Create a folder to store your backups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/BGg102052023.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Connect to Powershell<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Create the directory to store data using command line<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso>mkdir \"your directory\"<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nExample:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso>mkdir \"C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION\"<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/mkdir.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Or create it manually by using the Windows browser <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Right-click:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New\/Folder\/your directory name<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BACKUPWSL3-1024x637.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/BG102052023-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIdentify the distribution name you want to backup <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In your Powershell <\/strong>prompt type the below command to display all installed distribution on WSL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- See the wsl <\/strong>utility help:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso><\/strong> wsl -h<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BACKUPWSL1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- As explained in the help part. the –list<\/strong> or -l<\/strong> will list the distribution , you can also list all the distribution – – all<\/strong> which are installing or uninstalling and also the – – running<\/strong> listing the current running distribution <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BACKUPWSL2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Here we can see the distribution is openSUSE-leap-15.4<\/strong> , we will use this specific name to perform our Backup <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Export your distribution <\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Use the export command listed in the wsl <\/strong>help <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BACKUPWSL5argexport.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Browse to the directory you created for you backups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso><\/strong> cd \"C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION\"\n\nPS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BACKUPWSL6cdPATH.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Use the export command <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong> wsl --export openSUSE-Leap-15.4 openSUSE-Leap-15.4_BACKUP_03042023.tar<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BACKUPWSL7expcmd.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Wait few minutes during the export<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Check if the Tar file is generated in the folder<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong>dir<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BACKUPWSL8check.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Check on your browser also if you want to ensure if all is fine regarding the file size<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BACKUPWSL9check-1024x487.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Seems that all is OK and we have saved the status of our Distribution <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It will be useful if something is going wring during your soft installations or simply using it to do some admin tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to remove the instance <\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Prerequisite <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
if you are going to import this backup on another PC then you will not have no problem using the coming command<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the other case if you want to perform this import on the you own machine where the distribution is installed , you will have to remove the existing instance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Remove the instance from the command line
<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nwsl --unregister "distribution name" \n<\/pre><\/div>\n\n\nExample:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong> wsl --unregister openSUSE-Leap-15.4 <\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/unreg2-1024x232.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Remove the instance from Windows GUI<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Select “Applications and features”<\/strong> in the Windows <\/strong>search bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/BGgg102052023.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Select the distribution you want to remove and click on uninstall <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/appandfeats.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Check if distribution is removed by using the below command<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong> wsl -l<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nImport your distribution <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTo import your file, you have to specificity the name and the location where you want to import your distribution <\/p>\n\n\n
\nwsl --import (distribution_name) (install_location) (file_path)\n<\/pre><\/div>\n\n\nExample:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong> wsl --import openSUSE-Leap-15.4_BACKUP_03042023.tar C:\\wsl \"C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION\\openSUSE-Leap-15.4_BACKUP_03042023.tar\"<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nWait few minute for your distribution to be installed and available to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- You can check if your distribution is now available <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong> wsl -l<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nConclusion:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now you know how to backup and restore you distribution using WSL <\/strong>( I made all these action on Windows 10 machine but it works also on Windows 11 )<\/p>\n\n\n\nBy using export and import , you can have the same environment set up on multiple machines easily and within few minutes .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All Your credentials and user account will be saved, same for the packages you installed, it’s a kind of snapshot on VMWARE <\/strong>or VirtualBOX <\/strong>\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\nNote that you can’t import a distribution you are already using ( same name , same file ) , otherwise you will have some conflicts, so bare in mind you will have to remove the previous distribution before making your import!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feel free to visit , check and share the dbi bloggers<\/a> and also my other topics<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Introduction Hi team I hope you are doing well, in a previous post, we have seen how to enable Windows Subsystem to install Linux distribution. Create a folder to store your backups Example: Right-click: New\/Folder\/your directory name Identify the distribution name you want to backup In your Powershell prompt type the below command to display… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","neve_meta_reading_time":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[49,2165],"class_list":["post-24362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-operating-systems","tag-microsoft","tag-wsl-2"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Connect to Powershell<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Create the directory to store data using command line<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso>mkdir \"your directory\"<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nExample:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso>mkdir \"C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION\"<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Or create it manually by using the Windows browser <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Right-click:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New\/Folder\/your directory name<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIdentify the distribution name you want to backup <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In your Powershell <\/strong>prompt type the below command to display all installed distribution on WSL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- See the wsl <\/strong>utility help:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso><\/strong> wsl -h<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- As explained in the help part. the –list<\/strong> or -l<\/strong> will list the distribution , you can also list all the distribution – – all<\/strong> which are installing or uninstalling and also the – – running<\/strong> listing the current running distribution <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Here we can see the distribution is openSUSE-leap-15.4<\/strong> , we will use this specific name to perform our Backup <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Export your distribution <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Use the export command listed in the wsl <\/strong>help <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Browse to the directory you created for you backups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso><\/strong> cd \"C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION\"\n\nPS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Use the export command <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong> wsl --export openSUSE-Leap-15.4 openSUSE-Leap-15.4_BACKUP_03042023.tar<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Wait few minutes during the export<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Check if the Tar file is generated in the folder<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong>dir<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Check on your browser also if you want to ensure if all is fine regarding the file size<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Seems that all is OK and we have saved the status of our Distribution <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It will be useful if something is going wring during your soft installations or simply using it to do some admin tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to remove the instance <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Prerequisite <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
if you are going to import this backup on another PC then you will not have no problem using the coming command<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the other case if you want to perform this import on the you own machine where the distribution is installed , you will have to remove the existing instance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Remove the instance from the command line
<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nwsl --unregister "distribution name" \n<\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n
Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong> wsl --unregister openSUSE-Leap-15.4 <\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Remove the instance from Windows GUI<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Select “Applications and features”<\/strong> in the Windows <\/strong>search bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Select the distribution you want to remove and click on uninstall <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Check if distribution is removed by using the below command<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong> wsl -l<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nImport your distribution <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To import your file, you have to specificity the name and the location where you want to import your distribution <\/p>\n\n\n
\nwsl --import (distribution_name) (install_location) (file_path)\n<\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n
Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong> wsl --import openSUSE-Leap-15.4_BACKUP_03042023.tar C:\\wsl \"C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION\\openSUSE-Leap-15.4_BACKUP_03042023.tar\"<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nWait few minute for your distribution to be installed and available to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- You can check if your distribution is now available <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PS C:\\Users\\nso\\BACKUP FOR WSL DISTRIBUTION><\/strong> wsl -l<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nConclusion:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now you know how to backup and restore you distribution using WSL <\/strong>( I made all these action on Windows 10 machine but it works also on Windows 11 )<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By using export and import , you can have the same environment set up on multiple machines easily and within few minutes .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All Your credentials and user account will be saved, same for the packages you installed, it’s a kind of snapshot on VMWARE <\/strong>or VirtualBOX <\/strong>\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note that you can’t import a distribution you are already using ( same name , same file ) , otherwise you will have some conflicts, so bare in mind you will have to remove the previous distribution before making your import!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feel free to visit , check and share the dbi bloggers<\/a> and also my other topics<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Introduction Hi team I hope you are doing well, in a previous post, we have seen how to enable Windows Subsystem to install Linux distribution. Create a folder to store your backups Example: Right-click: New\/Folder\/your directory name Identify the distribution name you want to backup In your Powershell prompt type the below command to display… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","neve_meta_reading_time":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[49,2165],"class_list":["post-24362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-operating-systems","tag-microsoft","tag-wsl-2"],"yoast_head":"\n
Microsoft:Backup and restore your distribution on WSL - dbi services | Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dbi-services.com\/blog\/microsoftbackup-and-restore-your-distribution-on-wsl\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Microsoft:Backup and restore your distribution on WSL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Introduction Hi team I hope you are doing well, in a previous post, we have seen how to enable Windows Subsystem to install Linux distribution. 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- You can check if your distribution is now available <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Check if distribution is removed by using the below command<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Select the distribution you want to remove and click on uninstall <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Remove the instance from Windows GUI<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Remove the instance from the command line
- Prerequisite <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Seems that all is OK and we have saved the status of our Distribution <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Check on your browser also if you want to ensure if all is fine regarding the file size<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Check if the Tar file is generated in the folder<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Wait few minutes during the export<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Use the export command <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Browse to the directory you created for you backups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Use the export command listed in the wsl <\/strong>help <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Here we can see the distribution is openSUSE-leap-15.4<\/strong> , we will use this specific name to perform our Backup <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- As explained in the help part. the –list<\/strong> or -l<\/strong> will list the distribution , you can also list all the distribution – – all<\/strong> which are installing or uninstalling and also the – – running<\/strong> listing the current running distribution <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- See the wsl <\/strong>utility help:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Or create it manually by using the Windows browser <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Create the directory to store data using command line<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n