Glossary for Ubuntu on WSL¶
Overview of technical terms used in the documentation.
- cloud-init¶
Cloud-init is used to initalize and provision WSL instances with specific configurations that are applied on initial booting of an instance. See the cloud-init documentation.
- distro¶
- distribution¶
A packaged Linux environment that can be downloaded and installed for launching as a WSL instance.
Related topic(s): instance, legacy distro, modern distro, WSL
- instance¶
A uniquely-named Linux distribution installed through WSL.
Related topic(s): distro, instance (disambiguation)
- instance (disambiguation)¶
In the Microsoft documentation, “distribution” is used to refer to an instance. In the Landscape dashboard, “instance” also refers to a Windows machine that runs WSL.
- Landscape¶
A systems management tool for Ubuntu. See the Landscape website and Landscape documentation.
Related topic(s): Landscape client, Landscape dashboard, Landscape server
- Landscape client¶
A systemd unit running inside every instance of Ubuntu on WSL. The Landscape client comes pre-installed in your distro as part of the package landscape-client. It sends information about the system to the Landscape server. The server, in turn, sends instructions that the client executes.
Related topic(s): Landscape, Landscape server, Ubuntu, WSL
- Landscape dashboard¶
A browser-based GUI interface for Landscape where WSL instances can be managed.
Related topic(s): instance, Landscape, WSL profile
- Landscape server¶
Tool used for the centralized management of remote Windows clients and the WSL instances that they host.
Related topic(s): Landscape, Landscape client, Windows agent, WSL
- legacy distro¶
A distro that uses the old format for packaging and distributing WSL distributions, based on msix/appx.
Related topic(s): distro, modern distro, WSL
- modern distro¶
A distro that uses the new tar-based format for packaging and distributing WSL distributions.
Related topic(s): distro, legacy distro, WSL
- Pro-attachment¶
The process of an Ubuntu client getting attached to an Ubuntu Pro subscription.
Related topic(s): Ubuntu Pro
- remote development¶
Developing in a WSL instance from a native Windows app, like Visual Studio Code.
- session¶
Launching an instance creates a terminal session for that instance. You can create multiple, parallel sessions for the same instance.
Related topic(s): instance
- snapd¶
A background service that manages and maintains installed snaps.
Related topic(s): snaps
- snaps¶
Containerized software packages that bundles one or more applications. By default, snaps update automatically. Snaps are managed using the snapd background service.
Related topic(s): snapd
- systemctl¶
A command-line tool for controlling systemd and managing systemd services.
Related topic(s): systemd
- systemd¶
An init system and service manager that can be used to manage Linux services. It is enabled by default for Linux distributions running on WSL 2. Key services and tools depend on systemd, including snapd and systemctl.
- Ubuntu¶
A free, open-source operating system, and one of the most popular Linux distributions in the world. Ubuntu is the default WSL distro.
Related topic(s): Ubuntu Pro, WSL
- Ubuntu Pro¶
A subscription service offered by Canonical, which offers enhanced security and support. See the Ubuntu Pro website.
Related topic(s): Ubuntu, Ubuntu Pro client, Ubuntu Pro token, Ubuntu Pro for WSL
- Ubuntu Pro client¶
A tool installed within each instance of Ubuntu on WSL that enables Ubuntu Pro services. Can be used to Pro-attach an instance. See the Ubuntu Pro Client documentation.
Related topic(s): Ubuntu Pro, Ubuntu Pro for WSL
- Ubuntu Pro for WSL¶
- Pro for WSL¶
A Windows application for automating Pro-attachment and configuring Landscape-enrollment.
Related topic(s): Ubuntu Pro, Windows agent, WSL Pro service
- Ubuntu Pro token¶
A unique token for accessing Pro-subscriber benefits.
Related topic(s): Ubuntu Pro, Ubuntu Pro client
- VHD¶
- Virtual Hard Disk¶
A unique
.vhdxfile that is created when any Linux distribution is installed using WSL. The VHD for a given WSL instance stores files using an ext4 file system, and is dynamically resized to meet the storage requirements of that instance.- Windows agent¶
Pro for WSL’s central hub that communicates and coordinates its various components.
Related topic(s): Ubuntu Pro for WSL, WSL Pro service
- Windows registry¶
A hierarchical database for storing settings on Windows.
Related topic(s): Windows agent
- WSL¶
- Windows Subsystem for Linux¶
A virtualization layer for running Linux distributions on Windows. See the Microsoft WSL documentation.
Related topic(s): instance, wsl.exe, WSL version
- WSL Pro service¶
A bridge between the Windows agent and instances of Ubuntu on WSL. The Windows agent running on the Windows host sends commands that the WSL Pro Service executes, such as pro-attaching or configuring the Landscape client.
Related topic(s): Windows agent, Ubuntu Pro client
- WSL profile¶
A set of configurations defined in Landscape for deploying pre-configured WSL instances.
Related topic(s): Landscape, Landscape dashboard
- WSL version¶
WSL is available in two versions: WSL 1 and WSL 2. WSL 2 is the latest, recommended version.
Related topic(s): WSL
- wsl.exe¶
A native Windows executable for installing WSL distributions and managing WSL instances. See the WSL command reference.