The latest update to the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) may not bring a plethora of new features, but it does come with significant improvements under the hood. The most notable change is the upgrade of the WSL2 kernel from version 5.15 to 6.6. This update allows Microsoft to remove several out-of-tree patches, as these changes have now been integrated into the Linux kernel itself.
Key Updates in the Latest WSL Release
For those eager to dive into the specifics, here’s a detailed breakdown of what this WSL update includes:
- First WSL2 kernel release updated to v6.6 from v5.15: This marks a significant leap in kernel versions, bringing with it enhanced performance and stability.
- Release rolling-lts/wsl/6.6.36.3: This ensures that users are on the latest long-term support (LTS) version, providing a more secure and reliable experience.
- Update to stable kernel version v6.6.36: The stable kernel version ensures that users benefit from the latest fixes and improvements without compromising on stability.
- New x86 and ARM64 configs including loadable modules: This update brings better hardware compatibility and modularity, making it easier to customize and extend the functionality of WSL.
- dxgkrnl: Do not print error messages when virtual GPU is not present: A minor but important tweak that reduces unnecessary error messages, making the system logs cleaner and more readable.
Fewer Out-of-Tree Patches
The reduction in out-of-tree patches is a noteworthy improvement. These sets of patches have now been included from upstream, ensuring a more streamlined and efficient kernel:
- Page reporting commits (feature/page-reporting/5.15): Enhances memory management by reporting unused pages back to the system.
- Vpci commits (feature/vpci/5.15): Improves virtual PCI device support, enhancing compatibility with various virtual environments.
- Memory reclaim commits (feature/memory-reclaim/5.15): Optimizes memory usage by reclaiming unused memory more effectively.
- Vsock commits (fix/vsock/5.15): Fixes issues related to virtual socket communication, improving overall system stability and performance.
Currently, this update is only available through GitHub, meaning users will need to build it from the source code if they wish to try it out immediately. For those not comfortable with building from source, these changes are expected to be rolled out to the stable release of WSL soon. Patience will be rewarded with a more robust and efficient Linux experience on Windows.
The latest WSL update may not be packed with new features, but its focus on integrating upstream changes and reducing out-of-tree patches signifies a step towards a more seamless and efficient Linux environment within Windows.
