WSL Cheatsheet

---
title: WSL Cheatsheet
subtitle: The Windows Subsystem for Linux lets developers run a GNU/Linux environment -- including most command-line tools, utilities, and applications -- directly on Windows, unmodified, without the overhead of a traditional virtual machine or dualboot setup.
author: xcad2k
date: October 6, 2022
source: https://github.com/xcad2k/cheat-sheets/blob/main/tools/wsl.md
---

## Backup and Restore WSL

### Backup a WSL Distro

```powershell
wsl --export (distribution) (filename.tar)
```

### Restore a WSL Distro from Backup

```powershell
wsl --import (distribution) (install location) (file location and filename)
```

## Symbolic Links

### Link .ssh folder

```bash
sudo ln -s /mnt/c/Users/lempa/.ssh ~/.ssh
```

### Link .kube folder

```bash
sudo ln -s /mnt/c/Users/lempa/.ssh ~/.ssh
```

## File Permissions

Advanced settings configuration in WSL: [WSL Config Parameters](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl-config)

**Example wsl.conf**

```
[automount]
enabled = true
options = "metadata,uid=1000,gid=1000,umask=077,fmask=11,case=off"
mountFsTab = true

[interop]
enabled = false
appendWindowsPath = false
```

## Networking

### Port Forwarding

**Find IP Address**

```powershell
bash.exe -c "ifconfig eth0 | grep 'inet '"
```

**Add PortForwarding**

```powershell
$port = 8080
$remoteaddr = 0.0.0.0

netsh interface portproxy add v4tov4 listenport=$port connectport=$port connectaddress=$remoteaddr

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name=$port dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=$port
```

**Delete PortForwarding**

```PowerShell
$port = 8080

netsh interface portproxy delete v4tov4 listenport=$port
netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule name=$port

```

**Show PortForwardings**

```powershell
netsh interface portproxy show v4tov4
```