WSL2 Archives

Winsage

September 15, 2025

The Performance Cost To Ubuntu WSL2 On Windows 11 25H2

Benchmarks comparing WSL2 on Windows 11 and bare metal Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS were conducted using an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD. WSL2 showed significant limitations in I/O performance, particularly with SQLite, impacting I/O-intensive tasks. For CPU workloads, WSL2 could match or slightly lag behind bare metal Ubuntu, with extended build times for larger projects in WSL2. OpenSSL performed better under WSL2, while Node.js experienced a minor performance hit. Perl scripts ran faster on bare metal Ubuntu, but Python scripting and PHP performance favored WSL2. PostgreSQL and web servers like Apache and Nginx showed significant overhead in WSL2, making it less suitable for production. Overall, WSL2 achieved about 87% of the performance of bare metal Ubuntu across more than 50 benchmarks, indicating its viability for developers using Windows 11, especially for local testing and development.

Winsage

August 27, 2025

WSL made using my Windows 11 PC so much easier, here’s how

The author has used both Windows and Linux for two decades, with Windows as the primary operating system and Linux for experimentation. The introduction of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) has eliminated the need for dual-booting and virtual machines, allowing the author to use Linux apps and commands directly within Windows. WSL simplifies file sharing between Windows and Linux, making it easy to access documents and directories across both systems. The transition from WSL on Windows 10 to WSL2 on Windows 11 has further improved file management. WSL functions as a lightweight alternative to resource-heavy virtual machines, offering quick boot-up times and efficient performance. The author can install and run multiple WSL distributions, primarily using Ubuntu but also keeping an Arch installation for experimentation.

Winsage

May 20, 2025

Microsoft open sources Windows Subsystem for Linux

Microsoft has announced the open-sourcing of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which has evolved since its introduction in 2016. WSL was initially designed to enable Windows to run ELF executables natively through a compatibility layer. Compatibility challenges led to the development of WSL2, introduced to testers in 2019. By 2021, Microsoft decided to remove WSL code from the Windows ecosystem to align with the rapid updates of the Linux community. As of 2024, Microsoft has transitioned to a new WSL package, moving away from the original WSL component bundled with Windows. Nearly all previously closed code for WSL is now available on GitHub at Microsoft/WSL, allowing developers to contribute to its evolution. However, the kernel-side driver lxcore.sys and other related components remain part of Windows and are not open-sourced. Microsoft has acknowledged the community's role in shaping WSL but has not clarified the project's future management or the establishment of a steering committee.

Winsage

May 14, 2025

WSL is the best feature added to Windows in the last decade

Microsoft introduced the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update in August 2016, initially as a tool for developers. WSL debuted as a beta version with a native-kernel translation layer, allowing Windows to run unmodified Linux ELF binaries. Its early performance was limited, leading users to prefer Linux virtual machines for full compatibility. The launch of WSL2 in May 2020 replaced the translation layer with a lightweight, real Linux kernel running in a Hyper-V utility VM, providing near-native performance and comprehensive syscall coverage. WSL2 has since seen continuous improvements, including GPU-compute and CUDA support in 2021, full GUI support for X11 and Wayland applications in 2022, and systemd support in September 2022. WSL2 approaches the performance of bare-metal Linux while integrating seamlessly with Windows, allowing users to launch a Linux shell easily. It enables developers to access the C drive and interact between Windows and Linux environments without dual-booting. WSL2 enhances productivity for data science workflows, allowing the use of tools like PyTorch with CUDA. It also offers features for non-developers, such as creating aliases for launching Windows applications and running Linux GUI applications. WSL's integration into Windows represents a significant shift, providing opportunities for users across various domains to explore Linux functionalities.

Winsage

May 5, 2025

Microsoft silently fixes Start menu bug affecting Windows 10 PCs

Microsoft has resolved a problem that disrupted the functionality of Start Menu jump lists on Windows 10, version 22H2. The issue originated from a Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) initiated in March 2025, which aimed to enhance account control but led to complications. Microsoft paused the rollout in late April 2025 after receiving user feedback about the inability to view jump lists for apps. The problematic rollout was halted on April 25, 2025, preventing new devices from encountering the glitch. The issue mainly affected users of Windows 10 Home and Pro editions. Affected users are advised to ensure their devices are connected to the internet and to restart their systems to apply the fix.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

Windows 10 KB5055612 preview update fixes a GPU bug in WSL2

Microsoft has released the optional KB5055612 preview cumulative update for Windows 10 22H2, which addresses a GPU paravirtualization issue in the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2). This update is part of Microsoft's initiative for optional non-security preview updates, typically available at the end of each month, allowing administrators to test upcoming fixes and features. The update does not include security updates and can be installed manually through Windows Update or downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The key changes in the KB5055612 update include security improvements to internal Windows OS functionality, a fix for the case-sensitive GPU paravirtualization check in WSL2, and updates to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist to include drivers with known vulnerabilities exploited in BYOVD attacks. Microsoft has noted two known issues: one related to the Citrix Session Recording Agent (SRA) version 2411 causing update failures, with a suggested workaround, and another involving an Event 7023 error in Windows EventViewer regarding SgrmBroker.exe, which is currently non-functional and can be ignored. A fix for this bug is expected in future updates.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

These 7 WSL programs changed how I use Windows

Windows users previously faced challenges using Linux tools via virtual machines until the introduction of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which was further improved with WSL2. WSL2 integrates a lightweight virtual machine into Windows, allowing users to run Linux applications seamlessly. Runtipi and CasaOS can be easily set up on WSL2 to host self-service applications without complex configurations. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) offers a WSL extension that enables code execution directly in Linux distributions from Windows, enhancing the coding experience. Gigolo is a frontend for managing network shares, which can also be integrated into Windows 11 through WSL2. Ansible can automate the provisioning of virtual machines and containers on WSL2, making it easier for users engaged in DIY projects. Rsync can be installed via WSL2 for efficient file synchronization and backups on Windows. Podman Desktop allows Windows users to explore container runtimes using WSL2, providing a GUI for managing containers. Lastly, WSL2 enables users to access the Linux terminal and run various Linux distributions directly within Windows 11.

Winsage

April 15, 2025

Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.5794 to the Release Preview Channel

Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.5794 (KB5055612) is now available in the Release Preview Channel for Insiders. Key features include a fix for the GPU paravirtualization check in Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2), which was previously case-sensitive, and updates to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist to include drivers with security vulnerabilities exploited in Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.

Winsage

March 13, 2025

Microsoft Patches a Whopping Seven Zero-Days in March

Microsoft's March Patch Tuesday revealed over 50 new vulnerabilities, including seven zero-day vulnerabilities, six of which are currently being exploited. Key vulnerabilities include: - CVE-2025-26633: Security feature bypass in Microsoft Management Console, CVSS score 7.0. - CVE-2025-24993: Remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in Windows NTFS, CVSS score 7.8. - CVE-2025-24991: Information disclosure vulnerability in Windows NTFS, CVSS score 5.5. - CVE-2025-24985: RCE vulnerability in Windows Fast FAT File System Driver, CVSS score 7.8. - CVE-2025-24984: Information disclosure vulnerability in Windows NTFS, CVSS score 4.6. - CVE-2025-24983: Elevation of privilege (EoP) vulnerability in Windows Win32 Kernel Subsystem, CVSS score 7.0. - CVE-2025-26630: RCE vulnerability in Microsoft Access, CVSS score 7.8. This month's patch list includes 23 EoP and 23 RCE vulnerabilities, with all six critical vulnerabilities being RCEs. Notably, CVE-2025-24084 affects the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) kernel, and CVE-2025-26645 impacts the remote desktop client (RDP), allowing attackers to achieve remote code execution on vulnerable clients.

Winsage

March 11, 2025

Microsoft March 2025 Patch Tuesday fixes 7 zero-days, 57 flaws

Microsoft released security updates on March 2025 Patch Tuesday, addressing 57 vulnerabilities, including six classified as critical related to remote code execution. The vulnerabilities are categorized as follows: 23 Elevation of Privilege, 3 Security Feature Bypass, 23 Remote Code Execution, 4 Information Disclosure, 1 Denial of Service, and 3 Spoofing. The updates specifically address six actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities and one publicly disclosed zero-day vulnerability. The zero-day vulnerabilities include: 1. CVE-2025-24983 - Elevation of Privilege in Windows Win32 Kernel Subsystem. 2. CVE-2025-24984 - Information Disclosure in Windows NTFS. 3. CVE-2025-24985 - Remote Code Execution in Windows Fast FAT File System Driver. 4. CVE-2025-24991 - Information Disclosure in Windows NTFS. 5. CVE-2025-24993 - Remote Code Execution in Windows NTFS. 6. CVE-2025-26633 - Security Feature Bypass in Microsoft Management Console. The publicly disclosed zero-day is: - CVE-2025-26630 - Remote Code Execution in Microsoft Access. A comprehensive list of resolved vulnerabilities includes various CVE IDs and their respective titles and severities, with several vulnerabilities affecting Microsoft Office products, Windows components, and Azure services.