Running Linux on Windows with WSL
Running Linux on Windows with WSL The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allows you to run a Linux environment directly on Windows without the need for a traditional virtual machine or dual-boot setup. This blog post dives into WSL2, the second generation of this powerful tool, explaining what it is, how it works, why you might want to use it, and some of its limitations. What is WSL2? WSL2 is an enhanced version of the original Windows Subsystem for Linux, introduced by Microsoft to provide better performance and compatibility for running Linux distributions on Windows. Unlike WSL1, which translated Linux system calls to Windows, WSL2 uses a lightweight virtual machine (VM) to run a full Linux kernel. This VM is optimized to use minimal resources while providing near-native performance. How WSL2 Works Lightweight VM: WSL2 uses Hyper-V technology to create a minimal virtual machine that runs the Linux kernel. This VM is highly optimized, booting ...