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--- other:win10wsl [2022/08/31 14:58]
jypeter [Restoring or relocating a Linux installation] Improved
+++ other:win10wsl [2022/09/08 15:59]
jypeter [Location of the files] Started improving
@@ 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 233: / Line 233: @@
 stdu@sadira034:~$ echo $SHELL
 /bin/bash</code>
+  * 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
+    * {{ :other:ubuntu_ms-store.png?direct&400 |}}
+    * {{ :other:ubuntu_applications.png?direct&400 |}}
   * Get some basic information about your new ''Ubuntu'' installation
@@ Line 363: / Line 367: @@
 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 382: / Line 389: @@
 === 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:
@@ Line 399: / Line 410: @@
     * **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 461: @@
   * 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.
-=== Linux files seen from Windows ===
+=== Accessing Linux files from 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]])
+  * You can access the Linux files in ''/'' from Windows by opening the //virtual// ''\\wsl$'' path in the Windows explorer
     * Your Linux //home// directory is located in ''\\wsl$\Ubuntu\home\<your_login>''
+    * There will be some content in ''\\wsl$'' only if a Linux installation is running (i.e. it shows as //Running// in ''wsl -l -v'')
   * The content of the Ubuntu ''/'' directory is actually located in the following //hidden// sub-directory of the user's Windows //home// directory: ''C:\Users\<your_login>\AppData\Local\Packages\CanonicalGroupLimited.UbuntuonWindows_79rhkp1fndgsc\LocalState\rootfs''
@@ Line 985: / Line 1002: @@
 ===== Advanced usage =====
+==== WSL security WARNING! ====
+<WRAP center round important 60%>
+A regular Linux installation (on a Linux-only computer) is fairly secure,\\ but a Linux installation on WSL is not secure at all, **by design**
+</WRAP>
+WSL+Linux is designed to allow you to easily use Linux on Windows, including **very easily using the Linux root account without knowing any password** of the Linux installation!
+<code>PS C:\Users\your_login> wsl
+wsl_default_user@your_machine:/mnt/c/Users/your_login$ whoami
+wsl_default_user
+PS C:\Users\your_login> wsl -u root
+root@your_machine:/mnt/c/Users/your_login# whoami
+root</code>
+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 ====
@@ Line 1045: / Line 1088: @@
 ==== Restoring or relocating a Linux installation ====
-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.
+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.
 Note:
-  * This is currently the only way of moving (relocating) a Linux installation to another disk than the default ''C:\'' location
+  * 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!
+  * //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 ''vhdx'' file will start growing (as needed) as soon as you use your installation
+    * 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
-  * This is an indirect way of reclaiming the unused space of a Linux installation, i.e the size of the ''ext4.vhdx'' file after importing can be smaller than the size of the originally exported ''ext4.vhdx'' file.
+  * 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
+  * 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: use an explicit directory path and name using the name of the distribution that will be restored\\ e.g. ''D:\WSL_Distributions\Ubuntu_custom''
+    * 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 name that does not appear in ''wsl -l -v''
+  * Import the distribution, giving it a unique name (that does not appear already in ''wsl -l -v'')
     * <code>> wsl -l -v
   NAME      STATE           VERSION
@@ Line 1072: / Line 1116: @@
     * 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
-    * Directly from the Windows Terminal pull-down menu
+    * Select ''Ubuntu_custom'' in the Windows Terminal pull-down menu
-    * Or from a PowerShell, using ''wsl --distribution Ubuntu_custom''
+    * Or specify ''Ubuntu_custom'' in a PowerShell, using:\\ ''%%wsl --distribution Ubuntu_custom%%''\\ or ''wsl -d Ubuntu_custom''
-    * WARNING: even if the distribution we imported had an existing default ''stdu'' user, the //new// default user will be ''root'' !
+    * 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
-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
+# echo -e "[user]\ndefault=stdu" >> /etc/wsl.conf
-FIXME Check if [[https://wslhub.com/|WSL Manager]] is maintained and can be useful
+# cat /etc/wsl.conf
+[user]
-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:
+default=stdu</code>
-  * ''wsl %%--%%import <DistributionName> <InstallLocation> ubuntu_<your_login>_<some_date>.tar''
+    * Restart the Linux installation to take the new settings into account
-    * Note: found a page mentioning that you should be in a terminal with admin rights when using ''%%--%%import''
+      * ''%%wsl  --terminate Ubuntu_custom%%''
-    * 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 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)
-    * 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?
+      * <code>$ whoami
-    * 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)?
+stdu
-      * Can we install out of the current user's Windows folder?
+stdu@sadira034:~$ sudo su -
-      * Can we install out of ''C:\''?
+[sudo] password for stdu:
-    * Can we restore (//clone//) a backed up Linux distribution on another Windows 10 computer for another user?
+root@sadira034:~# whoami
-      * 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
+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 ====
-==== Uninstalling WSL ====
+Before uninstalling //something//, you probably want to [[other:win10wsl#creating_a_backup|create a backup]], just to be safe...
-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
 === Removing a specific Linux installation ===
@@ Line 1121: / Line 1172: @@
 * 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 1179: / Line 1255: @@
   * [[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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