Using the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2? If so, you’ll have the interest to understand that a replacement Linux kernel is out there to put in through Windows Update. Yes — writing that sentence feels very weird!
WSL 2 is getting Linux Kernel 5.4
Canonical’s Hayden Barnes relayed news of a kernel uplift on Twitter, noting that the shiny new WSL 2 kernel is predicated on Linux 5.4 (which, for useless trivia fans, is my current kernel of choice on a few of devices for reasons I won’t bore you with ).
This kernel update is probably going to enhance the WSL 2 experience considerably. Naturally, you would like to put in WSL on Windows 10 so as to urge the kernel update in the least, and check the “Receive updates for other Microsoft products once you update Windows” option in Windows Update > Advanced settings.
Other than that, it’s rolling out immediately .
Those using pre-release versions of WSL2 or insider builds of Windows 10 will already be using this kernel version. But “retail builds” — which i feel refers to parents running WSL 2 on regular Windows 10 — were running on a kernel branch derived from Linux 4.19 series — which was first released back in 2018! Why is there a Linux kernel being distributed by Windows Update at all? Where have you ever been! WSL 2 uses an actual Linux kernel (the first-gen version didn’t). so as to form WSL 2 as useful as possible Microsoft maintain a custom version of the Linux kernel (available via GitHub). New versions of the kernel are released periodically via Windows Update, allowing WSL 2 users to profit from all the newest top-tier kernel tech.
As well as refreshing the kernel from time to time Microsoft has also made it easier for users to put in WSL — as in ‘run one command’ easy — and making it trivial to access Linux file systems using Explorer, the Windows file manager.
