Installing WSL2 on Windows 10

wsl2.md

Install and configure WSL2 on windows 10

Install WSL2

Using the following link here install the WSL 2 on your windows 10.

Install X-Server

VcXsrv seems to the best choice for X-Server in Windows

After installation, use the following command to create a new desktop shortcut. Add the following command in the properties → shortcut →target

"C:\Program Files\VcXsrv\vcxsrv.exe" :0 -ac -terminate -lesspointer -multiwindow -clipboard -wgl -dpi auto 

Use below command in command prompt to verify it. (execute it on a Windows Shell with Admin Priv)

netstat -abno|findstr 6000

##Install Terminator in Bash

Open Ubuntu and install terminator

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install terminator

With the X-Server running execute the following command, to validate the terminator:

DISPLAY=$(cat /etc/resolv.conf | grep nameserver | awk '{print $2}'):0 terminator &

If you see the terminator window, then we are successful with the initial setup.

But to launch a window first we need to run XServer then open a Ubuntu window and launch terminator using a command. This all seems too much for launching a terminal.

So in the next section, we will see how to automate these steps.

Add Xserver to Startup Program

Using Window(KEY)+R, execute the following command:

shell:startup

Copy the shortcut created above to init the X-Server inside of this folder.

VBS script to start Terminator

Create a folder in your windows home directory and create the following file: startTerminator.vbs

Content:

args = "-c" & " -l " & """DISPLAY=$(cat /etc/resolv.conf | grep nameserver | awk '{print $2}'):0 terminator"""
WScript.CreateObject("Shell.Application").ShellExecute "bash", args, "", "open", 0

Create a new shorcut with the following command:

C:\Windows\System32\wscript.exe C:\Users\<YOUR_USER>\linux\terminator\startTerminator.vbs

You can download a nice ICON from here.

Limiting memory to WSL2

Create a .wslconfig file inside of directory: %UserProfile%

Content:

[wsl2]
memory=5GB
swap=0
localhostForwarding=true

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