9/27/23, 8:16 PM How to download and install Linux | Microsoft Learn

How to download and install Linux

Article • 09/07/2023

Linux is an operating system, similar to Windows, but with many different versions due
to the nature of being open source and fully customizable. To install Linux, you must
choose an install method and choose a Linux distribution.

To install Linux:

1. Choose an install method: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), Bare metal Linux;
or create a Virtual Machine (VM) to run Linux locally or in the cloud.

2. Choose a Linux distribution: Ubuntu, Debian, Kali Linux, OpenSUSE, etc.

3. Follow the steps for your preferred install method:

Use the install Linux command with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
Create a Linux Virtual Machine (VM) in the cloud
Create a Linux Virtual Machine (VM) on your local machine
Create a bootable USB to install bare-metal Linux

4. After installing Linux: Get familiar with your distribution's package manager,
update and upgrade the packages available, and get familiar with the other Linux
resources at Microsoft, such as training courses, Linux-versions of popular tools,
news, and Open Source events.

Step 1 - Choose a method to install Linux

The choice of which method to use for installing Linux depends on your needs and
preferences.

New to using Linux? We recommend starting with Windows Subsystem for Linux
(WSL) as it's the easiest way to get up and running.
Work in a business environment with more complex needs related to scale or
security? We recommend running Linux as a Virtual Machine (VM) in the cloud
and checking out the support that Azure has to offer. This also applies if you want
to run Linux as a server.
Only want to run Linux as your primary operating system? If you are good with a
slightly more complicated install process and don't need access to Windows tools
(like Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, etc), you can run Linux on bare metal to
access the full potential of your hardware without any overhead from virtualization
or emulation.
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Learn more about these options below.

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Available to those with a Windows machine, this is the most simple way to install Linux.
Just run the Linux install command: wsl --install to install the Ubuntu distribution.

This method uses virtualization to integrate the Windows operating system (OS) with
the Linux OS (running on an actual Linux kernel). You can add as many different Linux
distributions as you please and run your favorite Linux tools, including GUI apps,
alongside your favorite Windows tools. You can also mix and match Bash and
PowerShell commands in the same command line. A Linux file system hosts your project
files, while a separate Windows file systems hosts any developer tools, such as VS Code,
that you'd like to work on the files with. This method of running Linux is highly efficient
and performant. Once you choose a Linux distribution or opt to use the default Ubuntu
distro, follow the instructions to Use the install Linux command with Windows
Subsystem for Linux or learn more in the WSL documentation.

Create a Virtual Machine (VM)

Available to everyone regardless if you're using a Windows or MacOS-based machine,
but will require either an Azure account, if creating a VM in the cloud, or virtualization
software, if creating a VM directly on your machine (locally).

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A VM is a digital version of a physical computer and is a popular option for running

Linux in environments that may require you to scale the level of hardware support
(Memory and processing power required) and the level of Security (antimalware,
encryption, backups, policy management, etc).

Like with WSL, you can create VM instances of as many different Linux distributions as
you'd like, running them in an isolated environment, free from any conflicts and great
for software development testing. While running a Linux distribution on WSL has
slightly faster performance, a Linux VM is easier to clone or migrate. You can create a
virtual machine on a cloud service like Azure or on your local machine, using
virtualization software (otherwise known as a hypervisor).

Creating a VM on Azure means that it's hosted in the cloud, on Microsoft's servers. You
are essentially renting computing resources from Microsoft and using them to run the
VM. This can be convenient if you need to quickly provision a new VM or need to run a
workload that requires more computing resources than your local computer can
provide. Larger businesses with more complex needs often choose to run Linux VMs on
Azure for its scalability, control and abundance of features. Learn more about the
architecture, workflow, and considerations to Run a Linux VM on Azure.

Creating a VM on your local machine requires virtualization using a hypervisor.

Windows includes a "type 1" hypervisor called Hyper-V to run virtualization directly on
your device hardware.There are also "type 2" hypervisors that run on top of the
operating system, like VirtualBox or VMware. If you are using a Mac, the most
commonly recommended hypervisor is "Parallels Desktop", though this is a paid service.
See Install Linux VM on a Mac with Apple M-Series chip . VirtualBox also supports
both Windows and MacOS. See Creating and Running a Linux Virtual Machine for
more about how to design and run custom Linux guests on Apple silicon or Intel-based
Macs.

You are responsible for managing the virtual machine when using a hypervisor,
including allocating resources like memory and disk space, and ensuring that it is secure
and up-to-date. This requires more technical expertise than some of the other options
and may not be as scalable or fault-tolerant.

Once you've chosen a distribution and decided whether you want to run the VM locally,
using a hypervisor, or in the cloud, using Azure, follow the instructions to Create a Linux
Virtual Machine in the Cloud or Create a Linux Virtual Machine locally using a
Hypervisor

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Bare metal Linux

Bare metal Linux just means that Linux is running directly on the device hardware. This
install method requires you to create a bootable USB drive by downloading an iso install
file from the site hosting your chosen Linux distribution. You will need to use a Windows
computer (or any desktop device with an existing OS) to create this drive.

Many users choose the traditional method of installing bare metal Linux on a device
that is also running Windows and using the "dual boot" method. To dual boot Linux
and Windows, you need to partition your hard drive to create separate spaces for both
the Linux and Windows OS. The performance speed between WSL, virtual machines,
and bare metal Linux has become so close that few developers choose this method due
to the overhead of needing to restart (reboot) your device any time you want to switch
between the operating systems. If you choose the bare metal Linux install route, you
may also need to deal with potential driver issues or hardware compatibility problems
that may arise with Linux on some devices.

You can find a list of Popular Linux Distributions available for download on Linux.org .
Once you've chosen a distro, follow the instructions to Create a bootable USB to install
bare-metal Linux.

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Step 2 - Choose a Linux distribution

The different versions of Linux are called "distributions" (sometimes shortened to
“distros”). So there isn’t actually a way to just “install Linux”, you first need to choose
which distribution that uses the Linux kernel you want to download and install. There
are over 600 active Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, Debian, Kali Linux, OpenSUSE,
and more. There are a number of factors to consider in choosing a distribution, such as:

Required Linux experience

If you’re new to Linux, you may want to start with Ubuntu. This is one of the most
common starting places for Linux users due to the level of support and ease of use.
Ubuntu offers a desktop-version and a server-version depending on how you plan to
use it. The specific tasks that the operating system will be responsible for may help you
determine which distribution to use. Arch Linux is a popular choice for those who want
a highly customizable, do-it-yourself approach that is still stable and well-supported by
a large user base. It is a much more complicated place to start, but can help you to get
a better understanding of how Linux works due to the amount of custom configuration.

System requirements
A minimal, or "lightweight", distribution means a small footprint, with lower memory
and processing speed requirements. Alpine Linux is a popular option where users will
find most features disabled or not installed by default, but still has everything you need
for a containerized app. Security needs: Some Linux users may have specific security
concerns to consider. Kali Linux is an example of a distro designed for security tasks,

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such as Penetration Testing, Security Research, Computer Forensics and Reverse

Engineering.

Business and Enterprise requirements

Business, corporate, or academic environments may have unique concerns from
consumer environments. Both Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Oracle Linux offer
24/7 global support and subscription-based service. CentOS is another popular
enterprise distro that is community-supported but still compatible with RHEL.

Community support
A large user community that consistently contributes to the distribution, fixing bugs,
adding features, helping with questions, etc. is another good consideration. Ubuntu is
one of the most popular distos. OpenSUSE has been around longer than most other
distributions and still receives active updates. Many other distros rapidly grow popular
as the needs and preferences of the user community change. The Linux.org site has
resources to help you assess what's available, well-supported, or growing in popularity.

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Step 3 - Follow install method instructions

Install Linux with Windows Subsystem for Linux

To install Linux on a Windows PC, use the install Linux command.

1. Open PowerShell or Windows Command Prompt in administrator mode by right-

clicking and selecting "Run as administrator".
2. Enter the Linux install command: wsl --install .
3. Restart your machine.

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Install Linux command options

By default, the install command will use the Ubuntu distribution of Linux. You can see
the other distributions that are available in the Microsoft Store by entering the
command: wsl -l -o . If you'd like to install a distribution other than Ubuntu, just add -
d to the command with the name of the distribution you'd like to install:

PowerShell

wsl --install -d <Distro Name>

If the distribution you want to install isn't available in the Microsoft Store, see the
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) documentation on how to Import any Linux
distribution to use with WSL.

For more information on how to use VS Code, Git, databases, Docker, GUI apps, GPU
acceleration, NodesJS, USB devices, or mount a disk, build a custom distribution,
manage disk space, or set up WSL for your enterprise business, see the WSL
documentation.

Create a Linux Virtual Machine in the cloud

To create a Linux Virtual Machine (VM) that is hosted in the cloud on Azure, log-in to
the Azure Portal and select the “Create a Virtual Machine” service. Then follow the

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instructions for creating a user name, project, instance, SSH key, ports, and copying the
IP address.

Azure supports a variety of options for setting up Linux VMs in the cloud. For a
quickstart guide on how to set up a Linux VM, choose your preferred method:

Azure Portal
Azure CLI
Azure PowerShell
Terraform
A Bicep file
Azure Resource Manager (ARM) template

If you don't have an Azure subscription, create a free account before you begin. If
you're new to creating Linux VMs with Azure, you can learn more about VMs or check
out the online training course: Create a Linux virtual machine in Azure.

Create a Linux Virtual Machine locally using a hypervisor

To create a Linux VM that is hosted on your local machine using a hypervisor, you can
use:

Windows Hyper-V
VirtualBox
VMware

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You will need to check the hardware requirements for your chosen hypervisor. Once the
hypervisor is enabled or installed, you will need to choose the type of OS that you want
to install and the installation source (this is typically a .iso or .vhdx file). You will need to
give the VM a name, select the directory where files will be hosted, select the amount of
memory to allocate to the VM and the size of the virtual hard drive where files will be
stored (you can typically choose between a fixed or dynamically allocated amount of
drive space). Sometimes integrations with a Linux virtual machine can be tricky due to
display drivers and other hardware dependencies, but most hypervisors have an active
user community that can help. You may also need to set up a virtual network if you
want your VM to connect to the internet.

If you're new to hypervisors and want to learn more, try the free online training module:
Configure and manage Hyper-V virtual machines.

Create a bootable USB drive to install bare-metal Linux

If you want bare-metal Linux, whether to run a distribution alone on a device or to dual-
boot between the distribution and Windows, here are the steps:

1. Download an image file for your chosen Linux distribution. This is usually an ISO
file. As an example, you can find an image file for the most recent version of
Ubuntu at Download Ubuntu Desktop . Some Linux distributions may require
you to verify the image signature before downloading.

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2. Create a bootable USB drive. You will typically need a USB drive with at least 16gb
of space. You will also need software to create the bootable drive. There are many
options (such as balenaEtcher, Rufus, UNetbootin, etc.). Often the download site
for your chosen Linux distribution will recommend which startup disk creater
software to use.
3. Boot your device from the USB drive. When restarting the device, you will need to
enter the boot menu. This is typically done by holding down the F12 key during
startup. You can then select the USB drive containing your Linux distribution ISO
to install from.
4. Select install options. Typically the installer for your Linux distribution will include a
set of installation steps that will involve choosing options about whether you want
to include certain features, third-party software packages, etc. You may also need
to specify whether to erase the disk in the case that this Linux distro will be the
only operating system, or to use a partition, if you plan to run multiple operating
systems. You may also be asked about whether you'd like to enable encryption.
5. Finally, as with any Linux installation, you will be asked to create a user name and
password.

Step 4 - After installing Linux

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Once you have successfully installed a Linux distribution, there are a few more
important steps:

1. Get familiar with the preferred package manager used by your chosen Linux
distribution. Linux uses package manager's to download and update any software
that you plan to use. For example, Ubuntu uses the Advanced Packaging Tool
(APT) .
2. Use your distribution's package manager to update and upgrade your distribution.
Software packages in a stable release of a Linux distribution are often outdated. It
is recommended to regularly run an update. You may also want to run an upgrade,
which installs newer versions of any packages that you've already installed. For
example, if you're using Ubuntu, run: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade .
3. Learn more about the Linux resources available at Microsoft, such as Linux-specific
versions of Microsoft tools like Visual Studio Code, .NET, and PowerShell, free
Linux-related training courses available from the Learn catalog, and information
about events, news, and the ongoing partnerships between Linux organizations
and Microsoft, including the Microsoft-supported Mariner distribution.

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