WSL — Installing windows subsystem for linux on windows system

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Now you may ask question that we can create vm’s then why it is needed?

The answer is very simple, say you have a system whose ram is 16 GB. If you create a kali vm then you need to give it 8 GB of ram and processor for optimum performance. And sometimes vm does not work as expectation because of networking issue specially if you test an application which is hosted outside of your vm network. We create nat or bridge networking in vm. I personally saw that after giving enough resources it takes so much time to update it’s package and also for other issues. So to overcome that problem we can install kali-linux, ubuntu along with windows os with the help of wsl. By doing this, we don’t even need to go for dual boot options. So let’s start:

Check wsl version:

wsl.exe --status

1. From the start menu, type “Turn Windows features on or off”. Check the box, Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Subsystem for Linux or in the command prompt simply give this command:

wsl.exe --install --no-distribution

Now Restart the system.

If wsl is already installed, then give this command:

wsl.exe --update

2. Now from Microsoft store download kali linux and install it. Or you can give this command to see list of distributions. Then install based on your choice.

To see list of distributions:

wsl.exe --list --online

To install:

wsl.exe --install <Distro Name>
i.e. wsl --install --distribution kali-linux

3. Now it will ask for username and password, say at the time of installing kali-linux here. Provide that.

4. Once it is installed, it has come with very minimum package installation.

Run the following commands to install all packages:

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y kali-linux-default (This requires 15GB around space and if you see that package is not installing and giving 403 forbidden error, then install cloudflare warp vpn and enable it then try again.)
sudo apt install -y kali-linux-large (If you have large hd space then you can go for this. All kali tools will be installed here)

5. For GUI mode, install:

sudo apt install -y kali-win-kex

6. To start it in different way:

To start it inside from wsl (window mode):
kex --win -s (Ask you for the default user's password which you created a while ago. For question would you like to enter a view-only password? type y)
From windows command prompt:
wsl -d kali-linux kex --win -s
Enhanced Session Mode:
Inside of Kali WSL: kex --esm --ip -s
On Window's command prompt: wsl -d kali-linux kex --esm --ip -s
Seamless Mode:
Inside of Kali WSL: kex --sl -s
On Window's command prompt: wsl -d kali-linux kex --sl -s

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