Background

Obviously, my working OS is MS Windows.

But, I have very brief moments with Linux.

Once every couple of moments or so.

 

Managing Distributions in Windows Subsystem for Linux

Outline

Management-wise, here are some of what we can do with WSL:-

1. Export and Import
   • Export the distribution to a tar file
   • Import specified tar file as a new distribution
2. List Distributions
   • List all distributions
   • List running distributions
3. Set default distribution
4. Target Specific distribution
5. Status Inquiry
6. Terminate a running distribution
7. Unregister a distribution and delete the root file system

 

Objective

In this post, we will set our default distribution.

 

Tasks

List Distributions

List all distributions

Syntax

wsl --list

 

Sample

wsl --list -all

Output

Output – Image

Output – Textual

>wsl --list --all
Windows Subsystem for Linux Distributions:
CentOS8-stream (Default)
Ubuntu

 

Explanation

1. We have two Linux distributions installed:-
   • CentOS8-Stream
   • Ubuntu
2. Default Distribution
   • The default distribution is CentOS8-Stream

Default Distributions

In our particular case, our initial default install was Ubuntu.

Later, we added CentOS8-Stream.

To switch our default distro we will invoke “wsl –set-default“.

 

Syntax

wsl --set-default [distribution]

 

Sample

Let us set our default distro to CentOS8-stream.

wsl --set-default CentOS8-stream

Output

Output – Image

Output – Textual

>wsl --set-default centOS-stream

 

Explanation

1. We were able to successfully switch our default Linux distro from Ubuntu to CentOS

 

Status Inquiry

Let us perform a quick status inquiry.

 

Syntax

wsl --status

 

Sample

Let us set our default distro to CentOS8-stream.

wsl --status

Output

Output – Image

Output – Textual

>wsl --status
Default Distribution: CentOS8-stream
Default Version: 2

Windows Subsystem for Linux was last updated on 2/21/2022
WSL automatic updates are on.

Kernel version: 5.10.16

>

 

Explanation

1. Using “wsl –status” to query our wsl install confirmed the following
   • Default Distribution
     • CentOS8-Stream
   • Default Version
     • 2
   • WSL
     • Last Update:- 2022-Feb-21st
     • WSL is being automatically updated
   • Kernel Version
     • 5.10.16

WSL Execute Command

It is worth knowing that we do not have to start a WSL Session and manually invoke command from the WSL Shell.

We can deliver payload right from the WinOS Shell.

 

Syntax

wsl --exec [command]

 

Sample

Issue Linux command from MS Windows Shell.

In this instance, we issue a simple request.

What release version are you?

wsl --exec lsb_release -a

Output

Output – Image

Output – Textual

</pre>

>wsl --exec lsb_release -a
LSB Version: :core-4.1-amd64:core-4.1-noarch
Distributor ID: CentOSStream
Description: CentOS Stream release 8
Release: 8
Codename: n/a

>

 

Explanation

1. Using “wsl –exec” to ask the Linux Substem to run the lsb_release command returns
   • LSB Version
     • core-4.1-amd64:core-4.1-noarch
   • Distribution ID
     • CentOSStrea
   • Description
     • CentOS Stream release 8
   • Release
     • 8
   • Codename: n/a

 

References

1. Microsoft
   • WSL
     • Basic Commands
       Link