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How does it compare to real Linux distributions? Does it have a package manager? Is it like Debian? What are the limitations?

• Tomte 7y ago
  It is a real Debian (or, by default, Ubuntu). Original packages from Debian's servers are used. You're using apt, as usual.
• deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
• jessermeyer 7y ago
  WSL2 is a full blown emulator / virtualization solution, so it runs a real linux kernel / distribution. The largest downside to me is no gpu passthrough from the host.
  • satvikpendem 7y ago
    You can even compile your own custom kernel for it. I've had to do so in order to run some modules that the WSL 2 kernel currently doesn't have.
  • tyingq 7y ago
    They say GPU passthrough is on the backlog in their post build FAQ. https://devblogs.microsoft.com/commandline/wsl-2-post-build-faq/ https://devblogs.microsoft.com/commandline/wsl-2-post-build-...
    • jessermeyer 7y ago
      I've been tracking that. Almost certainly AMD exclusive since, AFAIK, NVIDIA prohibits GPU passthrough on their consumer cards so VPNs are forced into purchasing 'professional' grade GPUs.
• tym0 7y ago
  It is an actual linux distribution. The default is Ubuntu but there are others (Suse, Alpine...)
• greggyb 7y ago
  WSL gives you a full Linux distro. You can use Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, from the top of my head. These are default options. There are others available. Additionally, you can bootstrap to other distros. I know Arch was an early target. WSL1 replaced the init process. For Ubuntu, at least, snaps were not enabled, at least out of the box. There were occasional issues early on where the syscall translation was not perfect. For me, at least, these were all ironed out after a few revisions. Unsure if there were still edges I didn't hit. WSL2 takes advantage of virtualization technology, so should be an even better Linux experience.
  • texasbigdata 7y ago
    There were 4 "standard" distros in the Microsoft store IIRC
    • greggyb 7y ago
      Just double checked in a Windows VM. These are available when searching WSL in the Microsoft Store. Some of these are for a fee. There are also a few results for terminal emulators and an X server. - Ubuntu (18.04 and 20.04) - Kali - Debian - Fedora (remix for WSL) - openSUSE-Leap-15 - SUSE Linux Enterprise - Alpine - Pengwin (Debian-based and apparently optimized for WSL, and an enterprise version) - Centos (7 and 8.1) -
• tapland 7y ago
  You can run various Debian distros. It works like it should. You can run an x server and get a GUI as well.
• mehrdadn 7y ago
  It sounds fancy but it's just a VM with a bit more polished Windows integration.
  • k__ 7y ago
    Hm, okay. That doesn't sound impressive anymore.
    • moomin 7y ago
      No, but the good news is you can literally run Arch, Debian and Fedora on the same machine with shared files.
      • k__ 7y ago
        That sounds good. How does it handle case-sensitivity?
      • mehrdadn 7y ago
        You could already do that with WSL1. Source: I have Arch and Ubuntu on WSL1. Those didn't change. Other things did.
        • k__ 7y ago
          They didn't say that something changed. But I'm intrigued, what did change?
          • mehrdadn 7y ago
            I/O performance characteristics changed, your ability to share the same filesystem for both OSes changed, etc.
          • exdsq 7y ago
            WSL2 uses a VM while WSL1 uses a Linux like interface over a system-call DLL.
• tsar9x 7y ago
  Systemd is not working.
• 6gvONxR4sf7o 7y ago
  I'm using full ubuntu in it. The only real pain is anything that relies on systemd (which comes up unsurprisingly often).