This is the current default WSL image available on the system. To list the WSL images, use the following command: Wsl -listĪs you can see below, there is one WSL image that is available for export- Ubuntu20.04. The image name is used during the export process. tar file-This can either be local or a remote location (network drive)īefore exporting the WSL Linux image that you want to import onto the same system or another, you need to list the images and discover the image names. Let's take a look at the process of exporting and importing a WSL Linux image. It provides an almost container-like experience, in that everything needed to import the same environment onto another Windows 10 workstation is included with the export process of the WSL image.

Developers can also use WSL to move or copy the environment to a different development machine. Now, developers can save a copy of their WSL environment as a backup. Starting with Windows 10 version 1903, Microsoft included new export/import functionality that effectively exports a copy of the WSL environment and allows importing it again, either on the same or on a different machine. Export and import WSL distros ^Īs developers and DevOps professionals rely on WSL for daily development and as part of their toolset for access to Linux command-line tools, utilities, and applications, many organizations may now be thinking about providing disaster recovery for highly customized WSL environments. For the most part, the end user experience with WSL2 is the exact same as WSL.

WSL2 also runs inside a utility virtual machine that is transparent to the end user. A quick tip: Select the GUID with the mouse and right-click to copy. We are going to need that GUID in the coming steps. In the Ubuntu window, execute the uuidgen command. With WSL2, Microsoft has increased file system performance and included the full Linux kernel for increased system call compatibility. To generate a new GUID, search for Ubuntu in the start menu and open it. WSL2 extends the features and capabilities of WSL. cant seem to figure out Press J to jump to the feed. If you are using Zsh, you can add this to ~/.Windows Subsystem for Linux distros available in the Microsoft Store it drops me off at my windows USERPROFILE but id rather start in the linux home directory.

Windows terminal ubuntu home directory