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WSL2

Windows Users Will Soon be Able to Say “I use Arch, BTW”
Winsage
February 5, 2025

Windows Users Will Soon be Able to Say “I use Arch, BTW”

An Arch Linux image for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is being developed by Arch Linux package maintainer Robin Candau. Microsoft has shown interest in supporting this project, which will feature a monthly update cycle similar to Fedora 42. Key aspects include: - A dedicated repository for Arch Linux WSL will be created on Arch Linux's GitLab. - Monthly images for Arch Linux WSL will be automatically built and published using Docker/container images with systemd support. - The image will not be available through the Microsoft Store but can be downloaded as tarballs for installation on Windows. - Technical support will be provided on a best-effort basis for WSL2, with no support for WSL1. - Arch Linux staff are not obligated to provide assistance. Previous attempts to run Arch Linux on WSL exist, but this official initiative adds legitimacy. Robin is ready to work with the Arch Linux DevOps team to start the setup unless significant objections arise. An experimental repository is available on GitLab for further exploration.
5 Docker containers you should be using on your Windows 11 PC
Winsage
December 17, 2024

5 Docker containers you should be using on your Windows 11 PC

Linux distributions are effective for self-hosting and containerization, allowing users to run containers on Windows 11 after setting up WSL2 and Docker Desktop. Notable self-hosted services include: - Penpot: A free, SVG-based design tool that offers vector image editing and prototyping capabilities, supporting SVG, CSS, and HTML. - Nextcloud: A self-hosted cloud storage solution that ensures data privacy and offers features like file synchronization, mobile apps, and collaboration tools. - Joplin: A note-taking application with markdown support and tagging, allowing users to self-host their own server for syncing notes without privacy concerns. - LibreOffice: A free alternative to Microsoft Office that supports various file formats and can be containerized for optimal performance. - Linux Distros: Users can run full Linux operating systems in lightweight containers, with popular options including Ubuntu and Alpine Linux, and even macOS in Docker containers. Additional Docker images for enhancing home networks and workflows include WireGuard, NetAlertX, Pi-Hole, Immich, Calibre-web, Jellyfin, Gitea, Code Server, and Nginx.
4 things you can do to turn your Windows 11 machine into a home server
Winsage
December 16, 2024

4 things you can do to turn your Windows 11 machine into a home server

Windows 11 can be transformed into a self-hosting and experimentation workstation through various methods: 1. Configure Storage Spaces and Network Shares: Windows 11 can serve as a basic file-sharing and backup server by adjusting network and file-sharing settings. Storage Spaces allows users to combine multiple drives into mirror and parity pools for enhanced storage resilience. 2. Run Type-2 Hypervisors: Users can deploy virtual machines using Type-2 hypervisors like VirtualBox and VMware Workstation Pro on Windows 11, enabling exploration of home server concepts. 3. Enable Hyper-V: Hyper-V can be enabled on Windows 11, including the Home version, providing enhanced performance for virtual machines, although a powerful PC is required. 4. Set Up Docker Desktop: Docker Desktop allows for the deployment of containerized applications on Windows 11, which are less resource-intensive than traditional virtual machines. Proper configuration of Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2) can improve compatibility and performance. Windows 11 has limitations such as higher resource consumption compared to Linux, prevalent security vulnerabilities, and frequent update issues, but it can still be utilized for setting up a home server.
Here's how you can set up Docker Desktop on your Windows 11 PC
Winsage
December 10, 2024

Here’s how you can set up Docker Desktop on your Windows 11 PC

Docker containers are a solution for self-hosting Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) services on local hardware, known for their lightweight design and extensive library of app images. Setting up Docker on Linux is straightforward, while Windows 11 users need to use WSL2 or Hyper-V, which can be complex for beginners. To enable virtualization for Docker Desktop on Windows 11, users must access the BIOS and enable CPU virtualization settings. For optimal performance, WSL2 is recommended as the backend. Users should download Docker Desktop, select the WSL2 option, and follow the setup instructions, including downloading the Ubuntu WSL app from the Microsoft Store. After setup, users can explore and run images within Docker containers. If Docker Desktop does not start containers, users can refresh the WSL integration in the settings. Type-2 hypervisors like VirtualBox can also be used to run Docker containers through virtual machines.
How to easily update Windows Subsystem for Linux 2's kernel
Winsage
November 12, 2024

How to easily update Windows Subsystem for Linux 2’s kernel

Updating the kernel for Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2) can improve performance and functionality. Steps to update the WSL2 kernel include: 1. Adjust the kernel version as needed. 2. Assign a unique name to the kernel using the command: scripts/config --file Microsoft/config-wsl --set-str LOCALVERSION "-custom-microsoft-standard-WSL2". For further customization, use: make menuconfig KCONFIG_CONFIG=Microsoft/config-wsl. 3. Create the kernel with the command: echo 'yes' | make -j $(nproc) KCONFIG_CONFIG=Microsoft/config-wsl, and install necessary modules with: sudo make KCONFIGCONFIG=Microsoft/config-wsl modulesinstall. 4. Access the Linux environment through Windows Explorer, and copy the vmlinux file from your home directory to the WSL folder (C:Users[username]WSL). 5. Create a .wslconfig file in your Windows profile folder and input the lines: wsl --list --online. Replace [username] with your actual user name. Terminate all running WSL instances using: wsl --list --online. To verify the new kernel version, start Linux in WSL and run: wsl --list --online.
Windows 11 KB5043145 BSODs PCs, breaks mouse, keyboard, WSL 2, WiFi
Winsage
September 30, 2024

Windows 11 KB5043145 BSODs PCs, breaks mouse, keyboard, WSL 2, WiFi

Windows 11 KB5043145 is an optional update that has caused significant issues for users, including failures to boot to the desktop, resulting in "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD) and "Green Screen of Death" (GSOD) errors. Reports indicate that affected devices may become trapped in a boot loop or unable to boot, leading to automatic transitions to recovery screens. The problems are particularly prevalent among users of Asus TUF A15 (2022) and ROG Strix G17 (2024) laptops, although Microsoft suggests the issue may affect other models as well. Users have also reported that their mouse and keyboard became non-functional after the update, particularly on Intel NUC models and some Asus laptops. Additionally, WSL2 fails to operate on AMD systems, displaying a connection timeout error. Other reported issues include the disappearance of WiFi options and changes to right-click context menus. Microsoft is investigating these problems and advises affected users to report their experiences through the Feedback Hub. Instructions for manually uninstalling the update are provided, including steps to access recovery mode and use the Command Prompt.
Microsoft has already rolled back the kernel in WSL2 while issues are debugged
Winsage
August 12, 2024

Microsoft has already rolled back the kernel in WSL2 while issues are debugged

Microsoft has rolled back the kernel for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) from version 6.6.36.3 to 5.15.153.1-2 while debugging issues. This rollback is a precautionary measure to address potential problems linked to iptables, which is important for Docker. The changelog includes fixes for a race condition when stopping a WSL2 distribution, a format attribute for printf errors, segmentation faults during initialization, added Hyper-V firewall rules for inbound mDNS traffic, an update to the Windows SDK to version 26100, and a refresh of the Microsoft.Windows.ImplementationLibrary to version 1.0.240803.1. Users on the stable release of WSL2 are not experiencing issues, but those on the pre-release version may need to download the latest release for a better experience.
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