WSL

Windows Subsystem for Linux

NOTE: THERE IS TOO MUCH RAM OVERHEAD FOR WSL, DON'T ENABLE, UNLESS YOU HAVE A TON OF RAM!

Enable

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

ref: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/46769-enable-disable-windows-subsystem-linux-wsl-windows-10-a.html

Disable

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

ref: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/46769-enable-disable-windows-subsystem-linux-wsl-windows-10-a.html

List Available Install Options

wsl --list --online

Online list as of 2025.07.04:

C:\> wsl --list --online
The following is a list of valid distributions that can be installed.
Install using 'wsl.exe --install <Distro>'.

NAME                            FRIENDLY NAME
AlmaLinux-8                     AlmaLinux OS 8
AlmaLinux-9                     AlmaLinux OS 9
AlmaLinux-Kitten-10             AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10
AlmaLinux-10                    AlmaLinux OS 10
Debian                          Debian GNU/Linux
FedoraLinux-42                  Fedora Linux 42
SUSE-Linux-Enterprise-15-SP6    SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 SP6
SUSE-Linux-Enterprise-15-SP7    SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 SP7
Ubuntu                          Ubuntu
Ubuntu-24.04                    Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
archlinux                       Arch Linux
kali-linux                      Kali Linux Rolling
openSUSE-Tumbleweed             openSUSE Tumbleweed
openSUSE-Leap-15.6              openSUSE Leap 15.6
Ubuntu-18.04                    Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
Ubuntu-20.04                    Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
Ubuntu-22.04                    Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
OracleLinux_7_9                 Oracle Linux 7.9
OracleLinux_8_7                 Oracle Linux 8.7
OracleLinux_9_1                 Oracle Linux 9.1

Install Ubuntu

wsl --install -d Ubuntu-24.04

wsl --install -d Ubuntu-22.04

wsl --install -d Ubuntu-20.04

wsl --install -d Debian

wsl --install -d ubuntu

Give the installation a non-default name (useful for having more than one copy of said distribution installed)

wsl --install -d Debian --name MyDebian

ref [1]

Basic Commands for WSL

Basic commands for WSL
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/basic-commands

List Running

List running

wsl --list --running
# or
wsl -l --running

List all

wsl --list --all
wsl -l --all

Also open File Explorer, and click on the Linux in the Navigation Pane.

Convert WSL and Windows Paths

$ wslpath
Usage:
    -a    force result to absolute path format
    -u    translate from a Windows path to a WSL path (default)
    -w    translate from a WSL path to a Windows path
    -m    translate from a WSL path to a Windows path, with '/' instead of '\'

EX: wslpath 'c:\users'

Windows path from WSL:

$ wslpath 'c:\users'
/mnt/c/users

WSL path from Windows:

$ wslpath -w '/'
\\wsl.localhost\Ubuntu\

Set Default User for WSL

Ubunutu:

ubuntu config --default-user root

Ubuntu18:

ubuntu1804 config --default-user root

Set Default User for Windows Subsystem for Linux Distro in Windows 10 | Tutorials
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/128152-set-default-user-windows-subsystem-linux-distro-windows-10-a.html

Mount VHDX or VHD in WSL

Install Docker Desktop WSL2 on Windows with allocated maximum size (virtual size) less then default 1TB - Docker Desktop for Windows - Docker Community Forums
https://forums.docker.com/t/install-docker-desktop-wsl2-on-windows-with-allocated-maximum-size-virtual-size-less-then-default-1tb/135817/8

Is it possible to map a WSL mount into a docker container? Or use an EXT4 VHD with Docker in any other way? : r/docker
https://www.reddit.com/r/docker/comments/112b10k/is_it_possible_to_map_a_wsl_mount_into_a_docker/

Moving docker-desktop "distro" vhdx file - Docker Desktop for Windows - Docker Community Forums
https://forums.docker.com/t/moving-docker-desktop-distro-vhdx-file/137632/3

WSL2 mount VHDX virtual disk issue with Windows docker Volumes - Stack Overflow
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/65548924/wsl2-mount-vhdx-virtual-disk-issue-with-windows-docker-volumes

Get started mounting a Linux disk in WSL 2 | Microsoft Learn
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl2-mount-disk

How to Use Dedicated Disks in Wsl - Rouke's Blog
https://broersma.dev/how-to-use-dedicated-disks-in-wsl/

best:

WSL2 How-to: Prepare and Attach Virtual Drives (VHD) | by Tony Tannous | Medium
https://anthony-f-tannous.medium.com/wsl2-how-to-prepare-and-attach-virtual-drives-vhd-ac17b1fc7a61

Misc:

wsl --mount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE2 --bare

wsl -d Ubuntu-20.04 --mount --vhd C:\Users\<username>\wsl2-shared.vhdx --bare | out-null
wsl -d Ubuntu-20.04

wsl -d Ubuntu-20.04 --mount --vhd $env:USERPROFILE\wsl2-shared.vhdx --bare

Mount VHD:

pwsh.exe -Command "wsl.exe -d Ubuntu-20.04 --mount --vhd C:\Users\<username>\wsl2-shared.vhdx --bare | out-null; wsl.exe -d Ubuntu-20.04"

Inside WSL see mount:

blkid
lsblk -o NAME,LABEL,FSTYPE,SIZE,MOUNTPOINT /dev/sdd
lsblk -o NAME,FSTYPE,SIZE,MOUNTPOINT /dev/sdd
sudo parted /dev/sdd print
sudo parted -a optimal /dev/sdd mkpart primary ext4 0% 100%
parted /dev/sdd mklabel msdos
mount -l | grep vhd-part1

Unmount

wsl --unmount \\?\C:\Users\<username>\wsl2-shared.vhdx

NFS

To mount an NFS share in WSL, you will need to mount it with "insecure"

example /etc/exports

/pub *(rw)
/pub 10.0.0.101(insecure,rw)

Issues

Update fails with Forbidden (403)

C:\>wsl --update
Checking for updates.
Forbidden (403).
Error code: Wsl/UpdatePackage/0x80190193

Searches online indiate Defender (or other virus scanner may be to blame).

One suggests using --web-download:

wsl --update --web-download

ref: [2]

C:\>wsl --update
Checking for updates.
The most recent version of Windows Subsystem for Linux is already installed.