Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- other:win10wsl [2022/08/31 09:40]
jypeter Started moving 'backup' to the Advanced section
+++ other:win10wsl [2022/09/14 14:07]
jypeter [Getting ready for some real work] Added the preliminary backup step
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 Once you have verified that your Windows is recent enough, you should also:
-  * Your should really **install the [[other:win10apps#windows_terminal|Windows terminal]]**, because it will be one of useful the ways to open ''Ubuntu'' terminals, once ''Ubuntu'' is installed
+  * **Install the [[other:win10apps#windows_terminal|Windows terminal]]**
-  * **Know how to use copy-paste** in:
+    * Once //Ubuntu// is installed, there will be additional ways to open [[other:win10wsl#opening_a_terminal|Linux terminals]]
-    * a //Windows Terminal//: [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/selection|Selecting text in Windows Terminal]]
+  * **Know how to use copy-paste** in a //Windows Terminal//, a //PowerShell// or a ''cmd'' interpreter
-    * an old ''cmd'' command prompt or a //PowerShell//: FIXME
+    * It should work more or less the same way everywhere as in a [[other:win10apps#windows_cmd_command_interpreter|cmd interpreter]]
-  * It will be useful to **be able to [[other:win10config#displaying_hidden_folders_and_files_and_the_files_extension|see hidden folders and files]]**
+  * Follow the instructions to **be able to [[other:win10config#displaying_hidden_folders_and_files_and_the_files_extension|see hidden folders and files i n the Windows explorer]]**
   * **Have some basic knowledge of Linux**...
     * Get some [[other:newppl:starting#useful_documentation_for_beginners|basic Linux documentation]] if required
@@ Line 174: / Line 174: @@
     * If you have an older Windows version (at least //Version 1903, Build 18362//), follow the [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-manual|Manual installation steps for older versions of WSL]]
-  * Open a ''Powershell'' in //administrator// mode
+  * Open a ''PowerShell'' in //administrator// mode
     * ''Start''=>''W''=>''Windows PowerShell'' then right-click on ''Windows PowerShell'' and select //Run as Administrator//
     * Use a [[https://wiki.lsce.ipsl.fr/pmip3/doku.php/other:win10apps#windows_terminal|Windows Terminal]], if you have already installed it. Use ''CTRL''+<left click> on ''Windows Powershell'' in the pull-down menu to get a ''Powershell'' in //administrator// mode
@@ Line 206: / Line 206: @@
   * Reboot the computer and be patient
     * This step will take some time (make sure you have 15-30 mn available). Windows will install and configure what it needs for running //WSL+Ubuntu//, reboot, and install some more //stuff//
-    * The final installation step will take place when you open your Windows session. A terminal opens, displaying the final installation of Ubuntu, and asking you for a username and password, and giving you access to a ''bash'' prompt
+    * The final installation step will take place when you open your Windows session. A terminal opens, displaying the final installation of Ubuntu, and asking you for a username and password, and giving you access to a ''bash'' prompt\\ <wrap hi>[[other:win10wsl#wsl_security_warning|Do not use an existing password for the Linux installation]]</wrap>
     * <code>Installing, this may take a few minutes...
 Please create a default UNIX user account. The username does not need to match your Windows username.
@@ Line 234: / Line 234: @@
 /bin/bash</code>
-  * Get some basic information about your new ''Ubuntu'' installation
+  * Note: after installing (even from the PowerShell command line), Ubuntu will appear as a regular installed application in the //Microsoft Store// and the list of applications
-    * <code>stdu@sadira034:~$ lsb_release -a
+    * {{ :other:ubuntu_ms-store.png?direct&400 |}}
-No LSB modules are available.
+    * {{ :other:ubuntu_applications.png?direct&400 |}}
-Distributor ID: Ubuntu
-Description:    Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
-Release:        20.04
-Codename:       focal
-stdu@sadira034:~$ uname -a
-Linux sadira034 5.10.16.3-microsoft-standard-WSL2 #1 SMP Fri Apr 2 22:23:49 UTC 2021 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
-stdu@sadira034:~$ cat /proc/version
-Linux version 5.10.16.3-microsoft-standard-WSL2 (oe-user@oe-host) (x86_64-msft-linux-gcc (GCC) 9.3.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils) 2.34.0.20200220) #1 SMP Fri Apr 2 22:23:49 UTC 2021
-stdu@sadira034:~$ df -h
+  * Get some information about your new ''Ubuntu'' installation
+    * <code>$ lsb_release -d
+Description:    Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS</code>
+      * [[other:win10wsl#linux_version_installed|More information]] example
+    * Disk usage example
+    * <code>$ df -h
 Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
 /dev/sdb        251G  1.1G  238G   1% /
@@ Line 309: / Line 304: @@
 Description:    Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS
 Release:        20.04
-Codename:       focal
+Codename:       focal</code>
+    * [[other:win10wsl#linux_version_installed|More installed version information]]
-stdu@sadira034:/usr/lib/wsl/drivers$ cat /etc/*release*
-DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
-DISTRIB_RELEASE=20.04
-DISTRIB_CODENAME=focal
-DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS"
-NAME="Ubuntu"
-VERSION="20.04.4 LTS (Focal Fossa)"
-ID=ubuntu
-ID_LIKE=debian
-PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS"
-VERSION_ID="20.04"
-HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/"
-SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/"
-BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/"
-PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy"
-VERSION_CODENAME=focal
-UBUNTU_CODENAME=focal</code>
     * [[other:win10wsl#updating_wsl_and_ubuntu|More details about updating WSL and/or Ubuntu]] (you can safely skip this for now)
@@ Line 363: / Line 341: @@
 PS C:\> wsl cat /proc/version
 Linux version 5.10.102.1-microsoft-standard-WSL2 (oe-user@oe-host) (x86_64-msft-linux-gcc (GCC) 9.3.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils) 2.34.0.20200220) #1 SMP Wed Mar 2 00:30:59 UTC 2022</code>
+  * Create a [[other:win10wsl#backup_of_a_full_linux_installation|backup of the newly installed distribution]]
+    * This will allow you to easily [[other:win10wsl#restoring_or_relocating_a_linux_installation|restore or relocate your distribution later]]
 ===== After the base installation =====
@@ Line 374: / Line 355: @@
 ==== Opening a terminal ====
-  * Check the next sections to find out the different ways to open terminals
+  * Read the sub-sections below to find out the different ways to open //terminals//
-  * Opening the first terminal will start WSL+Ubuntu
+  * Opening the first terminal (after opening a regular Windows session) will start WSL+Ubuntu
+    * The next terminals will open instantly (because Ubuntu is already running)
   * Closing all terminals will not stop WSL+Ubuntu. Read the [[#rebooting_wsl|rebooting WSL section]] if you need a clean start of WSL without rebooting Windows
@@ Line 382: / Line 364: @@
 === The default terminal ===
-The **Default WSL+Ubuntu //terminal//** is basically a //bash// shell running inside a regular Windows ''cmd'' text console. You do not need to have an //X server// running to use it!
+<WRAP center round tip 60%>
+The default terminal will be available without installing extra applications like ''WSLtty'' or the ''Windows Terminal''. It will work for testing WSL, but it is **not recommended** if you want to work comfortably
+</WRAP>
+The **Default WSL+Ubuntu //terminal//** is basically a //bash// shell running inside a regular Windows ''cmd'' text console. You do not need to have an [[other:x_conf#using_an_x_server_on_windows|X server]] running to use it!
 There are several ways to open a default terminal:
-  * Select //Ubuntu// from the ''Start'' menu
+  * Type ''wsl''+''<Enter>'' in the (Cortana) Search field on the task bar
-  * Click on the //Ubuntu// icon on the task bar
+  * The other ways listed below **will only work as supposed if you have not [[other:win10wsl#restoring_or_relocating_a_linux_installation|restored or relocated a Linux installation]]!**\\ If you are using a restored/relocated installation, this will trigger a re-installation of the default Ubuntu on ''C:\''. Not a major problem, but it will use some unwanted space on ''C:\'' and you will need to [[other:win10wsl#uninstalling_wsl_or_a_distribution|use 'wsl --unregister Ubuntu']] to remove this unwanted version
-    * if you don't have a //Ubuntu// icon on the task bar yet: right-click on the //Ubuntu// icon (in the ''Start'' menu) -> More -> Pin to the task bar
+    * Type ''ubuntu''+<Enter> in the (Cortana) Search field on the task bar
-    * to open more terminals: right-click on the //Ubuntu// icon on the task bar -> Ubuntu
+    * Select //Ubuntu// from the ''Start'' menu
-  * Type ''ubuntu''+<Enter> or ''wsl''+''<Enter>'' in the (Cortana) Search field on the task bar
+    * Click on the //Ubuntu// icon on the task bar
+      * if you don't have a //Ubuntu// icon on the task bar yet: right-click on the //Ubuntu// icon (in the ''Start'' menu) -> More -> Pin to the task bar
+      * to open more terminals: right-click on the //Ubuntu// icon on the task bar -> Ubuntu
 == Copy/paste in the default terminal ==
-Follow the steps in [[https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/commandline/2018/04/13/copy-and-paste-arrives-for-linuxwsl-consoles/|Copy and Paste arrives for Linux/WSL Consoles]] and you will then be able to **copy/paste by using ''Shift+Ctrl+C/V''**
+Check this [[other:win10apps#windows_terminal|Windows Terminal]] section
-  * The //QuickEdit mode// should already be selected by default and you can also:
-    * **select** text with the left mouse button
-    * **paste** the selected text with the right mouse button (click **twice** after a new selection)
-  * Use ''Alt''+''<Enter>'' to toggle the terminal to full screen (maybe more useful options [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/orphan-topics/ws.11/mt427362(v=ws.11)|here?]])
 === The WSLtty terminal ===
-<note tip>
+<WRAP center round tip 60%>
-  * This is the recommended (by JYP) option for now
-  * If you can't open a terminal after Windows upgrades from WSL to WSL v2, get and install the latest version of WSLtty !
+  * This is **the recommended (by JYP) option for now**, until we can use regular Linux select-copy/paste in the Windows Terminal ([[https://github.com/microsoft/terminal/issues/7646|Feature request: add xterm-style select/copy/paste options]])
-</note>
-[[https://github.com/mintty/wsltty|WSLtty]] allows you to use the efficient //Mintty// as a terminal for WSL. **You do not need to have an //X server// running to use it!**
+  * If you can't open a ''WSLtty'' terminal after upgrading from ''WSL'' to ''WSL 2'', install the latest version of WSLtty !
+</WRAP>
+[[https://github.com/mintty/wsltty|WSLtty]] allows you to use the efficient //Mintty// as a terminal for WSL. **You do not need to have an [[other:x_conf#using_an_x_server_on_windows|X server]] running to use it!**
+  * Use [[https://github.com/mintty/wsltty#windows-package-manager|winget]] (in a PowerShell) to install WSLtty
+    * <code>PS C:\Users\your_login> winget install wsltty
+Trouvé WSLtty [Mintty.WSLtty] Version 3.6.0
+[...]
+Installé correctement</code>
-  * Download and execute the latest [[https://github.com/mintty/wsltty/releases|64bit installer]] (the most recent ''wsltty-*-install-x86_64.exe'' file)
+  * After installing, you will get **several new ways to open a terminal**:
-  * After installing, you will get several ways to open a terminal:
+    * ''WSL terminal'' icon on the desktop
-    * Double-click on the ''WSL terminal'' icon on the desktop
+    * ''Start'' => ''U'' => ''Ubuntu terminal'' (or ''Ubuntu_custom terminal'' or something similar if you have [[other:win10wsl#restoring_or_relocating_a_linux_installation|restored/relocated a Linux installation]])
-    * ''U''=>''Ubuntu terminal'' and ''W''=>''WSL Terminal'' in the ''Start'' menu
+    * ''Start'' => ''W'' => ''WSL Terminal'' in the ''Start'' menu
-      * There is also a ''W''=>''WSLtty'' folder, than you don't really need
+      * There is also a ''W'' => ''WSLtty'' folder, than you probably will not need (more details in [[https://github.com/mintty/wsltty#configuration|Configuration]]), except possibly ''configure WSL shortcuts'' (//run after adding or removing WSL distributions, in order to create the respective set of shortcuts in the Start menu//)
   * Open a terminal and right-click in it to check the available options
+    * Hint: use the ''Text'' option to select the nice //Cascadia Code// font bundled with the [[other:win10apps#windows_terminal|Windows Terminal]]
     * You can access even more options with CTRL+right-click
     * You can cycle between the open WSLtty terminals with CTRL+Tab and Shift+CTRL+Tab
   *  [[https://github.com/mintty/mintty/wiki|Technical stuff]] (on the Mintty wiki)
-=== The new Windows Terminal ===
+=== The Windows Terminal ===
-Microsoft is working on a powerful replacement of the old ''cmd'' terminal! Check [[https://github.com/microsoft/terminal|Windows Terminal, Console and Command-Line @ github]]
+The [[other:win10apps#windows_terminal|Windows Terminal]] is really nice and powerful, and will become the recommended (by JYP) option as soon as we can use regular Linux select-copy/paste ([[https://github.com/microsoft/terminal/issues/7646|Feature request: add xterm-style select/copy/paste options]])
-Note: the //Windows Terminal// looks really promising, but will be nice when there is a GUI for editing the options (rather the editing a //json// file with a text editor...) and a way to select //xterm-style// copy-pasting. See [[https://github.com/microsoft/terminal/issues/7646|Feature request: add xterm-style select/copy/paste options]]
-  * [[https://aka.ms/terminal|Getting the Windows Terminal from the Microsoft Store]]
-  * [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/|Documentation]]
 === Terminals started from Linux ===
-You can install additional //graphical// terminals inside the Linux running in WSL, but **you will need to have a running //X server// if you want to open them**. In these terminals, the //usual// Linux copy/paste rules will apply!
+You can install additional //graphical// terminals inside the Linux running in WSL, but **you will need to have a running [[other:x_conf#using_an_x_server_on_windows|X server]] if you want to open them**. In these terminals, the //usual// Linux copy/paste rules will apply!
 == xterm ==
@@ Line 443: / Line 433: @@
   * Start from another terminal with: ''xfce4-terminal &''
-==== Location of the files ====
+==== Where are the files? ====
-You can optionally read the detailed [[https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/wsl/2016/06/15/wsl-file-system-support/|WSL File System Support]] page if you want to (try to) understand how things work and how both systems can share files.
+=== Accessing Linux files from the Windows Explorer ===
-=== Linux files seen from Windows ===
+  * You can access the Linux files in ''/'' from Windows by opening the //virtual// ''\\wsl$'' path in the Windows explorer
-  * You can access the Linux files in ''/'' from Windows by opening the //virtual// ''\\wsl$'' path in the Windows explorer (since [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/release-notes#build-18342|Windows build 18342]])
     * Your Linux //home// directory is located in ''\\wsl$\Ubuntu\home\<your_login>''
+    * There will be some content in ''\\wsl$'' only if a Linux installation is running (i.e. it shows as //Running// in ''wsl -l -v'')
+    * It's useful to [[[other:win10config#local_linux_folders|create a shortcut to wsl$ on the desktop]]
-  * The content of the Ubuntu ''/'' directory is actually located in the following //hidden// sub-directory of the user's Windows //home// directory: ''C:\Users\<your_login>\AppData\Local\Packages\CanonicalGroupLimited.UbuntuonWindows_79rhkp1fndgsc\LocalState\rootfs''
+=== Accessing Windows files from Linux ===
-<note important>[[https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/commandline/2016/11/17/do-not-change-linux-files-using-windows-apps-and-tools/|Do not change Linux files in '/' from Windows!]] (it's safe **only** if you use the ''\\wsl$'' path)
+<WRAP center round tip 60%>
+When you are in a Windows //explorer// window, you can directly open a Linux terminal in a specific directory by holding Shift and right-clicking on a directory and selecting //Ouvrir l'interpréteur de commandes Linux ici// (//Open the Linux command line here//?) in the context menu.</WRAP>
-If you need to easily update files from both Linux and Windows, put them in a regular Windows directory (not in the hidden directory mentioned above, where the Linux system is installed)</note>
-=== Windows files seen from Linux ===
-Note: When you are in an explorer window, you can open a Windows terminal with Linux by holding Shift and right-clicking on a directory and choosing Linux in the context menu.
 The Windows partitions are mounted under ''/mnt'' in Linux:
@@ Line 466: / Line 451: @@
 <code>$ df -h
 Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
-rootfs          111G   30G   82G  27% /
+/dev/sdb        251G  1.5G  237G   1% /
-none            111G   30G   82G  27% /dev
+[...]
-none            111G   30G   82G  27% /run
+C:\             472G  121G  351G  26% /mnt/c
-none            111G   30G   82G  27% /run/lock
+D:\             480G  4.2G  476G   1% /mnt/d</code>
-none            111G   30G   82G  27% /run/shm
-none            111G   30G   82G  27% /run/user
-C:              111G   30G   82G  27% /mnt/c
-H:              366G  138M  366G   1% /mnt/h</code>
 Read the [[#mounting_disks_and_network_drives|Mounting disks and network drives]] section if you want to access remote server disks on your local network, or just want to access USB disks/sticks on your local computer.
@@ Line 480: / Line 461: @@
   * The ''wslpath'' command can be used to make Windows<->Linux path conversion
+  * FIXME More technical WSL disks information (move the disk technical information to the advanced usage section, and link to it)
 ==== Linux version installed ====
+You can use the following commands to get some information about WSL and the currently installed Linux
 <code>$ date
-Thu Feb 20 11:18:57 CET 2020
+Tue Sep 13 16:48:10 CEST 2022
+$ env | grep WSL
+WSL_DISTRO_NAME=Ubuntu_custom
+WSL_INTEROP=/run/WSL/12_interop
+WSL_GUEST_IP=192.168.113.203
+WSLENV=
+WSL_HOST_IP=192.168.112.1
 $ lsb_release -a
 No LSB modules are available.
 Distributor ID: Ubuntu
-Description:    Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS
+Description:    Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS
-Release:        18.04
+Release:        20.04
-Codename:       bionic
+Codename:       focal
 $ cat /proc/version
-Linux version 4.4.0-18362-Microsoft (Microsoft@Microsoft.com) (gcc version 5.4.0 (GCC) ) #476-Microsoft Fri Nov 01 16:53:00 PST 2019
+Linux version 5.10.102.1-microsoft-standard-WSL2 (oe-user@oe-host) (x86_64-msft-linux-gcc (GCC) 9.3.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils) 2.34.0.20200220) #1 SMP Wed Mar 2 00:30:59 UTC 2022
 $ uname -a
-Linux some_machine_name 4.4.0-18362-Microsoft #476-Microsoft Fri Nov 01 16:53:00 PST 2019 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux</code>
+Linux sadira034 5.10.102.1-microsoft-standard-WSL2 #1 SMP Wed Mar 2 00:30:59 UTC 2022 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
+$ cat /etc/*release*
+DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
+DISTRIB_RELEASE=20.04
+DISTRIB_CODENAME=focal
+DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS"
+NAME="Ubuntu"
+VERSION="20.04.5 LTS (Focal Fossa)"
+ID=ubuntu
+ID_LIKE=debian
+PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS"
+VERSION_ID="20.04"
+HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/"
+SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/"
+BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/"
+PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy"
+VERSION_CODENAME=focal
+UBUNTU_CODENAME=focal</code>
 ==== Ubuntu packages installed ====
@@ Line 513: / Line 522: @@
-$ dpkg --list > /mnt/c/Scratch/jypeter/Ubuntu_Installed_List_`date +"%y-%m-%d"`.txt
+$ dpkg --list > /mnt/c/Scratch/your_login/Ubuntu_Installed_List_`date +"%y-%m-%d"`.txt
-$ wc -l /mnt/c/Scratch/jypeter/Ubuntu_Installed_List_*.txt
+$ wc -l /mnt/c/Scratch/your_login/Ubuntu_Installed_List_*.txt
-/mnt/c/Scratch/jypeter/Ubuntu_Installed_List_22-08-29.txt</code>
+/mnt/c/Scratch/your_login/Ubuntu_Installed_List_22-08-29.txt</code>
 Full (example) list of installed packages: {{ :other:ubuntu_installed_list_22-08-29.txt |}}
@@ Line 523: / Line 532: @@
 Use the following to update your ubuntu installation:
-<code>$ sudo -s
+''$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade''
+or <code>$ sudo -s
 $ apt-get update
 $ apt-get upgrade</code>
@@ Line 539: / Line 551: @@
 ===== Getting ready for some real work =====
-<note important>We often assume below that you are using the **root** account (''sudo -s''), or ''sudo'' when executing the ''apt*'' installation commands, and othe admin commands</note>
+<note>We often assume below that you are using the **root** account (with ''sudo -s'', or ''sudo'') when executing the ''apt*'' installation commands, and other //admin// commands</note>
+==== Create a backup before starting ====
+Nothing will go wrong, but it does not hurt to [[other:win10wsl#backup_of_a_full_linux_installation|save an image of your full installation]], in case you want to try some really different settings later.
 ==== Specifying correctly the display language ====
@@ Line 983: / Line 998: @@
-==== Creating a backup of the Linux running in WSL ====
+===== Advanced usage =====
-There are several types of WSL related directories that you may want to back up:
+==== WSL security WARNING! ====
-  * <wrap hi>Your Linux //home// directory</wrap> (''/home/<your_login>''), or some specific sub-directories of the //Ubuntu// running in WSL (sub-directories of ''/''): all these files are located in a [[other:win10wsl#location_of_the_files|hidden sub-directory of you Windows directory]], and the best way to save them is probably to **create a tar file from Linux**, and put this tar file in a specific Windows //WSL backup folder// (we will use below the directory ''/mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>'' or ''c:\Scratch\<your_login>'')
+<WRAP center round important 60%>
-    * <code bash>$ cd /home
+A regular Linux installation (on a Linux-only computer) is fairly secure,\\ but a Linux installation on WSL is not secure at all, **by design**
+</WRAP>
-$ du -sh $USER
+WSL+Linux is designed to allow you to easily use Linux on Windows, including **very easily using the Linux root account without knowing any password** of the Linux installation!
-K    <your_login>
-# We assume below that there is an existing /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/ directory
+<code>PS C:\Users\your_login> wsl
-# It's a WINDOWS directory C:\Scratch\<your_login>
+wsl_default_user@your_machine:/mnt/c/Users/your_login$ whoami
-$ tar cfz /mnt/c/Scratch/$USER/${USER}_home_`date +%y%m%d_%H%M`.tgz $USER
+wsl_default_user
-# Check the size of the new (and existing old) backup(s)
+PS C:\Users\your_login> wsl -u root
-$ ls -ltr /mnt/c/Scratch/$USER/${USER}_*.tgz
+root@your_machine:/mnt/c/Users/your_login# whoami
-K Jan 21  2020 /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/<your_login>_home_200121.tgz
+root</code>
-K Aug 22  2020 /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/<your_login>_home_200822_1151.tgz
-K Feb 24 12:09 /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/<your_login>_home_210224_1209.tgz</code>
-  * <wrap hi>Regular Windows folders</wrap> where you store data used by WSL: you can use ''tar'' in a Linux terminal, as above, or use any usual way of backing up Windows files (drag and drop, some specific [[other:win10apps#backup_software|backup software]])
+This is **a feature and not a security issue**, because your installation is protected by your Windows account security
+You should be aware (and act accordingly) that:
+  * Somebody gaining access to your Windows account will also have full access to the Linux installation
+    * <wrap hi>Do not use an existing password for the WSL Linux account</wrap>\\ Somebody could easily extract your password information...
+    * Storing data in the Linux part of your computer does not add any extra security
+    * Always **make sure that only you can access your Windows account**
+    * Your LSCE Windows laptop (not your desktop) is encrypted with [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/Bitlocker/bitlocker-overview|BitLocker]], which adds some extra security
+  * Somebody gaining access to a backup of your Linux installation will easily have access to the Linux installation itself
+    * You can store your Linux installation backup to [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-to-go-faq|an external disk encrypted with BitLocker]]
+==== Creating a backup ====
-==== Restoring a WSL backup ====
+=== Backup of a FULL Linux installation ===
-FIXME Read [[https://www.howtogeek.com/426562/how-to-export-and-import-your-linux-systems-on-windows-10/|How to Export and Import Your Linux Systems on Windows 10]] and [[https://winaero.com/blog/export-import-wsl-linux-distro-windows-10/|Export and Import WSL Linux Distro in Windows 10]] and similar threads
-FIXME Check if [[https://wslhub.com/|WSL Manager]] is maintained and can be useful
-This assumes that you have followed the steps above to create a full backup of your Linux distribution in a ''ubuntu_<your_login>_<some_date>.tar'' file. This file can theoretically be restored with:
-  * ''wsl %%--%%import <DistributionName> <InstallLocation> ubuntu_<your_login>_<some_date>.tar''
-    * Note: found a page mentioning that you should be in a terminal with admin rights when using ''%%--%%import''
-    * Can we use the same ''<DistributionName>'' (e.g. ''Ubuntu'') as the one we are trying to restore without first removing it with ''unregister'' ([[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl-config#unregister-and-reinstall-a-distribution|Unregister and reinstall a distribution]])?
-    * If we use a new distribution name, it will probably not appear anymore in the Microsoft Store and will not be updated. Is this a problem?
-    * It seems we can use ''<InstallLocation>'' to install anywhere! What should we do if we want to restore to the default location (in the hidden directory)?
-      * Can we install out of the current user's Windows folder?
-      * Can we install out of ''C:\''?
-    * Can we restore (//clone//) a backed up Linux distribution on another Windows 10 computer for another user?
-      * if the default user (and its password) has to be changed, you probably have to follow the steps to [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/user-support#for-fall-creators-update-and-later|reset the Linux password]] and find a way to create a new account when the ''root'' password is activated
-===== Advanced usage =====
-==== Creating a backup of a Linux installation ====
 You can use ''wsl'' to [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/faq#how-can-i-back-up-my-wsl-distributions--or-move-them-from-one-drive-to-another-|save a full Linux installation]] to a //tar// file, that can be:
-  * used later for restoring the full installation
+  * used later for //restoring// the full installation
-  * used for relocating the full installation from ''C:\'' to another disk
+  * used for //relocating// the full installation from ''C:\'' to another disk
+Detailed [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/basic-commands#export-a-distribution-to-a-tar-file|--export]] example:
-  * Determine the name of the current Linux installation used in WSL (and see if it is running, and using //WSL 1// or //WSL 2//)
+  * Determine the name of the current Linux installation(s) used in WSL
     * <code>> wsl --list --verbose
   NAME      STATE           VERSION
@@ Line 1046: / Line 1047: @@
 * Ubuntu    Stopped         2</code>
   * Export the specified Linux installation to a //tar// file:
-    * You should export to a directory or external disk where you have //enough// space
+    * You should export to a directory or external disk where you have //enough// space\\ e.g. The tar file for a [[other:win10wsl#base_installation|newly installed and updated]] //Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS// is ~1.4 Gb
-    * You should use a detailed enough file name for the tar file
+    * You should use a detailed enough file name for the tar file\\ e.g. WSL_<Linux_Distribution>_<Distribution_Version>_<User>_<Date>.tar
-    * ''wsl --export Ubuntu C:\Scratch\<your_login>\WSL\WSL_Ubuntu_20.04.4_LTS_stdu_22-08-29.tar''
+    * Example: ''%%wsl --export Ubuntu C:\Scratch\<your_login>\WSL\WSL_Ubuntu_20.04.5_LTS_stdu_22-08-29.tar%%''
-        * 1.4 Gb
-    * <code> > wsl --export Ubuntu C:\Scratch\<your_login>\<your_login>_ubuntu-<ubuntu_version>-full_<some_date>.tar</code>
-    * You can optionally open a new terminal (this will start again WSL+Ubuntu) to get some information about the created file (size and number of saved files/directories), and compress it in order to save some disk space
+    * If you are not going to use the backup tar file right away, you can optionally compress it in order to save some space
-      * <code>$ cd /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>
+      * <code>$ ls -lh /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/WSL/WSL_Ubuntu_20.04.5_LTS_stdu_22-08-29.tar
+.4G Aug 29 17:49 /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/WSL/WSL_Ubuntu_20.04.5_LTS_stdu_22-08-29.tar
-$ ls -ltrh *ubuntu*tar*
+$ gzip  /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/WSL/WSL_Ubuntu_20.04.5_LTS_stdu_22-08-29.tar
-M Jan 21  2020 <your_login>_200121.tar.gz
-.8G Aug 22  2020 <your_login>-16.04-full_200822.tar
-.4G Feb 24 14:06 <your_login>-20-04-1-full_210224.tar
-# Determine the number of files/directories in the backup
+$ ls -lh /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/WSL/WSL_Ubuntu_20.04.5_LTS_stdu_22-08-29.tar.gz
-$ tar tvf <your_login>-20-04-1-full_210224.tar | wc -l
+M Aug 29 17:49 /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/WSL/WSL_Ubuntu_20.04.5_LTS_stdu_22-08-29.tar.gz</code>
-$ gzip *ubuntu*.tar
+=== Backup of specific directories ===
+You can also just create backups of specific directories:
+  * Your Linux //home// directory (''/home/<your_login>/''), or some specific sub-directories of the //Ubuntu// running in WSL (sub-directories of ''/''): the best way to save them is probably to **create a //tar// file from Linux**, and put this //tar// file in a specific Windows //WSL backup folder// (we will use below the directory ''/mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>'' or ''c:\Scratch\<your_login>'')
+    * <code bash>$ cd /home
+$ du -sh $USER
+K    <your_login>
+# We assume below that there is an existing /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/ directory
+# It's a WINDOWS directory C:\Scratch\<your_login>
+$ tar cfz /mnt/c/Scratch/$USER/${USER}_home_`date +%y%m%d_%H%M`.tgz $USER
+# Check the size of the new (and existing old) backup(s)
+$ ls -ltr /mnt/c/Scratch/$USER/${USER}_*.tgz
+K Jan 21  2020 /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/<your_login>_home_200121.tgz
+K Aug 22  2020 /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/<your_login>_home_200822_1151.tgz
+K Feb 24 12:09 /mnt/c/Scratch/<your_login>/<your_login>_home_210224_1209.tgz</code>
+  * Regular Windows folders where you store data used by WSL: you can use ''tar'' in a Linux terminal, as above, or use any usual way of backing up Windows files (drag and drop, some specific [[other:win10apps#backup_software|backup software]])
+    * WARNING: there should not be performance issues using ''tar'' (from Linux) to make a backup of Windows files with WSL 1, but **WSL 2 is significantly slower than WSL 1 to access Windows files** ([[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/compare-versions#exceptions-for-using-wsl-1-rather-than-wsl-2|Exceptions for using WSL 1 rather than WSL 2]])
-$ ls -ltrh *ubuntu*tar*
-M Jan 21  2020 <your_login>_200121.tar.gz
-.2G Aug 22  2020 <your_login>-16.04-full_200822.tar.gz
-.8G Feb 24 14:06 <your_login>-20-04-1-full_210224.tar.gz
-</code>
 ==== Restoring or relocating a Linux installation ====
-When we have a backup in a tar file, we can restore it to the default location (Check ?? FIXME), or specify where we want to restore it. This is a way of moving (relocating) an installation to another disk or partition than the default location ''C:\''
+When we have the ''tar'' file of a [[other:win10wsl#creating_a_backup|FULL backup]], we can use [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/basic-commands#import-a-new-distribution|--import]] to install or restore it to a specific location.
-==== Uninstalling WSL ====
+Note:
+  * This is currently the only way of **moving (//relocating//) a Linux installation** to another disk than the default ''C:\'' location
+  * //Importing// will mostly put the ''ext4.vhdx'' file in the specified target location
+    * You need [[other:win10wsl#disk_usage|enough disk space]] in the new disk location, knowing that the size of the //restored// ''vhdx'' file will start growing (as needed) as soon as you use your installation
+  * Creating a backup and restoring it is an indirect way of **reclaiming the unused space of a Linux installation  ''vhdx'' file**: the size of the ''ext4.vhdx'' file after importing can be smaller than the size of the originally exported ''ext4.vhdx'' file.
+Detailed [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/basic-commands#import-a-new-distribution|--import]] example:
+  * We assume that we have an exported installation ''tar'' file available
+    * In this example, we use the compressed backup file created in [[other:win10wsl#backup_of_a_full_linux_installation|Backup of a FULL Linux installation]]\\ ''C:\Scratch\<your_login>\WSL\WSL_Ubuntu_20.04.5_LTS_stdu_22-08-29.tar.gz''
+    * ''%%--import%%'' can directly use a ''.tar.gz'' file! ([[https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/WSL/issues/1607|wsl --import should mention 'tar.gz' support !]])
+  * Create the directory where the Linux installation (mostly its ''ext4.vhdx'' file) will be restored
+    * Hint: choose an explicit directory path and name, using the name of the distribution that will be restored, because the name of the restored file itself will always be the same (''ext4.vhdx'')\\ e.g. ''D:\WSL_Distributions\Ubuntu_custom''
+  * Import the distribution, giving it a unique name (that does not appear already in ''wsl -l -v'')
+    * <code>> wsl -l -v
+  NAME      STATE           VERSION
+* Ubuntu    Stopped         2
+> wsl --import Ubuntu_custom D:\WSL_Distributions\Ubuntu_custom C:\Scratch\<your_login>\WSL\WSL_Ubuntu_20.04.5_LTS_stdu_22-08-29.tar.gz
+> wsl -l -v
+  NAME             STATE           VERSION
+* Ubuntu           Stopped         2
+  Ubuntu_custom    Stopped         2</code>
+    * After importing, there should be a new ''ext4.vhdx'' file in the previously empty ''D:\WSL_Distributions\Ubuntu_custom'' directory
+  * Start the imported ''Ubuntu_custom'' distribution
+    * Select ''Ubuntu_custom'' in the Windows Terminal pull-down menu
+    * Or specify ''Ubuntu_custom'' in a PowerShell, using:\\ ''%%wsl --distribution Ubuntu_custom%%''\\ or ''wsl -d Ubuntu_custom''
+    * WARNING: even if the imported distribution had an existing default user (''stdu'' in our example), the //new// default user will be ''root'' !
+      * It is possible to explicitly specify the requested user each time we start a terminal, but it will be more convenient to specify a new default user\\ ''%%wsl --distribution Ubuntu_custom --user stdu%%''
+      * You can easily open a ''root'' session with\\ ''%%wsl -d Ubuntu_custom -u root%%''
+  * Select a new (non ''root'') default user (note: [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/use-custom-distro#add-wsl-specific-components-like-a-default-user|Add WSL a default user]] also shows how to //create a new user//). We just have to use the ''root'' account to add a default user (user ''stdu'' in this example) to the [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl-config#user-settings|/etc/wsl.conf]] file
+    * <code># cat /etc/wsl.conf
+cat: /etc/wsl.conf: No such file or directory
+# echo -e "[user]\ndefault=stdu" >> /etc/wsl.conf
+# cat /etc/wsl.conf
+[user]
+default=stdu</code>
+    * Restart the Linux installation to take the new settings into account
+      * ''%%wsl  --terminate Ubuntu_custom%%''
+    * If you need the ''root'' account later, you will need to use the ''sudo'' command from the new default account (or use ''wsl -d Ubuntu_custom -u root'' in a PowerShell)
+      * <code>$ whoami
+stdu
+stdu@sadira034:~$ sudo su -
+[sudo] password for stdu:
+root@sadira034:~# whoami
+root</code>
+  * If the //relocation// goal was to free up some space on ''C:'', it is possible to [[other:win10wsl#removing_the_main_linux_installation|Remove the main installation]], once the relocated installation has been successfully tested
+Questions FIXME
+  * Is it possible to restore to the default location (on ''C:\'') ?
+==== Uninstalling WSL or a distribution ====
-Before starting, you may want to make a backup of whatever you had in your Ubuntu home directory, and all the files and settings that are not in the ''/mnt'' directories
+Before uninstalling //something//, you probably want to [[other:win10wsl#creating_a_backup|create a backup]], just to be safe...
 === Removing a specific Linux installation ===
@@ Line 1104: / Line 1170: @@
 * Ubuntu           Stopped         2</code>
+=== Removing the main Linux installation ===
+If you remove the main installation (on ''C:\''):
+  * Another //relocated// installation will become the new default installation (if present)
+    * <code>PS C:\Users\your_login> wsl -l -v
+  NAME             STATE           VERSION
+  Ubuntu_custom    Running         2
+* Ubuntu           Running         2
+PS C:\Users\your_login> wsl --unregister Ubuntu
+Désinscription...
+PS C:\Users\your_login> wsl -l -v
+  NAME             STATE           VERSION
+* Ubuntu_custom    Running         2</code>
+  * The initial installation directory will still be present on ''C:\'', and should probably be left untouched:
+    * ''C:\Users\your_login\AppData\Local\Packages\CanonicalGroupLimited.UbuntuonWindows_79rhkp1fndgsc\''
+    * ...with a very low disk usage (the big ''ext4.vhdx'' is removed during the ''unregister'' step)
+  * ''Ubuntu'' will still appear in the Microsoft store, and clicking on ''Launch'' will trigger a re-installation on ''C:\''
+    * If you end up with an installation error message and a new //orphan// ''ext4.vhdx'' file on ''C'', click on ''Launch'' to restart and complete the installation
+  * ''Ubuntu'' will still appear in the list of installed applications (''Windows'' + ''I'' => ''Applications'') but with a smaller disk usage, probably just the size of the //Linux kernel// installed and updated independently of the Linux installations)
 === Removing WSL ===
@@ Line 1156: / Line 1247: @@
   * Determining from **inside** the running Linux if you are using WSL (or another type of virtual machine)\\ <code>$ systemd-detect-virt
-wsl</code>
+wsl
+$ env | grep -i wsl
+WSL_DISTRO_NAME=Ubuntu
+WSLENV=
+</code>
 ===== Other WSL resources and links =====
+  * Possibly useful things to sort
+    * [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/networking|Accessing network applications with WSL]]
+    * [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/faq#how-do-i-run-an-openssh-server-|How do I run an OpenSSH server?]]
   * [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/release-notes|Release Notes for Windows Subsystem for Linux]]
+  * [[https://craigloewen-msft.github.io/WSLTipsAndTricks/|WSL Tips and Tricks]]
   * [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/faq|Frequently Asked Questions]]
   * [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/troubleshooting|Troubleshooting]]

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