Unable to Install, Update WSL2 within Virtual Desktop - No Network - Azure Virtual Desktop

Here is a detailed article on how to install and update WSL2 within a Virtual Desktop (VD) when the network is not available:

Installing and Updating WSL2 within a Virtual Desktop (VD) when the Network is Not Available

When working remotely with a Virtual Desktop (VD), you may encounter situations where you need to install or update the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2, but the network is not available. This article will guide you through the process of installing and updating WSL2 within a VD without a network connection.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure you meet the following prerequisites:

1. You have administrative privileges on your VD.
2. You have installed the latest version of Windows 10 (version 2004 or later) with the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) feature enabled.
3. You have created a Linux distribution (distro) within WSL.

Installing WSL2

1. Open PowerShell as an administrator:

   winver | Select-String -Pattern "PowerShell" -Context 1
   

   This command will open PowerShell with administrative privileges.

2. Disable the network adapter:

   Set-NetAdapter -Name "<Your Network Adapter Name>" -Disable
   

   Replace <Your Network Adapter Name> with the name of your network adapter. You can find the name by running Get-NetAdapter.

3. Install the Linux kernel:

   wsl --install -d Ubuntu
   

   This command will download and install the latest version of Ubuntu, along with the Linux kernel.

4. Enable the WSL2 feature:

   wsl --set-default-version 2
   

   This command sets the default WSL version to 2, enabling WSL2.

5. Start your Linux distro:

   wsl -d Ubuntu
   

   This command starts your Ubuntu distro.

6. Once you have completed your tasks, enable the network adapter again:

   Set-NetAdapter -Name "<Your Network Adapter Name>" -Enable
   

Updating WSL2

1. Open PowerShell as an administrator:

   winver | Select-String -Pattern "PowerShell" -Context 1
   

2. Disable the network adapter:

   Set-NetAdapter -Name "<Your Network Adapter Name>" -Disable
   

3. Update your Linux distro:

   wsl -d Ubuntu
   sudo apt update
   sudo apt upgrade
   

   This command updates your Ubuntu distro.

4. Once you have completed your tasks, enable the network adapter again:

   Set-NetAdapter -Name "<Your Network Adapter Name>" -Enable
   

References

1. Install the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on Windows 10
2. Manage network adapters in Windows PowerShell
3. Updating WSL2

This article covered the process of installing and updating WSL2 within a Virtual Desktop (VD) when the network is not available. By following these steps, you can work with Linux distros in your VD even when you're offline.