Skip to main content

WSL2 Support

The only supported OS for the host machine is Ubuntu, if you find yourself using windows exclusively and want to test KIRA without dedicated hardware you can utilize windows subsystem for linux. Please note that any commands suggested in this document you input on your own risk.

  1. Console

    All commands presented here should be executed in the git-bash console, you have to install it before you can proceed and start the process as administrator.

  2. Initial Setup

    # Install WSL
    wsl --install

    # Ensure WSL is up to date
    wsl --update

    # Verify that your WSL version is 1.1.6.0 or higher otherwise the systemd services will not work!
    wsl --version

    # Re/Install Ubuntu
    wsl --install -d Ubuntu-20.04 && \
     wsl --setdefault Ubuntu-20.04 && \
     wsl --set-version Ubuntu-20.04 2

  3. Update Ubuntu Image

    # Open your Ubuntu OS and replace <username> with your username
    # NOTE: Your username can NOT be called 'root'
    wsl -d Ubuntu-20.04 --user <username> --cd ~

    # Within WSL set default user and enable systemd service
    # Replace <username> in the code below with your username
    sudo tee -a /etc/wsl.conf <<EOF
    [user]
    default=<username>
    [boot]
    systemd=true
    EOF

    # Update your ubunu instance for faster KM boot
    sudo apt-get update -y --fix-missing

    # Exit and return to your git-bash console
    exit

  4. Create base image for easy recovery

    # Create directory to save image
    mkdir -p /c/linux

    # Export base image
    cd /c/linux && wsl --export Ubuntu-20.04 ubuntu-base-20.04.tar

  5. Copy or recover backup of your base image

    # Import base image copy as new "kira" VM
    wsl --import kira /c/linux/kira /c/linux/ubuntu-base-20.04.tar

    # You can delete and recreate "kira" VM at any time
    wsl --terminate kira || echo "WARNING: Could NOT terminate kira VM" && \
     wsl --unregister kira || echo "WARNING: Could NOT unregister kira VM" && \
     rm -rfv /c/linux/kira && \
     wsl --import kira /c/linux/kira /c/linux/ubuntu-base-20.04.tar && \
     echo "success" || echo "failure"

  6. Enter virtual machine

    # stop VM if it was started
    wsl --terminate kira

    # start VM
    # Replace <username> in the code below with your username
    wsl -d kira --user <username> --cd ~

    # within VM 
    # enter sudo mode
    sudo -s
    # navigate to /tmp folder
    cd /tmp
    # you are now ready to install KM...

    # exit VM whenever needed
    exit