How to SSH into WSL2 on an external Window

wsl-port-forwarding.md

WSL:

1. Install openssh-server:

sudo apt install openssh-server

2. Add or uncomment following lines in /etc/ssh/sshd_config:

Port 2222
ListenAddress 0.0.0.0
PubkeyAuthentication no
PasswordAuthentication yes

3. Start the SSH service:

sudo service ssh start

Host Windows:

1. Add firewall rule for port 2222:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name='open port 2222 for wsl2 port fowarding' dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=2222

2. Run the following powershell script:

param ($ExistingPort=2222, $NewPort=2222)

if ((wsl.exe -d Ubuntu -e sh -c "ifconfig eth0 | grep 'inet '") -match '\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}') {
    $WslIp=$matches[0]

    Write-Output "Delete old portproxy:"
    Write-Output "`tlistenaddress=0.0.0.0"
    Write-Output "`tlistenport=$ExistingPort"
    iex "netsh interface portproxy delete v4tov4 listenaddress=0.0.0.0 listenport=$ExistingPort"

    Write-Output ""
    Write-Output "Add new portproxy:"
    Write-Output "`tlistenaddress=0.0.0.0"
    Write-Output "`tlistenport=$NewPort"
    Write-Output "`tconnectaddress=$WslIp"
    Write-Output "`tconnectport=$NewPort"
    iex "netsh interface portproxy add v4tov4 listenaddress=0.0.0.0 listenport=$NewPort connectaddress=$WslIp connectport=$NewPort"
}

The script can be added to the task scheduler to configure the port forwarding automatically.

Guest Windows:

ssh [wsl_username]@[host_windows_ip] -p 2222

https://www.illuminiastudios.com/dev-diaries/ssh-on-windows-subsystem-for-linux/

https://www.hanselman.com/blog/how-to-ssh-into-wsl2-on-windows-10-from-an-external-machine

Need to add this to /etc/wsl.conf as well:

[boot]
systemd = true