Due to my continuing education activities (study Master Cloud Computing Engineering) I have again to deal with Linux/Unix.

Especially I want to refresh my " Bash skills ".

However, in order to be able to start with that, it is necessary to create a training environment.

This can be achieved in many different ways (if you are basically at home in Windows).

  • Linux/Unix-based virtual machine (desktop virtualization)
  • Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

I decided to use the new variant via WSL, because in this case integration with the underlying hardware is closer.

Furthermore it is a new approach to work with Linux under Windows and we all want to learn something "new"? ;)

Requirements:

If you don't meet this requirements, please go ahead and start upgrading / updating.

Installation:

Please execute the following commands in an administrative PowerShell to install the needed Windows-Feature.

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

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

After all this is done, it is time to restart.

Via the Windows Store you can then download and install a suitable and compatible Linux\Unix version.

Available here are for example:

  • Alpine Linux
  • Ubuntu
  • Debian
  • ......

After the installation the new Linux is available.

Now of course the question arises how to access it.

  • via PowerShell using the prefix "wsl"
wsl --list --all
# This command shows the currently (default) installed Linux Subsystems
  • via Powershell entering into the default Linux Subsystem
wsl
  • via "Windows Terminal"

It should also be mentioned here that the WSL requires a standard user and password on first access. So your access experience the first time here might differ a bit from the process shown...

I recommend to work with the new shell created by Microsoft: "Windows Terminal."

I have already written about this:

The new “Windows Terminal”
“Windows Terminal is a new, modern, fast, efficient, powerful, and productive terminal application for users of command-line tools and shells like Command Prompt, PowerShell, and WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux).” Reference: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/commandline/introducing-windows-terminal/…
Thomas BründlIT - Solutions - Blog

FAQ:

If you get the following error message:

WSL 2 requires an update to its kernel component. For information please visit https://aka.ms/wsl2kernel

Then you should install this package:

https://wslstorestorage.blob.core.windows.net/wslblob/wsl_update_x64.msi

References:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10

https://www.sitepoint.com/wsl2/?utm_source=rss

https://docs.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/wsl/wsl2-kernel