Install WSL2 and Move AlmaLinux 9 to Another Drive

Install_WSL2_Move_AlmaLinux9_Another_Drive.md

HOWTO: Install Almalinux 9 WSL2 and Move AlmaLinux 9 to Another Drive

TL;DR

A guide for myself—born from my professional experience as a Linux system administrator and enhanced with AI tools to ensure comprehensive coverage and clarity for technical audiences.

This guide details the process of installing the Windows Subsystem for Linux version 2 (WSL2) on Windows 11 Pro and installing AlmaLinux 9 onto a non-default drive (D:), ensuring a secure and efficient setup.

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Phase 1: Installing WSL2 on Windows 11 Pro

Enable the Virtual Machine Platform and WSL Features

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Enable WSL by running:

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

3. Enable the Virtual Machine Platform (required for WSL2):

   dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all

4. Restart the computer when prompted.

Set WSL 2 as the Default Version

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Set WSL2 as the default version:

   wsl --set-default-version 2

Install AlmaLinux 9 WSL Distribution

1. Download the AlmaLinux 9 WSL package from AlmaLinux WSL.
2. Locate and double-click the .appx file to launch the App Installer.
3. Click Install to proceed.

Launch AlmaLinux 9 and Complete Initial Setup

1. Open PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2. Verify the installation:

   wsl -l -v

3. Launch AlmaLinux 9:

   wsl -d AlmaLinux9

4. Create a user account and set a strong password.
5. You can check AlmaLinux 9 instance running or stopped

   wsl --list --verbose

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Phase 2: Moving AlmaLinux 9 to Drive D

By default, WSL distributions are installed on the C: drive. This section guides you through moving AlmaLinux 9 to the D: drive for better disk management.

Identify the ext4.vhdx File Location

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to:

   C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Packages
   

3. Locate the folder named:

   AlmaLinuxOSFoundation.AlmaLinux9_<some_unique_string>
   

4. Open the folder, then navigate to LocalState.
5. Find ext4.vhdx, which contains your AlmaLinux 9 installation.

Create a Backup Folder (Optional)

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Make sure you have Shutdown AlmaLinux 9.
3. Create a backup directory:

   New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path "D:\WSL\AlmaLinux9-Template"

4. Copy the ext4.vhdx file to the backup folder:

   Copy-Item "C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Packages\AlmaLinuxOSFoundation.AlmaLinux9_<unique_string>\LocalState\ext4.vhdx" -Destination "D:\WSL\AlmaLinux9-Template\ext4.vhdx"

Move AlmaLinux 9 to Drive D

1. Create the new installation folder:

   New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path "D:\WSL\AlmaLinux9"

2. Shutdown AlmaLinux 9:

   wsl -t AlmaLinux9

   Or shut down all WSL instances:

   wsl --shutdown

3. Unregister the existing AlmaLinux distribution:

   wsl --unregister AlmaLinux9

4. Import the distribution from the new location:

   wsl --import AlmaLinux9 D:\WSL\AlmaLinux9 D:\WSL\AlmaLinux9-Template\ext4.vhdx

Set Default User (Optional)

Set the default user AlmaLinux 9:

wsl -d AlmaLinux9 -u almalinux

Launch and Verify

1. Launch AlmaLinux 9:

   wsl -d AlmaLinux9

2. Confirm it is functioning correctly.

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Security Considerations

• Enable the firewall inside AlmaLinux:

  wsl -d AlmaLinux9
  sudo systemctl start firewalld
  sudo systemctl enable firewalld
  sudo firewall-cmd --set-default-zone=public

• Configure Windows Firewall rules if exposing network services.

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Performance Note

The performance of AlmaLinux in WSL2 depends on the speed of the D drive. SSDs provide better performance than HDDs.

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Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed WSL2 and moved AlmaLinux 9 to the D: drive. Remember to keep your system updated:

sudo dnf update -y

Stay vigilant with security best practices!

Harisfazillah Jamel LinuxMalaysia

20250401

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References

• Install Podman on AlmaLinux
• Microsoft WSL Systemd Guide
• WSL Installation on Another Drive