How to install windows subsystem for Linux on windows

What is WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)?

WSL is a compatibility layer for running Linux binary executables natively on Windows. It allows you to run a Linux environment on Windows without needing to use a virtual machine or dual-boot setup. It integrates well with Windows, allowing you to run Linux commands, scripts, and applications alongside your Windows tools.

Key Points about WSL

WSL 1 : The original version. It provided a Linux-compatible kernel interface on top of the Windows NT kernel but did not run a real Linux kernel.

WSL 2 : A major update. It includes a full Linux kernel running in a lightweight virtual machine (VM), providing a more accurate and faster Linux experience. WSL 2 also supports more advanced Linux features, like Docker and systemd, which were not possible with WSL

Linux Distributions

You can install several Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, etc.) via the Microsoft Store. This means you get the convenience of package management and other Linux features in a familiar Windows environment.

Integration with Windows

File System Access: You can access your Windows files from within Linux (/mnt/c/ for C: drive, /mnt/d/ for D: drive, etc.), and vice versa.

Cross-Platform Development: You can run Linux-based tools (like Bash, Python, and Git) alongside Windows-based applications.

CLI Tools: You can use Linux command-line tools such as grep, sed, and awk within the Windows environment.

Use Cases

Development: WSL is especially popular for developers who work on projects requiring Linux tools and environments but prefer using Windows for their day-to-day tasks.

Learning: It’s also great for users who want to learn Linux without needing to set up a separate machine or use complex virtualization.

Running Linux Applications: Many Linux apps, such as Docker, can now be run on Windows through WSL 2, making it a versatile tool for system administrators and developers.

How Does WSL Work?

WSL 1 uses a translation layer that allows Linux system calls to be mapped to Windows system calls. While functional, this method wasn’t able to provide full compatibility with all Linux software, especially things like Docker or full network emulation.

WSL 2 solves these issues by using a lightweight virtual machine (VM) running a real Linux kernel. The VM is extremely optimized, making it lightweight and fast. It uses the Hyper-V virtualization technology that allows WSL 2 to run Linux in a more isolated environment, enabling full system call compatibility.

Benefits of WSL

No Dual Booting or Virtualization:

• You can run Linux apps without the need for a separate partition or a resource-heavy VM.

Better Performance (with WSL 2):

• With the Linux kernel running natively, WSL 2 offers improved performance over WSL 1, especially in scenarios that require complex system calls, such as Docker containers or high-performance networking.

Seamless Integration with Windows:

• Run Windows and Linux tools side-by-side. You can use VS Code on Windows to edit files and then execute them directly in your Linux environment, making cross-platform development easier.

Access to Linux Tools and Software:

• You can use popular Linux command-line tools, package managers (apt, yum, dnf), and libraries without leaving the Windows environment.

Things to Consider

Compatibility: WSL 1 doesn’t fully support system-level Linux features such as Docker and networking, which WSL 2 addresses. WSL 2 offers full Linux kernel support, meaning more complex applications will run more smoothly.

Performance Overhead: While WSL 2 has improved performance, using virtualization still incurs a small performance overhead. However, compared to full VMs, WSL’s resource usage is minimal and highly optimized.

File System Access: While you can easily access Windows files from Linux (/mnt/c/), the reverse (accessing Linux files from Windows) can be a bit slower, especially if you’re running WSL 2, because of the virtualization layer.

Installation

• open control pannel and navigate to programs

• Then navigate to “Turn windows feature on or off ” and check on windows subsystem for Linux. then,

• open your powershell as admin

• and type ” wsl –install -d <define your distro> “

• now it will install the wsl with your required distro in case kali linux then mention kali after -d like : ” wsl –install -d kali-linux “

• after the successful installation it will prompt you to restart the machine after that it will take place .

• Now restart the machine

• After restart open your windows start menu and have a look or search whatever distro you choose to install

• now dual click on it and then it will take some time and then it will prompt you for username and password whatever you wanted to have the user and pass

• After these the installation was successful

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