Learn Linux with WSL: A Practical Starter for Windows Users

Halloo, it’s me SuiiKawaii again - nice to meet ya in another post of the Linux series with pure pain suffer and also joy!!. Today we’re going to make Linux feel at home on Windows by setting up WSL2, then build a practical day-to-day workflow with VS Code, Git, Docker, and a few security-minded tips. If you’re a Windows user learning Linux, this is the fastest safe path.

Before we start you might want to watch this video from the GOAT NetworkChuck:

Table of Contents

• 1) What WSL Is (and WSL1 vs WSL2)
• 2) Prerequisites
• 3) Install WSL2 (3 paths)
• 4) Daily Workflow (the right way)
• 5) Windows ↔ Linux Interop
• 6) Networking in WSL2
• 7) When NOT to Use WSL
• 8) Quick Commands Cheat Sheet
• 9) Troubleshooting & FAQ
• 10) Resources
• Appendix A: Optional .wslconfig & wsl.conf
• Appendix C: Windows Terminal Profiles (ready-to-paste)
• Appendix D: Docker + GPU (CUDA/WSLg) on WSL
• Appendix E: VS Code Dev Containers (Node + Python example)
• Appendix F: Automated WSL Backups (PowerShell + Task Scheduler)
• Appendix G: Performance & QoL Tweaks
• Appendix H: Troubleshooting Deep Dive
• Appendix I: Kali on WSL — Quick Kit
• Appendix J: GPU Quick Start Box (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel)

1) What WSL Is (and WSL1 vs WSL2)

WSL lets you run a GNU/Linux environment directly on Windows without dual-boot.

• WSL1 translates Linux syscalls to Windows (compat layer).
• WSL2 runs a real Linux kernel in a lightweight VM → best compatibility and containers.

2) Prerequisites

• Windows 11 or Windows 10 (21H2/19044+) recommended.
• Virtualization enabled in BIOS/UEFI (Intel VT-x / AMD-V).
• Quick checks:

  wsl --status
  wsl --version
  

• On older Windows 10 you may need:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

3) Install WSL2 (3 paths)

A) PowerShell (Admin) — the quickest

wsl --install
wsl --list --online
wsl --install -d <DistroName>     # e.g. Debian

B) Microsoft Store — GUI route

Install Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, etc.

C) Upgrade existing WSL1 → WSL2

wsl --set-default-version 2
wsl --list --verbose
wsl --set-version <ExistingDistroName> 2

First boot inside Linux

sudo apt update && sudo apt -y upgrade

(Optional) Enable systemd

Create /etc/wsl.conf:

[boot]
systemd=true

Apply:

wsl --shutdown
wsl

4) Daily Workflow (the right way)

• Work on Linux FS:

mkdir -p ~/projects && cd ~/projects

/mnt/c is Windows drive (crossing boundaries is slower).

• VS Code Remote – WSL:

code .

Install extensions: Remote - WSL, Python, ESLint, Prettier, Docker, GitHub PRs.

• Git & SSH in WSL:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "you@example.com"
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
ssh -T git@github.com

• Python via pyenv + venv:

sudo apt -y install build-essential curl git libssl-dev zlib1g-dev \
  libbz2-dev libreadline-dev libsqlite3-dev libffi-dev
curl https://pyenv.run | bash
exec $SHELL
pyenv install 3.12.5 && pyenv global 3.12.5
python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate

• Node via nvm:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash
exec $SHELL
nvm install --lts

5) Windows ↔ Linux Interop

• Drives under /mnt/c, /mnt/d, …
• Open Explorer from WSL:

explorer.exe .

• Call Windows from WSL:

notepad.exe README.md
powershell.exe -NoLogo -NoProfile -Command "Get-Date"

• Call WSL from Windows:

wsl.exe ls -la ~

• Clipboard:

ls | clip.exe

• Locale:

sudo update-locale LANG=en_US.UTF-8

• (Optional) GUI apps on Windows 11 (WSLg):

sudo apt install -y gedit
gedit &

6) Networking in WSL2

• NAT behind the scenes; localhost mapping works.
• Check IP:

ip a

• Tiny web server:

cd ~/projects
python3 -m http.server 8000

Open http://localhost:8000 in Windows.

Docker Desktop with WSL backend

1. Enable WSL 2 based engine.
2. Enable per-distro integration.
3. Test:

docker version
docker run hello-world

7) When NOT to Use WSL

Use full VM when you need monitor mode/packet injection, USB passthrough, kernel modules, or isolated network labs. See Build a Home Cybersecurity Lab.

8) Quick Commands Cheat Sheet

wsl --list --online
wsl --list --verbose
wsl --install -d Ubuntu
wsl --set-default-version 2
wsl --set-version <Name> 2
wsl --shutdown
wsl --terminate <Name>
wsl --export <Name> C:\backups\wsl\<Name>.tar
wsl --import <New> C:\WSL\<New> C:\backups\wsl\<Name>.tar --version 2
wsl --set-default <Name>
wsl --update

pwd && ls -la
mkdir -p ~/projects && cd ~/projects
sudo apt update && sudo apt -y upgrade
python3 -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate
python3 -m http.server 8000

9) Troubleshooting & FAQ

WSL2 option missing

wsl --update
wsl --set-default-version 2

DNS / network flaky

wsl --shutdown

Optional custom DNS:

# /etc/wsl.conf
[network]
generateResolvConf = false

sudo rm -f /etc/resolv.conf
echo "nameserver 1.1.1.1" | sudo tee /etc/resolv.conf

Then wsl --shutdown.

Port not reachable

• Bind to 0.0.0.0/127.0.0.1, check Windows Firewall, check ss -tulpn.

Large disk under %LOCALAPPDATA%

1. sudo apt clean
2. wsl --shutdown
3. Compact VHDX (Hyper-V tools / Docker Desktop disk utilities).

Reset / default distro

wsl --unregister <Name>   # destructive
wsl --set-default <Name>

10) Resources

• WSL official docs: learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/
• Setup a WSL dev environment: learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/setup/environment
• Config (wsl.conf / .wslconfig): learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/wsl-config
• VS Code – Remote WSL: code.visualstudio.com/docs/remote/wsl
• VS Code + WSL tutorial: learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/tutorials/wsl-vscode
• Docker Desktop WSL2 backend: docs.docker.com/desktop/features/wsl/
• WSLg (Linux GUI apps): learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/tutorials/gui-apps
• GitHub – microsoft/WSL: github.com/microsoft/WSL

Further references (videos):

• I Coded with WSL2 for a Week
• WSL 2: Getting started (playlist)
• Running Linux on Windows Experience

Appendix A: Optional .wslconfig & wsl.conf

Global (%UserProfile%\.wslconfig)

[wsl2]
memory=6GB
processors=4
localhostForwarding=true
# swap=8GB
# swapfile=C:\\WSL\\wsl-swap.vhdx

Per-distro (/etc/wsl.conf)

[boot]
systemd=true

[automount]
enabled=true
options="metadata,umask=22,fmask=11"
mountFsTab=true

Apply:

wsl --shutdown

Appendix C: Windows Terminal Profiles (ready-to-paste)

{
  "profiles": {
    "list": [
      {
        "guid": "{2c4de342-38b7-51cf-b940-2309a097f518}",
        "name": "Ubuntu (WSL)",
        "source": "Windows.Terminal.Wsl",
        "commandline": "wsl.exe ~ -d Ubuntu",
        "startingDirectory": "//wsl$/Ubuntu/home/<your_user>",
        "fontFace": "Cascadia Code",
        "fontSize": 12,
        "useAcrylic": true,
        "acrylicOpacity": 0.85,
        "hidden": false
      }
    ]
  },
  "defaultProfile": "{2c4de342-38b7-51cf-b940-2309a097f518}"
}

Appendix D: Docker + GPU (CUDA/WSLg) on WSL

nvidia-smi || echo "Driver not detected in WSL"
docker run --rm --gpus all nvidia/cuda:12.3.1-base-ubuntu22.04 nvidia-smi

AMD/Intel: check vendor docs (ROCm / oneAPI). GUI with WSLg on Windows 11 works for many apps.

Appendix E: VS Code Dev Containers (Node + Python example)

.devcontainer/devcontainer.json

{
  "name": "wsl-sample",
  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/base:ubuntu",
  "features": {
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/node:1": { "version": "lts" },
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/python:1": { "version": "3.12" }
  },
  "postCreateCommand": "python -m pip install --upgrade pip && node -v && python -V",
  "customizations": {
    "vscode": {
      "extensions": [
        "ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers",
        "ms-python.python",
        "ms-toolsai.jupyter",
        "esbenp.prettier-vscode"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Use VS Code → Dev Containers: Reopen in Container.

Appendix F: Automated WSL Backups (PowerShell + Task Scheduler)

backup-wsl.ps1

param([string]$BackupDir = "C:\backups\wsl")

$ts = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $BackupDir | Out-Null

$distros = & wsl.exe --list --quiet
foreach ($d in $distros) {
  $safe = $d -replace '[^a-zA-Z0-9._-]', '_'
  $out = Join-Path $BackupDir "$($ts)-$($safe).tar"
  Write-Host "Exporting $d -> $out"
  & wsl.exe --terminate "$d" 2>$null
  & wsl.exe --export "$d" "$out"
}

Get-ChildItem $BackupDir -File -Filter *.tar |
  Where-Object { $_.CreationTime -lt (Get-Date).AddDays(-14) } |
  Remove-Item -Force

Task Scheduler → trigger daily, action:

powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\scripts\backup-wsl.ps1"

Restore:

wsl --import <NewName> C:\WSL\<NewName> C:\backups\wsl\<DATE>-<Distro>.tar --version 2

Appendix G: Performance & QoL Tweaks

• Limit RAM/CPU/swap via .wslconfig.
• Keep repos on Linux FS.
• Mount metadata on /mnt/c if you need UNIX perms.
• Exclude only trusted paths from AV scans (selective).
• Fix time drift after sleep:

wsl --shutdown

Appendix H: Troubleshooting Deep Dive

Name resolution after network change

# /etc/wsl.conf
[network]
generateResolvConf = true

wsl --shutdown

Permission denied on /mnt/c → mount with metadata (Appendix A). Port conflicts → on Windows:

Get-Process -Id (Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 8000).OwningProcess

In WSL:

ss -tulpn | grep 8000

Distro stuck at boot → wsl --shutdown, kill hung vmmem (carefully), last resort wsl --unregister <Name> and restore from backup.

Appendix I: Kali on WSL — Quick Kit

Install:

wsl --install -d Kali-Linux

Then:

sudo apt update && sudo apt -y full-upgrade

Enable systemd:

[boot]
systemd=true

Apply:

wsl --shutdown

Metapackages:

sudo apt install -y kali-linux-headless
# or
sudo apt install -y kali-linux-default
# or
sudo apt install -y kali-linux-large

Shell & fonts:

sudo apt install -y zsh zsh-autosuggestions zsh-syntax-highlighting
chsh -s "$(which zsh)"

Set dev font (Cascadia Code / Fira Code) in Windows Terminal.

Tools (pick what you need):

sudo apt install -y nmap nikto sqlmap gobuster metasploit-framework \
  john hashcat wordlists seclists wireshark tshark feroxbuster \
  wapiti ffuf burpsuite

Add capture perms:

sudo usermod -aG wireshark "$USER"

GUI options: WSLg (Win11) or KeX:

sudo apt install -y kali-win-kex
kex --win -s

Known limits under WSL: monitor mode/USB/raw devices → use a VM Build a Home Cybersecurity Lab.

Appendix J: GPU Quick Start Box (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel)

NVIDIA:

nvidia-smi || echo "Driver not detected in WSL"
docker run --rm --gpus all nvidia/cuda:12.3.1-base-ubuntu22.04 nvidia-smi

AMD/Intel: follow ROCm / oneAPI vendor notes. WSLg handles many GUI/OpenGL apps on Windows 11.

Continue your track:

• Mastering Linux for Cybersecurity
• Build a Home Cybersecurity Lab

Thanks for reading!

Until next time — Otsumachi!! 💖☄️✨