Installing Linux in WSL

1 General Information

Links

Documentation

• WSL Installation Guide
• WSL Environment Setup
• Systemd Support in WSL
• WSL Configuration
• WSL Guide by Mike Royal

2 Installation of Distributions

WSL + Ubuntu

1. Install WSL:

wsl --install

This command:

• Includes additional WSL components and virtual machine platforms.
• Downloads and installs the latest version of the Linux kernel.
• Sets WSL 2 as the default environment.
• Downloads and installs the Ubuntu Linux distribution.

You will need to restart your computer during installation.

Fedora

• Repository: Fedora-WSL
• Microsoft Store: Fedora WSL

Install from Microsoft Store. You will need to restart your computer during installation.

Arch

• Repository: Arch-WSL
• Microsoft Store: Arch WSL

Install from Microsoft Store. You will need to restart your computer during installation.

3 Initial Setup

Once the installation is complete, you will be prompted to create a username and password for your Linux distribution. Each Linux distribution has its own username and password and is not associated with the Windows username.

4 Systemd Support

Ensure WSL version is 0.67.6 or later:

wsl --version

In the Linux console, switch to superuser:

sudo -i

Open the file for editing /etc/wsl.conf

vi /etc/wsl.conf

Activate systemd:

[boot]
systemd = true

From the Windows console, stop WSL execution:

wsl.exe --shutdown

After restarting WSL, check that systemd is working:

systemctl list-unit-files --type=service

5 Installation of basic software

In the Linux console, switch to superuser:

sudo -i

Fedora

Update the system:

dnf -y update

dnf -y install vulkan tmux mc bash-completion evince kitty libreoffice

// Arch works the same way except use pacman -Syu