Software >
Windows, Linux >

(on Wikipedia)
https://github.com/Microsoft/WSL
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/about [ 1 ]

A way to run Linux commandline software from a specialized console, similar to how a command prompt runs DOS or PowerShell.

It works well, but it's imperfect.

• aka wsl

• Sometimes mis-named Bash on Ubuntu on Windows or Bash on Windows

  • Not related to Git on Windows.

See also:

• Virtualization

• XLaunch to run GUI Linux software.

---

• blog

-

• 2024-05-04 - Still in regular use.
• 2022-07-06 - on Windows 11

• 2022-07-06 - I used to use Windows Subsystem for Linux

Usage and Troubleshooting ∞

Installation ∞

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/wsl/install-manual [ 2 ]

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

:: Download and install the kernel:
:: https://wslstorestorage.blob.core.windows.net/wslblob/wsl_update_x64.msi

::  Install Debian:
wsl  --install  --distribution Debian
wsl  --set-default-version 2

:: Reboot, e.g.
:: shutdown -r

Running GUI Linux software on Windows Subsystem for Linux ∞

Either the functionality is built in or I forgot how I did it.

You can also use XLaunch.

your virtual disk ∞

It is called ext4.vhdx

It is located in a directory like %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Packages\TheDebianProject.DebianGNULinux_RANDOMSTRING\LocalState

Note that RANDOMSTRING is randomly generated and unique to you, so go to %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Packages\ and search for TheDebianProject.DebianGNULinux or whatever is appropriate for your distribution. You could also stay in that Packages directory and search for ext4.vhdx in all directories to find it.

• https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/discussions/5896

Mount it with VirtualBox or VMWare

Remember that Windows does not understand ext2/ext3/ext4 so you can't read it within Windows directly.

Mount a disk ∞

Unknown. See https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl2-mount-disk

Mounting your virtual disk

• https://askubuntu.com/questions/1334900/how-to-investigate-ext4-vhdx-file-and-see-whats-inside-while-using-wsl2

Mounting another drive letter (e.g. a USB stick) ∞

2024-05-04 on Windows 11

Example with A:

\sudo  \sh  -c '\mkdir /mnt/a ; \mount -t drvfs a: /mnt/a'

File system becomes read-only or gives an i/o error ∞

Especially if basic features give some sort of i/o error with something basic like df.

This appears to be associated with running out of disk space while wsl2 is running.

In a regular Windows terminal:

:: Shutdown
wsl --shutdown
:: Reset
wsl --terminate Debian
:: Start
wsl
:: If that restart doesn't work, try a reset:
wsl --set-version Debian 2
:: Start
wsl

:: Consider a reinstallation.  This will not remove any of your user data or configuration (e.g. [[dotfiles]])
:: Remove
wsl --unregister Debian
:: Reinstall
wsl --install
:: Reset
wsl --set-version Debian 2
:: Start
wsl

Last updated 2024-05-04 at 09:19:22

Footnotes