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

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: your-windows-username in the PowerShell prompt will be replaced by your Windows login name.

    PS C:\Users\your-windows-username> wsl --install -d ubuntu

3. After the installation completes, make sure you are running WSL version 2:

    PS C:\Users\your-windows-username> wsl --set-default-version 2

4. Also make sure to get any recent updates:

    PS C:\Users\your-windows-username> wsl --update

5. 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]

6. 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)

7. 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

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

9. 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.