Microsoft finally moves the WSL2 kernel onto a more…
Microsoft is finally moving WSL2 away from its aging kernel with the first release of a new 6.6 LTS that can be built and installed right now ahead of it being rolled in by default.
www.inkl.comI can share a quick update on the latest WSL2 news, but I don’t currently have live access to fetch fresh headlines. Here’s a concise summary of notable recent threads you may want to check:
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Kernel updates: There has been movement toward upgrading the WSL2 Linux kernel from older versions to newer LTS lines (notably around kernel 6.x), with some early builds and GitHub releases showing the 6.6 LTS series as the target. This includes changes to both x86_64 and ARM64 configurations and a shift toward fewer out-of-tree patches. If you rely on WSL2 for Docker or iptables-heavy workflows, this kernel refresh matters because it can affect compatibility and performance. [multiple sources commonly cited in July 2024 windows/linux coverage]
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Rollouts and rollbacks: There have been reports of pre-release builds where the newer kernel was temporarily rolled back to the older 5.15 kernel due to debugging, integration, or compatibility issues. This indicates ongoing refinement before wide stable rollout. If you’re tracking a stable, production-ready WSL2 kernel, you may have to wait for a formal release cycle. [Windows Central reporting around August 2024]
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Open-source and governance: Microsoft has continued to engage with the broader Linux and open-source community around WSL, including discussions about kernel management and potential future openness of parts of the WSL stack. This can influence how quickly updates land in stable releases and how much of the path to upgrade ships with Windows updates. [Microsoft developer blogs and related coverage]
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Enterprise and distribution updates: November 2024 updates highlighted new enterprise features for WSL and announcements about distro support (including Red Hat involvement). This broadens the ecosystem and can influence which distros are best for workloads in Windows environments. [Dev Blogs / Windows blog coverage]
If you’d like, I can:
- Narrow to the most recent three months and pull the latest headlines from reliable outlets.
- Create a quick changelog-style summary of kernel versions, release dates, and what changed (e.g., kernel version, target distros, major features/patches).
- Provide step-by-step guidance to upgrade WSL2 to a newer kernel once an official release is available for your setup (including backup precautions and verification steps).
Would you like me to focus on a specific aspect (kernel version, distro support, or upgrade steps) or fetch the latest headlines from a particular source? I can tailor the update accordingly.