Linux in Windows

You can do this activity on a home computer to allow you to work with Linux easily. This will also work in Azure Labs. Do not try this in a University Laboratory.

Some terminology is important. The physical computer is the host. Any Linux instance we run under the host operating system is a Virtual Machine (VM).

Some years ago, Microsoft introduced the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). At the time, I was not impressed and thought it was a kludge. But WSL2 is now settled and has some maturity and allows us the ability to install a useful operating system like Ubuntu as a Virtual Machine (VM). And we can do this on any Windows 10/11 computer with a few button ticks.

Note that you must have Windows 10 v.2004 or better (2020) to install WSL2.

Open Turn Windows Features on or off

Enable the

• Windows Subsystem for Linux

• Windows Virtual Machine Platform

Click OK and reboot the computer.

After the reboot, the extra software is installed.

Now go to the Microsoft Store and search for Ubuntu. I recommend you use Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

Install and open.

I used the suggested link and downloaded wsl_update_x64.msi and ran it.

I then run Ubuntu as an app.