# Set up an Ubuntu VM on Windows 11 using WSL
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a Windows feature that allows you to run Linux distributions on Windows, without using a virtualization software. Setting up WSL on Windows 11 involves the following tasks:
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> **Figure : Workflow to set up WSL**
Note
You can only compile the Qualcomm Linux build using WSL. To flash the software on the Qualcomm Linux Development Kit, see [Flash using PCAT from Windows host](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70017-253/additional_setup.html#flash-using-pcat-from-windows-host).
## Host machine requirements
Before setting up an Ubuntu VM using WSL, ensure that your Windows 11 host machine meets the following system requirements:
| **Processor architecture** | x86 or Arm^®^ |
| --- | --- |
| **CPU cores** | 8 or more |
| **RAM** | 8 GB or more |
| **Storage** | 300 GB free space |
| **Operating system** | Windows 11 |
## Prerequisites to set up WSL
To set up WSL, you must turn on specific Windows features and set the default WSL version.
### Turn on Windows features
To run WSL, you must turn on the following Windows features:
- Windows Subsystem for Linux
- Virtual Machine Platform
To turn on these features, run the following commands in Windows PowerShell with administrative
privileges:
| Windows feature | Command |
| --- | --- |
| Windows Subsystem for Linux | Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux Copy to clipboard |
| Virtual Machine Platform | Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName VirtualMachinePlatform Copy to clipboard |
Note
Restart the Windows 11 host machine after running the commands.
### Set the default WSL version
To set Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 as the default Linux distribution, run the following command in Windows PowerShell with administrative privileges:
wsl --set-default-version 2
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The output is as follows:
For information on key differences with WSL 2 please visit [https://aka.ms/wsl2](https://aka.ms/wsl2). The operation completed successfully.
## Install the Ubuntu-22.04 Linux distribution
Qualcomm Linux uses the Ubuntu-22.04 Linux distribution. Before installing Ubuntu-22.04, verify if it is available as one of the valid distributions for installation on your Windows 11 host machine.
1. To list the distributions available for installation, run the following command in Windows PowerShell:
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> wsl --list --online
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2. Verify that Ubuntu-22.04 is listed as one of the distributions.
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> If you do not see Ubuntu-22.04 in the distributions listed, contact Microsoft support.
3. To update WSL, run the following command:
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> wsl --update
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4. To install Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, run the following command:
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> wsl --install -d Ubuntu-22.04
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5. After the installation is complete, set the username and password for the Ubuntu-22.04 Linux distribution you installed.
## Create the `.wslconfig` file for WSL
Use the `.wslconfig` file to configure settings, such as memory, processors, and swap storage space for Linux distributions running on WSL. The `.wslconfig` file does not exist by default. Hence, you must create one in the `%UserProfile%` directory.
To create the `.wslconfig` file, do the following:
1. In Windows PowerShell, run the **cd ~** command to go to the `%UserProfile%` directory. For example, the directory path can be `C:\Users\`.
2. Create a file named `.wslconfig` with the following contents:
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> # Settings apply across all Linux distributions running on WSL 2
> [wsl2]
> # Limits VM memory to use no more than 4 GB, this can be set as whole numbers using GB or MB
> memory=64GB
> # Sets the VM to use two virtual processors
> processors=16
> # Sets amount of swap storage space to 8GB, default is 25% of available RAM
> swap=64GB
> # Sets swapfile path location, default is %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp\swap.vhdx
> swapfile=C:\\temp\\wsl-swap.vhdx
> # Enable experimental features
> [experimental]
> # Automatically releases cached memory after detecting idle CPU usage. Set to gradual for slow release, and dropcache for instant release of cached memory.
> autoMemoryReclaim=dropcache
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> Note
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> Set the values for memory, processors, and swap size to match with the specifications of your Windows host machine.
3. To shut down WSL, run the following command in Windows PowerShell:
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> wsl --shutdown
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4. To restart WSL, run the following command in Windows PowerShell:
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> wsl
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## Set up the WSL environment
To configure DNS settings for WSL, use the resolv.conf file.
To configure local settings for the Ubuntu-22.04 Linux distribution you installed, use the wsl.conf file. The settings in the wsl.conf file are automatically applied every time you run WSL.
### Configure DNS settings for WSL (resolv.conf file)
In a Linux terminal window, use the `sudo` command to add the following contents in the `/etc/resolv.conf` file:
sudo rm /etc/resolv.conf
sudo bash -c 'echo "nameserver 8.8.8.8" > /etc/resolv.conf'
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When you close the Linux terminal window, the nameserver reverts to its default nameserver automatically. To save the changes you made to the resolv.conf file permanently, run the following command:
sudo chattr -f +i /etc/resolv.conf
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To change the write permissions and modify the resolv.conf file, run the following command:
sudo chattr -f -i /etc/resolv.conf
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### Configure local settings for Ubuntu-22.04 (wsl.conf file)
In the Linux terminal window, use the `sudo` command to add the following contents in the `/etc/wsl.conf` file:
[network]
generateResolvConf = false
[automount]
options = "metadata"
[boot]
command = service docker start
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In Windows PowerShell, run the following command to restart WSL:
wsl --shutdown
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### Enable long path support for Git
To enable long path support for Git, run the following command in the Linux terminal window:
git config --global core.longpaths true
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## Optional: Change the Ubuntu installation drive
By default, Ubuntu is installed on the C drive. If the C drive on your Windows host machine does not have enough disk space for builds, you can move the Ubuntu installation to another drive.
To move the Ubuntu installation to another drive, do the following:
1. Open **Add or Remove Programs** and find the Ubuntu installation in the list.
2. In the **Control Panel**, select **Programs** > **Programs and Features**.
3. Right-click the Ubuntu installation for which you want to change the drive, and select **Uninstall** or **Uninstall/Change**.
The following dialog box appears.
4. Click **Move**.
5. Select the drive that you want to move the Ubuntu installation to, and click **Move**.
Note
To sync, build, and flash Qualcomm Linux, see [Qualcomm Linux Build Guide](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70017-254).
Note
To access the WSL workspace, go to the following path using the Windows File Explorer:
\\wsl$
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Last Published: Dec 18, 2024
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