Microsoft Previews Linux Containers That Run In Windows

Public Preview of WSL Containers

Microsoft has released a public preview of Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) containers, adding a built-in command-line tool and API for running Linux containers directly inside Windows applications without third-party software. The update also introduces faster file access, improved networking and memory management, plus integration with Defender, Intune, and VS Code.

The Register reports: WSL has always been a handy way to run Linux workloads from Windows, and is particularly convenient for Linux developers who must comply with corporate edicts to use a Windows device. The CLI for end-to-end container workflows furthers this.

Microsoft stated, "WSL containers make it easier for developers and organizations to build, test, and run containerized workloads while benefiting from the security, manageability, and integration of the Windows platform."

Alternatively, you could run your preferred Linux distribution natively, but that might not be an option, particularly if an organization is keen on the "security, manageability, and integration of the Windows platform." And this is an important point.

Integration and Tooling Updates

WSL's existing Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) has been updated (in private preview) to be aware of Linux container events, and there are settings in Intune for managing WSL containers. Support is also in a pre-release version of VS Code, where the Docker path in the dev container settings can be changed to wslc.

Performance Improvements

There is also a new default file system for WSL container that Microsoft claims makes Windows file access twice the speed. So, going from terribly slow to just slow? We'll wait until general availability is reached before passing judgment.

There's a new default networking mode to improve compatibility and better memory reclaim techniques. However, none of these tweaks will be enabled by default in WSL.

Microsoft wrote, "Since these changes touch mission critical paths like file system access and network, for now they are enabled just in WSL container."

Community Reactions

Other way around (Score:4, Interesting) - I would really prefer the other way around, invoking Windows containers for the few Windows apps that I am stuck running.

Re: (Score:2) - Same. About one of the few real use-cases for containers.

Ain't nothing like the real thing baby. (Score:3) - Running Linux in a Windows container is dumb. Run Linux natively or run Windows in a sandboxed Linux container. Windows is not to be trusted.

I sense a disturbance in the Microsoft force. Could it be fear of Linux on Microsoft's part? Microsoft has a lot to lose if Linux becomes more widespread, but it is loss of control of the user experience that they fear the most.

Re: (Score:2) - Microsoft has a lot to lose if Linux becomes more widespread, but it is loss of control of the user experience that they fear the most. Probably. The only explanation why they are even doing this is that the technological superiority of Linux is now so bad that Windows simply cannot compete anymore.

What year is it? (Score:2) - WSL has been available for years. What's new here?

Eiher that or Work on User Problems/Features (Score:2) - hahaha

(Score:2) - you could run your preferred Linux distribution natively, but that might not be an option, particularly if an organization is keen on the "security, manageability, and integration of the Windows platform." Are the security, manageability, and integration in the room with us?

1. Microsoft just pushed an update which fixes a bunch of Windows problems, but fucks up Office, they obviously did zero integration testing.
2. This update was mandatory, it could not be declined by any means, even though it was known to fuck things up. So much for manageability.
3. Don't even fucking get me started on security when Microsoft doesn't even know what the fuck happened at least the last two times there's been a serious security incident.

I'm OK with this. (Score:1) - Why would anybody sane do this?

(Score:2) - Containers already need almost full system administration, even if many people are in denial about that. Running Linux containers on underperforming, unstable, insecure Windows is about the peak of stupidity.