archive multiple times. This way you can have multiple instances of the same distro.
To import a backup run:
wsl --import <distro> <install_location> <backup_file>
Final Thoughts
WSL is a nice touch on Windows for operators who are restricted to this environment. The native Linux tooling and filesystem access makes it a comfortable system.
Operators don’t break under the pressure: we bend – we adapt.
Tom's IT Cafe 