Microsoft has launched Home windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2.0.0 with a set of latest opt-in experimental options, together with a brand new community mode and automatic reminiscence and disk dimension cleanup.
To begin with, the newly added “Computerized reminiscence reclaim” function dynamically reduces the reminiscence footprint of the WSL digital machine (VM) whereas being utilized by reclaiming cached reminiscence.
One other notable addition on this model is the “Sparse VHD” function, which, as beforehand described, mechanically shrinks the scale of the WSL digital arduous disk (VHD).
Moreover, this WSL replace introduces “mirrored mode networking,” a brand new networking mode that not solely brings new capabilities but in addition enhances community compatibility.
Among the many advantages of enabling mirrored networking in WSL are IPv6 and multicast help, improved networking compatibility for VPNs, and the power to hook up with the WSL VM from the native space community (LAN) and to Home windows servers from throughout the Linux VM.
Microsoft’s WSL Program Supervisor, Craig Loewen, mentioned on Monday that WSL 2.0.0 additionally incorporates “DNS Tunneling,” a function that modifications the tactic WSL makes use of to resolve DNS requests to reinforce community compatibility.
“This enables us to resolve the DNS identify request with out sending a networking packet, which is able to will let you get higher web connectivity even when you have a VPN, particular firewall setup, or different networking configurations,” Loewen mentioned.
“This function ought to enhance community compatibility, making it much less probably so that you can haven’t any community connection inside WSL.”
WSL now additionally has a Hyper-V Firewall function which is able to apply Home windows firewall guidelines and supply superior firewall administration choices for the WSL VM. Moreover, the newly launched “autoProxy” function ensures that WSL seamlessly makes use of proxy data from Home windows, additional enhancing community compatibility.
A few of these experimental options (e.g., mirrored community mode, DNS tunneling, and Hyper-V Firewall) are solely rolling out to Home windows Insiders within the Launch Preview Channel working Home windows 11 22H2 who’ve put in Home windows 11 Construct 22621.2359 (KB5030310).
A full listing of all new options and bug fixes rolling out with WSL 2.0.0 is obtainable on the mission’s GitHub web page.
At present’s launch comes after Microsoft introduced in November that WSL is mostly obtainable for Home windows 10 and 11 clients by way of the Microsoft Retailer.
Microsoft launched WSL in March 2018 as a compatibility layer designed to allow customers to run Linux binaries natively on their Home windows computer systems by way of PowerShell or a Home windows 10 command immediate.
In Could 2019, Redmond launched WSL 2, a important improve that delivered notable enhancements in file system efficiency and prolonged help for full system name compatibility.
WSL 2 achieves this by incorporating a Linux kernel inside a light-weight digital machine (VM).
Furthermore, WSL 2 additionally launched help for Linux functions with graphical person interfaces (GUIs), a function generally known as WSLg, brief for Home windows Subsystem for Linux GUI. WSLg began rolling out Home windows 10 Insiders in Could 2021.