Ubuntu Subsystem Backup and reinstall in new/clean win10 Installation

[SvenBudak]

Hi,

Is it possible to backup my Ubuntu Subsystem from 1 Computer and re-import it on one of my other machines?

And is a feature planed where the Subsystem can be synct via OneDrive between all machines?

[fpqc]

It's suggested to backup your user home directory and then reinstall, copy the home back in, and fix the permissions.

[SvenBudak]

Is there any way to let the permissions autofix? i am not really good with linux. i am happy that i make it running on this one machine ;)

[Biswa96]

@BamiGorengo Do you have any external HDD or SSD? I've some idea.

[SvenBudak]

i can get one yes. but my plan was to backup the complete "CanonicalGroupLimited.UbuntuonWindows_79rhkp1fndgsc" folder in a zip file, upload it on my cloud and download it on my other computer. then i install ubuntu from the App-Store and repleace the folder.

you think this can work? and what is with permissions then? they are all broken after i did this?

[fpqc]

no, zip will kill the permissions 🙄

[SvenBudak]

hmmmm... then letz wait for Biswa96. he have some idea :)

[Biswa96]

No, your step does not work. My step will be like: you install in external drive > backup a simple registry ( ~2KB) > Connect the drive anywhere > Just import the registry.
If you want to upload/download WSL, then you follow @bitcrazed answer in this link: https://superuser.com/a/1199498/726810 or see this issue #2567

[SvenBudak]

Oh.. Thanks, but i think i dont understand Richard Turner`s Tutorial. Maybe i better wait for a solution from Microsoft. Hope for a OneDrive Solution.

[fpqc]

You can use tar and untar on the current directory.

[bitcrazed]

@BamiGorengo - Please avoid spelunking around in WSL's folders - there be dragons!

Also, the folder you were proposing copying between machines contains the entire userspace - this is overkill and is unlikely to work well as a backup mechanism.

Instead, focus on copying your settings, home folder, and (if necessary) generating the list of currently installed packages, so that you can export/copy that list to restore onto a fresh new instance of the same distro. The first answer to this AskUbuntu question should help: https://askubuntu.com/questions/9135/how-to-backup-settings-and-list-of-installed-packages

[Biswa96]

@bitcrazed One can fix the permission with NtSetEaFile() function. This LXATTRB extended attribute can be added to wsl.exe so that user can fix file/folder/hard link permissions.

[bitcrazed]

It's not just about permissions. There are other potential issues caused by unexpected file locking semantics, etc. We are working to improve Windows --> Linux filesystem interop in future releases and, in the meantime, encourage users to avoid spelunking into the Linux filesystem via Windows and Windows apps/tools.

[Biswa96]

In this context, I thought if WSL can be backed up in a Virtual Hard Disk file (.vhd). Can WSL be install in a vhd file?

[WSLUser]

@Biswa96 asking for WSL install via .vhd? Next we'll be asking for a .iso installation.

[bitcrazed]

Today, the only place we support installing WSL distros on Client OS' is to the locations controlled, managed, and configured via the built-in infrastructure.

While you MIGHT be able to install distros elsewhere, you do so at your own risk ;)

Similarly, I don't believe we support installing distro's to magnetic tape drives, Hollerith punched card machines, or Jacquard looms ;)

[fpqc]

I wonder if with serial support you can now display WSL on a teletype machine 🤔

I've seen it done with bare metal linux on youtube.

[bitcrazed]

Give it a try and let us know how you get on :D

[SvenBudak]

The Problem is that my english is really bad, i cant follow all informations that i get in replys in this issue... And when i need to google to solve to much terminal and linux permission problems that i dont understand... it will ends in chaos :D The only way is a "drag & drop" solution. i checked docker because i hoped that i can mount that image so easy like mounting images with deamon tools... but that seems not so easy like i hoped... ;P

[therealkenc]

Ran course.

[abalter]

I did find this list of methods, but haven't tried them yet.

https://superuser.com/questions/1164818/how-to-backup-wsl-linux-subsystem-for-windows-10-before-system-reset-or-reins/1344203#1344203

[BeErikk]

If anyone wonders more about this, I've installed WSL on a virtual drive through the server installation method on Windows 10. It's been running without any problems since July 2018. I have the drive automount at computer start. As far as I've seen Windows is not depended on any WSL services before the automount. I will reinstall a clean Windows at the coming Windows update, so I will have to find a way to reattach my WSL drive. The virtual drive file can without issue be moved anywhere, backed up etc, even mounted from your network. The file is currently ~5GB.

[Venipa]

wsl --export <Distro> <filepath (ex: ./debian-development.wsl)>
on new machine wsl --import <filepath to your backup)

may take a while. made an dev env with this super handy stored my ssh keys etc there.
i hope im not to late

[abalter]

@Venipa -- what is <Distro> here? How does Windows name your WSL?

[abalter]

@Venipa -- I don't see an --export option.

C:\Users\ariel>wsl --help
Usage: wsl.exe [option] ...
Options:
    -d, --distribution <DistributionName>
        Launch the specified distribition.

    -e, --exec <CommandLine>
        Execute the specified Linux command. The remainder of the arguments are
        used as the command line to execute.

    -u, --user <UserName>
        Run as the specified user.

    --help
        Display this usage information.

    --
        Stop parsing arguments and pass the remainder to the Linux process.

[abalter]

Hmmm. I think I may need to update Windows to get this feature. I'll report back.

[Venipa]

currently on 20h1 but i know its in 19h1