Installing the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

The Windows Subsystem for Linux allows you to run a Linux session from within your Windows environment.

Prerequisites

• Windows 11 (or later)
• Windows 10 version 2004 (build #19041) and later

Installation instructions

NOTE: Needs validation!

1. Open Windows Powershell

   • Click on the Windows menu (or hit the Windows key)
   • Type Powershell in the search bar
   • Click on Run as administrator

2. Type the following at the PowerShell command line to install WSL with Ubuntu Linux. (Note you will be replaced by your Windows username in the PowerShell prompt.)

    PS C:\Users\you> wsl --install -d ubuntu
    PS C:\Users\you> wsl --update
    PS C:\Users\you> wsl --set-default-version 2

3. Activate WSL. You will be prompted to answer some questions (i.e. specify your Linux username and password. more information about setting up your Linux password.

    PS C:\Users\you> wsl
    your-linux-username@localhost~#

- NOTE: You should notice that the prompt will change from the PowerShell prompt to the Linux prompt.  
- NOTE: `your-linux-username` will be replaced by what you specified for your Linux username. See the [WSL best practices guide]

3. Now that you are in a local Ubuntu Linux session, you will want to install some software. You will do this with the apt package manager. Type the following commands at the Linux prompt.
   • NOTE: For clarity, we have omitted the Linux prompts below.
   • NOTE: Comments beginning with # after each command are listed, but you don't have to type these.

    sudo apt update -y && sudo apt upgrade -y     # Get the latest packages from Ubuntu
    sudo apt install -y git-gui                   # Git GUI (NOTE: Git is installed by default)
    sudo apt install -y gitk                      # GitK browser
    sudo apt install -y xserver-xorg              # X11 server
    sudo apt install -y xserver-xorg-core         # X11 server core files
    sudo apt install -y x11-apps                  # Basic X11 applications (e.g. xeyes)
    sudo apt install -y xfonts-base               # Fonts for X11
    sudo apt install -y xfonts-75dpi              # Fonts for X11
    sudo apt install -y xfonts-100dpi             # Fonts for X11
    sudo apt install -y xorg-x11-fonts            # Fonts for X11
    sudo apt install -y fonts-dejavu              # DejaVu fonts (used by several apps)
    sudo apt install -y gnu-emacs                 # Emacs editor (useful for editing configuration files)

4. Try opening the xeyes program to test if the X11 server is working. If successful, you will see a pair of eyes on the screen. (Don't laugh, this is the standard tool used to test if X11 forwarding is happening.)

   xeyes

5. Copy your private keys to the ~/.ssh folder.

6. Shutdown WSL so that all of the settings can be saved. This will return you to the PowerShell prompt.

wsl --shutdown

Connection instructions

1. If WSL is not running then open a Windows PowerShell (see above) and type:

PS C:\Users\you> wsl

2. To log in to Cannon, type:

ssh your-Cannon-username@login.rc.fas.harvard.edu

3. Once you have logged into Cannon you can load your software modules as described here, etc.