Microsoft has released a significant feature update to Windows Subsystem for Linux “WSL” to run Linux binaries within the confines of Windows 11.
Today this is a significant update to the Windows Subsystem for Linux and has been released on GitHub under the name WSL v2.0.0… Not to be confused with Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 which this is indeed, this is a significant update. There are a number of new experimental WSL features, all binaries provided in the WSL package are now properly signed, the WSL kernel has been updated to Linux 5.15.123, WSLg 1.0.57 is provided for the latest support graphics/GUIs, and many more. other updates.
One of the new experimental features is “autoMemoryReclaim” which allows the WSL VM to reduce its memory usage when reclaiming cached memory. There is also a “networkingMode” option to have better control over managing network compatibility for WSL virtual machines. On the network side, there is also “dnsTunneling” as an experimental option to change how DNS queries are resolved. Also on the network side is “Firewall” which can be enabled to apply Windows firewall rules to WSL and enable advanced firewall controls for WSL virtual machines. Finally, one of the new experimental features is “autoProxy” which allows you to automatically use Windows network proxy information.
More details on these additions to the Windows Subsystem for Linux via the Microsoft Command Line blog. More details on these experimental features and other changes via WSL 2.0.0 on GitHub.
