Installing WSL on an Engineering Computer

You will want to familiarize yourself with the documentation provided below when setting up and using WSL.   Please note:

1. When setting up a distribution, it is only available to your logon -- this is by design.  Each user can have their own distributions.

2. You only need admin for Step 2) below.

3. This distribution is not backed up. You will want to copy files to a spot that is backed up, or occasionally backup the distribution.

4. Security updates and package updates: Please update packages you download on a regular basis for the latest security updates

Installation:

1. Please verify that you are using the latest version of Windows 10 or 11 -- (Ask ITG)

2. Open PowerShell as admin and run the following command (Start> PowerShell > run as administrator)

   1. Enable the feature - requires a reboot

      1. Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

      2. Reboot

   2. This enables WSL and Virtual Machine Platform components, downloads the latest Linux kernel, sets WSL 2 as default

      1. wsl --install

   3. reboot

3. Install the Linux distribution.  To install Ubuntu.  DO NOT DO THIS AS ADMIN -- this distribution is for ONLY one user

   1. Open cmd window

      1. wsl --install -d Ubuntu

   1. You can install different distributions

      1. wsl --list --online

      2. wsl --install -d <distribution_name>

   1. Once Ubuntu is installed, you will need to create a user account and password.

      1. See, Best practices for setting up a WSL development environment

         1. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/setup/environment#set-up-your-linux-user-info

      1. Enter new Unix username:  <Username of your choice -- this user has root capabilities>

      2. Password: <Password you choose >

      3. Retype new password:  < password>

4. To start up a Linux terminal window

   1. Start > Ubuntu

5. Update  and Upgrade packages regularly

   1. Open Ubuntu

      1. sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Reference Documentation

• Windows Subsystem for Linux Documentation 

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

• Comparing WSL 1 and WSL 2

  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/compare-versions

• Windows Subsystem for Linux Installation Guide for Windows 10

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

• Create a user account and password for your new Linux distribution

  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/user-support

• File storage - To open your WSL project in Windows File Explorer. Be sure to add the period at the end of the command to open the current directory.

  • explorer.exe .

  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/filesystems

• Backing up a distribution:

  • WSL2 Backup and Restore Images using Import and Export