PowerShell Script to change host file for WSL2

sethost.ps1

$global:currentIP = ""

function checkAndEdit() {
    $wslOutput = & "C:\Windows\System32\wsl.exe" -l -q --running
    if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
        Write-Output "Failed to get WSL status"
    } else {
        if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($wslOutput)) {
            # no output, not running
            Write-Output "WSL is not running, no changes needed"
            return
        } else {
            $ip = getHosts
            if ($ip -ne $global:currentIP) {
                $global:currentIP = $ip
                replaceHostFile($ip)
            }
        }
    }
}

function getHosts() {
    $bashOutput = & "C:\Windows\System32\bash.exe" -c "hostname -I"
    return $bashOutput.split(" ")[0]
}

function replaceHostFile($ip) {
    $textArr = ""
    foreach ($line in Get-Content "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts") {
        if ($line -match "# WSL2 DO NOT EDIT THIS LINE") {
            # dont copy if it was already set
        } else {
            $textArr = if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($textArr)) { $textArr + $line } else { $textArr + "`n" + $line }
        }
    }
    $textArr = $textArr + "`n" + $ip + " " + "wsl.local # WSL2 DO NOT EDIT THIS LINE"
    $textArr > "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"
    Write-Output "Done!"
}



While (1) {
    if (Test-Path "C:\Windows\System32\wsl.exe") {
        checkAndEdit
    } else {
        Write-Output "You don't have WSL installed"
    }
    Start-Sleep -Seconds 5
}

A very simple PowerShell script to change hosts automatically when WSL2 is running. It changes the stuff automatically when an WSL2 instance starts.

currently not supporting:

• multiple IPs

NOTE: this is not guaranteed to work. While it worked for me, the performance is pitiful. I will improve it some time later, but definitely not now.