🥇Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) version 2: What to expect? (FAQ)

Below is the translation of the published FAQ on the details of the upcoming second version of WSL (author — Craig Loewen).

Topics addressed:

Does WSL 2 use Hyper-V? Will WSL 2 be available on Windows 10 Home?

WSL 2 will be available in all editions of Windows where WSL 1 is currently available (including Windows 10 Home).

In the second version, WSL uses Hyper-V architecture for virtualization. This architecture will be available in an additional component, which is a subset of Hyper-V features. This additional component will be available in all editions of the OS. Closer to the WSL 2 release, we will provide more information about this new component.

What will happen to WSL 1? Will it be deprecated?

Currently, we do not plan to abandon WSL 1. You can run WSL 1 and WSL 2 distributions side by side on a single machine. The addition of WSL 2 as a new architecture helps the WSL team to expand the amazing capabilities of running a Linux environment on Windows.

Will it be possible to run WSL 2 and other third-party virtualization tools (like VMWare or Virtual Box) simultaneously?

Some third-party applications may not work when Hyper-V is used, meaning they will not function when WSL 2 is enabled. Unfortunately, this includes VMWare and Virtual Box.

We are exploring ways to address this issue. For example, we are providing an API set called Hypervisor Platform, which can be utilized by third-party virtualization providers to ensure their software is compatible with Hyper-V. This allows applications to use Hyper-V architecture for emulation, such as: the Google Android emulator is now compatible with Hyper-V.

Translator's Note

Oracle VirtualBox already has an experimental feature to use Hyper-V for virtualizing its machines:

No configuration is required. Oracle VM VirtualBox detects Hyper-V automatically and uses Hyper-V as the virtualization engine for the host system. The CPU icon in the VM window status bar indicates that Hyper-V is being used.

But this leads to noticeable performance degradation:

When using this feature, you might experience significant Oracle VM VirtualBox performance degradation on some host systems.

From my personal experience with both Hyper-V and VirtualBox, I can note that VirtualBox improves the support for its virtual machines on Hyper-V with each release. However, the performance still does not allow for a complete transition to such a symbiosis for everyday tasks, even those not demanding in terms of performance. A simple window redraw within the virtual machine occurs with a noticeable delay. I sincerely hope that the situation will improve by the time WSL 2 is released.

Will there be access to the GPU from WSL 2? What are the plans for expanding hardware support?

In the initial releases of WSL 2, support for hardware access will be limited. For example, you won't be able to access the graphics processor, serial port, and USB. However, adding support for devices is a high priority in our plans as it opens up many opportunities for developers wishing to interact with these devices. At the same time, you can always use WSL 1, which provides access to both the serial port and USB. Please stay tuned for updates on this blog and the Twitter accounts of the WSL team members to keep up with the latest features that will appear in insider builds, and let us know which devices you want to interact with!

Will WSL 2 be able to use network applications?

Yes, in general, network applications will work faster and better, as we ensure full compatibility with system calls. However, the new architecture uses virtualized network components. This means that in the initial preview builds, WSL 2 will behave like a virtual machine, for instance, WSL 2 will have its own IP address (different from the host's). We aim to make the experience with WSL 2 similar to that of WSL 1, which includes improvements in network subsystem support. We plan to add the ability for communication between all network applications from Linux or Windows using localhost as quickly as possible. We will publish more detailed information about our network subsystem and improvements as we approach the release of WSL 2.

If you have any further questions about WSL or just want to reach out to the WSL team, you can find us on Twitter: