Microsoft releases WSL 3.0.1 with native Linux container support

Microsoft has officially released version 3.0.1 of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), introducing native support for Linux containers through a new tool called ‘wslc’ (WSL Containers). This update allows users to create, deploy, and run Linux containers directly on Windows 11 without requiring third-party virtualization software like Docker.

Key technical improvements include a migration to the Linux 6.18 kernel and the implementation of the ‘virtiofs’ file system, which reportedly doubles file access speeds on Windows 11. The update also introduces the ‘consomme’ network mode, enabling Linux traffic to be forwarded through the Windows host to ensure compatibility with enterprise network policies and proxy servers.

For developers, the release includes open-source components under the MIT license, such as the WSL command-line tools and the WSLg graphics stack. The update also integrates with Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for centralized management. New command-line capabilities include container restarts, system information retrieval, and network connection management.