wsl

🛡️ WSL Cheat-Sheet

This cheat-sheet provides essential commands for managing Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), including backing up and restoring distros, symbolic links, file permissions, networking, and running a Linux desktop in WSL2.

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🔍 Overview

• Product Type: WSL Management Commands

• Focus: Key commands for managing WSL distros, symbolic links, networking, and configuring advanced settings.

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🧠 Key Commands

🔄 Backup and Restore WSL

Listing Running Distros

wsl --list --verbose

Starting/Restarting a Distro

wsl --distribution DISTRO-NAME

Terminate a Running Distro

wsl --t DISTRO-NAME

Terminate All Running Distros and WSL Process

wsl --shutdown

Backup a WSL Distro

wsl --export (distribution) (filename.tar)

Restore a WSL Distro from Backup

wsl --import (distribution) (install location) (file location and filename)

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🔗 Symbolic Links

Link .ssh Folder

sudo ln -s /mnt/c/Users/lempa/.ssh ~/.ssh

Link .kube Folder

sudo ln -s /mnt/c/Users/lempa/.kube ~/.kube

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🔐 File Permissions

For advanced settings configuration in WSL, refer to WSL Config Parameters.

Example wsl.conf

[automount]
enabled = true
options = "metadata,uid=1000,gid=1000,umask=077,fmask=11,case=off"
mountFsTab = true
 
[interop]
enabled = false
appendWindowsPath = false

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🌐 Networking

Port Forwarding

Find IP Address

bash.exe -c "ifconfig eth0 | grep 'inet '"

Add Port Forwarding

$port = 8080
$remoteaddr = 0.0.0.0
 
netsh interface portproxy add v4tov4 listenport=$port connectport=$port connectaddress=$remoteaddr
 
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name=$port dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=$port

Delete Port Forwarding

$port = 8080
 
netsh interface portproxy delete v4tov4 listenport=$port
netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule name=$port

Show Port Forwardings

netsh interface portproxy show v4tov4

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🖥️ Linux Desktop in WSL2

With WSL2, it’s possible to install and run a Linux desktop environment (such as XFCE). A tutorial on how to implement this can be found here.

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📚 Resources

• WSL Config Parameters

• Running XFCE on WSL2 Tutorial

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🔁 Related

• Linux on Windows — Learn more about running Linux on Windows with WSL.

• Networking in WSL — Explore more about advanced networking capabilities in WSL.

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🔍 Explore More

• Advanced WSL Configuration — Deep dive into WSL advanced configuration options.

• Setting up WSL for Development — A step-by-step guide to configure WSL for development.

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🏷️ Tags

wsl
backup-restore
symbolic-links
file-permissions
networking
port-forwarding
linux-desktop
wsl2