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Linux resources at Microsoft

Article • 08/07/2023

Microsoft offers a variety of resources to support Linux users, including:

Microsoft tools that run on Linux

New to Linux?
Linux-related training at Microsoft
Microsoft + Linux partnerships, open source news, events, and history

Microsoft tools that run on Linux

Microsoft supports Linux with a variety of different tools and services. If you’re using
Linux you may be interested in some of these resources.

Install
.NET on Linux
Learn how to how to install .NET on various Linux distributions either manually, via a
package manager, or via a container. .NET is a free and open-source development
platform with languages, editors, and libraries to build for web, mobile, desktop, games,
and IoT.
 Install
Visual Studio Code on Linux
VS Code is a lightweight source code editor with a rich ecosystem of extensions (C++,
C#, Java, Python, PHP, Go) and runtimes (such as .NET and Unity). Learn how to install
Visual Studio Code on Linux and keep it up to date via package managers. You can also
learn Remote development with Linux using VS Code and the WSL extension that lets
you use VS Code on Windows to build Linux applications.

Install
PowerShell on Linux
PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation solution made up of a command-line
shell, a scripting language, and a configuration management program. Learn how to
install PowerShell on Linux and find the currently supported Linux distributions and
package managers.
 Install
Microsoft Edge on Linux
Microsoft Edge, built on the same technology as Chrome, now offers the Bing AI-
powered copilot, in addition to Startup boost, Efficiency mode, Microsoft Defender
SmartScreen, Password monitor, Collections, Vertical or Sleeping Tabs, and more. You
can install a Beta or Dev Channel version of Microsoft Edge on Linux via download or
using the command line.

Install
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Linux
Get a unified view of threats and alerts for your environment in the Microsoft 365
Defender portal empowering you to more quickly assess and respond to these threats.
Learn how to install, configure, update, and use Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on
Linux.
 Azure
Linux container host for AKS
The Azure Linux Container Host is an operating system image that's optimized for
running container workloads on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). It's maintained by
Microsoft and based on Microsoft Azure Linux, an open-source Linux distribution
created by Microsoft. Learn more.

Install the
Azure CLI on Linux
The Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI) is a cross-platform command-line tool to
connect to Azure and execute administrative commands on Azure resources. It allows
the execution of commands through a terminal using interactive command-line prompts
or a script. Azure CLI list of commands.
 Install
Azure PowerShell on Linux
Azure PowerShell is a collection of cross-platform modules that enable you to manage
all Azure resources. Its discoverable commands use Verb-Noun syntax, produce object-
oriented output, and offer powerful automation features.

Download
and install Azure Data Studio on Linux
Use Azure Data Studio to query, design, and manage your databases and data
warehouses wherever they are, on your local computer or in the cloud. You can install
Azure Data Studio on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
(SLES), Ubuntu, Debian, and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

New to Linux?
If you're new to Linux, we can help you to get started. Linux is an open source operating
system with many different versions due to the nature of being open source and fully
customizable. The different versions of Linux are called "distributions" (sometimes
shortened to “distros”). Check out our guide on How to download and install Linux that
covers how to:

Choose a Linux distribution

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

If you want to learn more before you install Linux, check out some of our Linux-related
training available at Microsoft.

Linux-related training at Microsoft

A variety of Linux-related training is available, ranging from Beginner to Advanced levels
of expertise.

What is WSL?
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) now supports running Linux GUI applications (X11
and Wayland) on Windows in a fully integrated desktop experience.

Get started with Windows Subsystem for Linux

(WSL)
A training module on how to install a Linux distribution, set up a dev environment,
explore recommended tools and workflows, learn what WSL can and can’t do, try some
basic commands, and assess whether WSL fits your needs.

Get started with Linux and Bash

Help for those new to Linux to get started installing and updating packages using the
Ubuntu distribution of Linux that is installed by default using WSL, as well as using some
basic commands with the Bash command line. Also check out the Introduction to Bash
training course module.

Run Linux GUI apps with WSL

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) now supports running Linux GUI applications (X11
and Wayland) on Windows in a fully integrated desktop experience.
 Install
Docker on Linux with WSL
Docker is an open platform for developing, shipping, and running applications,
providing the ability to package and run an application in a loosely isolated
environment called a container. Learn how to install Docker on Linux using WSL and
Docker Desktop for Windows.

Install
Node.js on Linux with WSL
Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform, server-side JavaScript runtime environment,
often used for building fast, scalable web applications. Learn how to install Node.js on a
Linux distribution using WSL, nvm, and npm.
 Install
React on Linux with WSL
React is an open-source JavaScript library for building front end user interfaces. Learn
how to install React on a Linux distribution using WSL, npx, and create-react-app.

Install
Python on Linux with WSL
Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with
dynamic semantics. It is open-source and a popular option for web development using
Linux along with frameworks like Django and Flask. Learn how to install Python, Django,
and Flask using WSL, pip, and venv.
Linux on Azure
A learning path with training modules to help you deploy and manage Linux on Azure,
including cloud computing concepts, Linux IaaS and PaaS solutions, and Azure cloud
services.

Introduction to Linux on Azure

A training module on the unique benefits of running Linux on Azure, and how to run
Linux-based applications and workloads in the cloud with Azure.

Create a Linux virtual machine in Azure

A training module on how to create a Linux virtual machine using the Azure portal.
Choose the best Azure command-line tools for managing and provisioning your
cloud infrastructure
Learn the basic concepts of infrastructure as code, explore the key differences between
the Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, Bicep, and Terraform, and decide which command-line
tools best meet your organization's needs.

Learn to use Bash with the Azure CLI

A tutorial on how to use the Azure CLI in a Bash environment, write queries, format
output, create objects using variables and randomization, create a storage account,
handle errors, clean up resources, and more.

Design a Performant Data Model in Azure SQL Database with Azure Data Studio
Learn how to create a data model with Azure data studio. Create indexes, tables and use
data types to help develop your applications.

Cloud Solution Architecture for Linux

As your Linux workloads become more complex, you may consider building new or
migrating existing systems to the cloud in order to increase scale, improve security, or
take advantage of management tools and networking services. Learn more about how
Azure supports Cloud Solution Architecture for Linux.

Browse Azure Architectures

Find architecture diagrams and technology descriptions for reference architectures, real
world examples of cloud architectures, and solution ideas for common Linux workloads
on Azure.
Baseline architecture for an Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster
Learn about the recommended baseline infrastructure architecture to deploy an Azure
Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster on Azure and best practices from the Azure Well-
Architected Framework for deploying a networking, security, or identity infrastructure.
The One Migrate approach - Cloud Adoption
Learn about the process for migrating your core Linux applications and databases from
on-premisis servers to the cloud in order to take advantage of Azure services that can
simplify operations, optimize CI/CD processes, use auto-scaling, and reduce costs.

Microsoft + Linux news, events, and

partnerships
Microsoft is one of the biggest contributors to open source projects in the world. Learn
more about Microsoft + Linux partnerships, Open Source news, events, and history.
Microsoft Open Source Blog
Read about the latest news, events, project updates, and demos/tutorials related to
Open Source at Microsoft.
Windows Command Line Blog
Read the latest updates about Windows Subsystem for Linux, Windows Terminal, and
Windows Package Manager.

Ubuntu Blog: Microsoft

Read the latest news related to the partnership between Canonical and Microsoft.
Microsoft joins the Linux Foundation
Original announcement about Microsoft joining the Linux Foundation from November
2016.
Microsoft joins partners and the Linux Foundation to create Confidential Computing
Consortium
Original announcement about Microsoft and Linux Foundation partnering to create the
Confidential Computing Consortium, dedicated to defining and accelerating the
adoption of confidential computing.
Open 3D Foundation Welcomes Microsoft
Original announcement about Microsoft joining over 25 organizations committed to
democratizing 3D software development for games and simulations.
How to download and install Linux
Article • 10/25/2023

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.
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).
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
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 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.
 ２ Warning

If you are planning to dual boot or live boot a bare metal Linux distribution and
your Windows machine is using Bitlocker for encryption to protect data theft or
exposure, be certain to retrieve and store your BitLocker encryption keys prior
to installing Linux. Learn more in this Microsoft Q&A: Can I use Bitlocker with
Dual-Boot setup?

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,
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. For example Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), SUSE Linux
Enterprise Server (SLES) 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 offers in addition to the stable version (Leap) a rolling version
(Tumbleweed). 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.
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.
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
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
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. Some Linux distributions also
 cannot be installed unless Windows Secure Boot is disabled (which is not
recommended).
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

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.
Windows Subsystem for Linux
Documentation
Article • 06/27/2022

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) lets developers run a GNU/Linux environment --
including most command-line tools, utilities, and applications -- directly on Windows,
unmodified, without the overhead of a traditional virtual machine or dual-boot setup.

Install WSL

Learn more
What is the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)?
What's new with WSL 2?
Comparing WSL 1 and WSL 2
Frequently Asked Questions

Get started
Install WSL
Install Linux on Windows Server
Manual install steps
Best practices for setting up a WSL development environment

Try WSL preview features by joining the

Windows Insiders Program
To try the most recent features or updates to WSL, join the Windows Insiders
Program . Once you have joined Windows Insiders, you can choose the channel you
would like to receive preview builds from inside the Windows settings menu. You can
choose from:

Dev channel: Most recent updates, but low stability.

Beta channel: Ideal for early adopters, more reliable builds than the Dev channel.
Release Preview channel: Preview fixes and key features on the next version of
Windows just before its available to the general public.
Team blogs
Overview post with a collection of videos and blogs
Command-Line blog (Active)
Windows Subsystem for Linux Blog (Historical)

Provide feedback
GitHub issue tracker: WSL
GitHub issue tracker: WSL documentation

Related videos
WSL BASICS

1. What is the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)? | One Dev Question (0:40)
2. I'm a Windows developer. Why should I use WSL? | One Dev Question (0:58)
3. I'm a Linux developer. Why should I use WSL? | One Dev Question (1:04)
4. What is Linux? | One Dev Question (1:31)
5. What is a Linux distro? | One Dev Question (1:04)
6. How is WSL different than a virtual machine or dual booting? | One Dev
Question
7. Why was the Windows Subsystem for Linux created? | One Dev Question (1:14)
8. How do I access files on my computer in WSL? | One Dev Question (1:41)
9. How is WSL integrated with Windows? | One Dev Question (1:34)
10. How do I configure a WSL distro to launch in the home directory in Terminal? |
One Dev Question (0:47)
11. Can I use WSL for scripting? | One Dev Question (1:04)
12. Why would I want to use Linux tools on Windows? | One Dev Question (1:20)
13. In WSL, can I use distros other than the ones in the Microsoft Store? | One Dev
Question (1:03)

WSL DEMOS

1. WSL2: Code faster on the Windows Subsystem for Linux! | Tabs vs Spaces (13:42)
2. WSL: Run Linux GUI Apps | Tabs vs Spaces (17:16)
3. WSL 2: Connect USB devices | Tabs vs Spaces (10:08)
4. GPU Accelerated Machine Learning with WSL 2 | Tabs vs Spaces (16:28)
5. Visual Studio Code: Remote Dev with SSH, VMs, and WSL | Tabs vs Spaces (29:33)
6. Windows Dev Tool Updates: WSL, Terminal, Package Manager, and more | Tabs
vs Spaces (20:46)
 7. Build Node.JS apps with WSL | Highlight (3:15)
8. New memory reclaim feature in WSL 2 | Demo (6:01)
9. Web development on Windows (in 2019) | Demo (10:39)

WSL DEEP DIVES

1. WSL on Windows 11 - Demos with Craig Loewen and Scott Hanselman |

Windows Wednesday (35:48)
2. WSL and Linux Distributions – Hayden Barnes and Kayla Cinnamon | Windows
Wednesday (37:00)
3. Customize your terminal with Oh My Posh and WSL Linux distros | Windows
Wednesday (33:14)
4. Web dev Sarah Tamsin and Craig Loewen chat about web development, content
creation, and WSL | Dev Perspectives (12:22)
5. How WSL accesses Linux files from Windows | Deep dive (24:59)
6. Windows subsystem for Linux architecture: a deep dive | Build 2019 (58:10)
Virtual machines in Azure
Documentation for creating and managing virtual machines in Azure.

Latest features

ｈ WHAT'S NEW

Azure Boost

Hibernation

Flexible Virtual Machine Scale Sets Orchestration

Community Gallery

Linux quickstarts

ｆ QUICKSTART

Azure CLI

Azure portal

Azure PowerShell

Terraform

Windows quickstarts

ｆ QUICKSTART

Azure portal

Azure PowerShell

Terraform

Azure CLI

Self-paced training
ｄ TRAINING

Create a Linux virtual machine in Azure

Create a Windows virtual machine in Azure

Troubleshooting

ｃ HOW-TO GUIDE

Troubleshooting Guides

Troubleshoot deployment issues

Troubleshoot allocation failures

Troubleshoot unexpected reboots

Microsoft Q&A

Resources

ｅ OVERVIEW

Cloud adoption framework

Azure architecture center

Azure Quickstart templates

Pricing

Regional availability

Virtual machines selector tool

Linux Software Repository for Microsoft
Products
Article • 10/27/2023

Linux versions of many Microsoft software products are supported and hosted on the
"Linux software repository for Microsoft products": https://packages.microsoft.com .

Packages.microsoft.com is a public repository meant to be consumed programmatically

by Linux packaging clients, including apt (for Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian)
dnf / yum (for RPM-based distributions like RedHat Enterprise, Fedora, CentOS, or
Oracle Enterprise), or zypper (for SUSE Linux). In addition to the Linux packaging client
directories, it includes related config files and keys.

You can learn more about the PMC service (packages.microsoft.com), file issues or pull
requests, or report a security vulnerability on the affiliated GitHub repo: Microsoft Linux
Package Repositories .

This guide covers:

How to install Microsoft software packages using the Linux Repository

Examples of available Microsoft products in the Linux Repository
How to use the GPG Repository Signing Key
Command examples for using the Linux repository service
Command examples for using the Linux repository service
Recommendations for client package resources supported by a static interface
How to file an issue, request a feature, or report a security vulnerability

How to install Microsoft software packages

using the Linux Repository
The Linux Software Repository can be configured to automatically install the Linux
package that applies to your Linux distribution and version. Each Microsoft product may
require a slightly different installation process. The package install includes the
repository configuration, along with the GPG public key used to validate the signed
packages and/or repository metadata.

７ Note

Optionally, if you prefer manual configuration, the Linux Software Repository

configuration files are available at https://packages.microsoft.com/config . The
 name and location of these files can be located using the following URI naming
convention:
https://packages.microsoft.com/config/<Distribution>/<Version>/prod.
(repo|list)

Examples of available Microsoft products in the Linux

Repository
The following Microsoft products are a few examples that offer Linux versions supported
for install using the Linux Repository (package.microsoft.com). See the associated
documentation link for more specific installation steps.

.NET on Linux
PowerShell on Linux
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Linux: (Manual deployment guide)
SQL Server on Linux: (Offline install guidance)
Microsoft InTune for Linux

） Important

Packages in the Linux Software Repository are subject to the license terms located
in each package. Please read the license terms prior to using the package. Your
installation and use of the package constitutes your acceptance of these terms. If
you do not agree with the license terms, do not use the package.

How to use the GPG Repository Signing Key

Linux Software Repository for Microsoft Products uses the GPG (GNU Privacy Guard)
enabling users to verify the authenticity of files and to check the signatures of
downloaded packages.

Microsoft's GPG public key may be downloaded here:

https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc
Public Key ID: Microsoft (Release signing) gpgsecurity@microsoft.com
Public Key Fingerprint: BC52 8686 B50D 79E3 39D3 721C EB3E 94AD BE12 29CF

Command examples for using the Linux

repository service
The following commands will configure your Linux OS to install packages from
packages.microsoft.com. There are instructions for deb-based systems (e.g. Debian,
Ubuntu) and rpm-based systems (e.g. Fedora, RHEL).

If you're unsure what distribution and version you are currently running, you can try
entering lsb_release -a (for any distro that includes the “lsb-release" package) or cat
/etc/os-release (for any distro that uses systemd).

Debian-based Linux distributions

Download the repo config package: curl -sSL -O
https://packages.microsoft.com/config/<distribution>/<version>/packages-
microsoft-prod.deb

Install the repo config package: sudo dpkg -i packages-microsoft-prod.deb

Delete the repo config package after installing: rm packages-microsoft-prod.deb

Update package index files: sudo apt-get update

To install the Microsoft product package you're after using this Linux repository
(packages.microsoft.com): sudo apt-get install <package-name>

See packages.microsoft.com to find the list of supported Linux distributions and

versions.

In this example, entering cat /etc/os-release shows that Ubuntu, version 20.04, is
running. Visiting packages.microsoft.com , we can see Ubuntu 20.04 on the list. To
download the packages.microsoft.com repo, cURL is used to download with the
command: curl -sSL -O
https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/20.04/packages-microsoft-prod.deb . The

repo config package is then installed with the command: sudo dpkg -i packages-
microsoft-prod.deb and then deleted as not to take up space. The list of packages is

then updated with the apt package manager using the command: sudo apt-get update .

To search what Microsoft packages are available after installing, change to the root
directory of your Linux distribution: cd / and look in the directory: /var/lib/apt/lists .
You will see a list of files with titles something like:
packages.microsoft.com_ubuntu_20.04_prod_dists_focal_main_binary-all_Packages . You

can open this file in a text editor (for example, nano <file-name> ) to see a list of the
available packages.
Red Hat-based Linux distributions
The Red Hat Package Manager (rpm) instructions assume that the package client
command is dnf but some rpm-based Linux distributions might be using other package
managers, such as tdnf .

Download the repo config package: curl -sSL -O

https://packages.microsoft.com/config/<distribution>/<version>/packages-

microsoft-prod.rpm

Install the repo config package: sudo rpm -i packages-microsoft-prod.rpm

Delete the repo config package after installing: rm packages-microsoft-prod.rpm

Update package index files: sudo dnf update

To install the Microsoft product package you're after using this Linux repository
(packages.microsoft.com): sudo dnf install <package-name>

As an example of a pckage client that uses yum , the steps may be slightly different.

Download the repo config package: curl -sSL -O

https://packages.microsoft.com/config/<distribution>/<version>/packages-

microsoft-prod.rpm

Install the repo config package: sudo rpm -i packages-microsoft-prod.rpm

Update package index files: sudo yum update

To install the Microsoft product package you're after using this Linux repository
(packages.microsoft.com): sudo yum install <package-name>

See packages.microsoft.com to find the list of supported Linux distributions and

versions. Once the packages.microsoft.com repo has been installed an updated, you can
use the package manager to list the packages available from Microsoft.

For example: dnf repository-packages packages-microsoft-com-prod list or yum repo-

pkgs packages-microsoft-com-prod list .

Recommendations for client package resources

supported by a static interface
Recommendations for using the resources on packages.microsoft.com include:
 The metadata for each package should be considered the source of truth for a
given package path if and when a change occurs.
When possible, use the config files located under /config and use standard Linux
package managers.
If you need to programmatically "find" a given package, without using a package
manager, be sure to parse the metadata, not the html.
Avoid depending on individual metadata files (such as primary.sqlite.gz or
Packages.bz2 ), as these are subject to change.

Packages on packages.microsoft.com may incorporate material from third parties.

License information for third party material may be found in the packages
themselves or associated documentation. Source code for certain third party
material may be available in an associated source directory. Alternatively, you may
obtain corresponding source code for certain packages or material by sending an
email to Opensource@microsoft.com, including the package name and version
information.

Static vs subject to change

When a Linux packaging client is referred to as “static”, it means that the client is
designed to work with a fixed set of libraries. A static client will not dynamically link to
any libraries outside of its own set and will instead use only the libraries that are
included in the client itself. "Static" resources are typically more safe to depend on, but
can still be subject to change.

Static resources on packages.microsoft.com include:

The path to each repo's metadata, such as the repomd.xml or Release/Packages for
Debian files. These metadata files are used by the client to determine which
packages are available for installation and what their dependencies are.
The paths to config files located under /config .
The paths to the key files located under /keys .

Resources that are subject to change include:

Paths to individual packages.

The HTML/directory browsing interface is enabled only for interactive web
browsing and is not a stable or supported API. This includes the underlying
structure of the HTML, as well as, the timestamp and filesize presented.
Package repositories often contain multiple copies of the same data in different
formats. There's no guarantee that each format will be supported. For example,
Debian repositories may include Packages , Packages.bz2 , Packages.gz , etc. Rpm
 repositories may include primary.xml.gz or primary.sqlite.bz2 , etc. Package
managers will generally prefer one of these formats, but accept an array of format
options.
Clamav signatures located under /clamav will no longer be supported, with
deprecation scheduled in 2023.

How to file an issue, request a feature, or

report a security vulnerability
We want to ensure that our Linux customers are well-supported. The following
communication channels are available to users of the PMC service:

Report an issue : Help us improve the PMC service by reporting any issues you
are experiencing.

Request a feature : Request a new feature or enhancement to the PMC service.

Report a security vulnerability : Help us to identify any potential security

vulnerabilities by reviewing our security policy and reporting any issues.
Install .NET on Linux
Article • 11/13/2023

This article details how to install .NET on various Linux distributions either manually, via
a package manager, or via a container.

Manual installation
You can install .NET manually in the following ways:

Manual install
Scripted install

You may need to install .NET dependencies if you install .NET manually.

Packages
.NET is available in official package archives for various Linux distributions and
packages.microsoft.com .

Alpine
CentOS
Debian
Fedora
openSUSE
SLES
Ubuntu

.NET is supported by Microsoft when downloaded from a Microsoft source. Best effort
support is offered from Microsoft when downloaded from elsewhere. You can open
issues at dotnet/core if you run into problems.

Next steps
How to check if .NET is already installed.
Tutorial: Create a new app with Visual Studio Code.
Tutorial: Containerize a .NET app.
６ Collaborate with us on
GitHub .NET feedback
The .NET documentation is open
The source for this content can
source. Provide feedback here.
be found on GitHub, where you
can also create and review
 Open a documentation issue
issues and pull requests. For
more information, see our
 Provide product feedback
contributor guide.
Install PowerShell on Linux
Article • 09/05/2023

PowerShell can be installed on several different Linux distributions. Most Linux platforms
and distributions have a major release each year, and provide a package manager that's
used to install PowerShell. PowerShell can be installed on some distributions of Linux
that aren't supported by Microsoft. In those cases, you may find support from the
community for PowerShell on those platforms.

For more information, see the PowerShell Support Lifecycle documentation.

This article lists the supported Linux distributions and package managers. All PowerShell
releases remain supported until either the version of PowerShell or the version of the
Linux distribution reaches end-of-support.

For the best compatibility, choose a long-term release (LTS) version.

Alpine
The following table lists the supported PowerShell releases and the versions of Alpine
they're supported on. These versions are supported until either the version of
PowerShell reaches end-of-support or the version of Alpine reaches end-of-life .

The icon indicates that the version of the OS or PowerShell is still supported
The icon indicates the version of PowerShell is no longer supported on that
version of the OS
The icon indicates that we haven't finished testing PowerShell on that OS
The icon indicates that the version of the OS or PowerShell isn't supported
When both the version of the OS and the version of PowerShell have a icon,
that combination is supported

Alpine 7.2 (LTS-current) 7.3 7.4 (preview)

3.15

3.14

Alpine 3.15 is in the process of being tested.

PowerShell is supported on Alpine for the following processor architectures.

 Alpine 7.2 (LTS-current) 7.3 7.4 (preview)

All supported versions x64 x64 x64

PowerShell hasn't been tested on Alpine using Arm processors.

For more information, see Install PowerShell on Alpine.

Debian
Debian uses APT (Advanced Package Tool) as a package manager.

The following table is a list of currently supported PowerShell releases and the versions
of Debian they're supported on. These versions remain supported until either the
version of PowerShell reaches end-of-support or the version of Debian reaches end-of-
life .

The icon indicates that the version of the OS or PowerShell is still supported
The icon indicates the version of PowerShell is no longer supported on that
version of the OS
The icon indicates that we haven't finished testing PowerShell on that OS
The icon indicates that the version of the OS or PowerShell isn't supported
When both the version of the OS and the version of PowerShell have a icon,
that combination is supported

Debian 7.2 (LTS-current) 7.3 7.4 (preview)

11

10

PowerShell is supported on Debian for the following processor architectures.

Debian 7.2 (LTS-current) 7.3 7.4 (preview)

Version 9+ x64 x64 x64

For more information, see Install PowerShell on Debian.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

RHEL 7 uses yum and RHEL 8 uses the dnf package manager.
The following table is a list of currently supported versions of PowerShell and the
versions of RHEL they're supported on. These versions remain supported until either the
version of PowerShell reaches end-of-support or the version of RHEL reaches end-of-
support .

The icon indicates that the version of the OS or PowerShell is still supported
The icon indicates the version of PowerShell is no longer supported on that
version of the OS
The icon indicates that we haven't finished testing PowerShell on that OS
The icon indicates that the version of the OS or PowerShell isn't supported
When both the version of the OS and the version of PowerShell have a icon,
that combination is supported

RHEL 7.2 (LTS-current) 7.3 7.4 (preview)

PowerShell is supported on RHEL for the following processor architectures.

RHEL 7.2 (LTS-current) 7.3 7.4 (preview)

All supported versions x64 x64 x64

For more information, see Install PowerShell on RHEL.

Ubuntu
Ubuntu uses APT (Advanced Package Tool) as a package manager.

The following table is a list of currently supported PowerShell releases and the versions
of Ubuntu they're supported on. These versions remain supported until either the
version of PowerShell reaches end-of-support or the version of Ubuntu reaches end-of-
support .

The icon indicates that the version of the OS or PowerShell is still supported
The icon indicates the version of PowerShell is no longer supported on that
version of the OS
The icon indicates that we haven't finished testing PowerShell on that OS
The icon indicates that the version of the OS or PowerShell isn't supported
 When both the version of the OS and the version of PowerShell have a icon,
that combination is supported

Ubuntu 7.2 (LTS-current) 7.3 7.4 (preview)

22.04 (LTS)

20.04 (LTS)

18.04 (LTS)

Only the LTS releases of Ubuntu are officially supported. Microsoft does not support
interim releases or their equivalent. Interim releases are community supported. For
more information, see Community supported distributions.

PowerShell is supported on Ubuntu for the following processor architectures.

Ubuntu 7.2 (LTS-current) 7.3 7.4 (preview)

All supported versions x64, Arm32 x64, Arm32 x64, Arm32

For more information, see Install PowerShell on Ubuntu.

Community supported distributions

PowerShell can be installed on many distributions of Linux that aren't supported by
Microsoft. In those cases, you may find support from the community for PowerShell on
those platforms

To be supported by Microsoft, the Linux distribution must meet the following criteria:

The version and architecture of the distribution is supported by .NET Core.

The version of the distribution is supported for at least one year.
The version of the distribution isn't an interim release or equivalent.
The PowerShell team has tested the version of the distribution.

For more information, see Community support for PowerShell on Linux.

Alternate installation methods

There are three other ways to install PowerShell on Linux, including Linux distributions
that aren't officially supported. You can try to install PowerShell using the PowerShell
Snap Package. You can also try deploying PowerShell binaries directly using the Linux
tar.gz package. For more information, see Alternate ways to install PowerShell on

Linux.

６ Collaborate with us on
PowerShell feedback
GitHub
PowerShell is an open source
The source for this content can project. Select a link to provide
be found on GitHub, where you feedback:
can also create and review
issues and pull requests. For  Open a documentation issue
more information, see our
contributor guide.  Provide product feedback
Microsoft Azure Linux Container Host
for AKS
The Azure Linux Container Host for AKS provides reliability and consistency from cloud
to edge. Learn how to use the Azure Linux Container Host with these quickstarts,
tutorials, and how-to guides.

About Azure Linux Container Host for AKS

ｅ OVERVIEW

What is Azure Linux Container Host for AKS?

ｐ CONCEPT

Core concepts

Packages

Create an Azure Linux cluster in 5 minutes

ｆ QUICKSTART

Azure CLI

ARM template

Terraform

Deploy, manage, and update applications

ｇ TUTORIAL

1. Create a cluster with Azure Linux

2. Add an Azure Linux node pool to your existing cluster

3. Migrating to Azure Linux

4. Enable telemetry and monitoring

5. Upgrade Azure Linux nodes

Troubleshooting

ｃ HOW-TO GUIDE

Package upgrade issues

Kernel versioning issues

Get help

ｉ REFERENCE

Support

Release notes

FAQ