Windows Subsystem for Linux: A Practical but Limited Tool
What is WSL?
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a convenient feature for users who need Linux on their Windows machines. It allows users to run multiple Linux distributions easily and even supports GPU passthrough. This is particularly useful for tasks like running local large language models (LLMs) with powerful GPUs.
Limitations of WSL
However, WSL is not a full Linux experience. It operates within a virtual environment created by Windows' Hyper-V. This setup is lightweight and lacks a desktop environment, which is fine for running servers, Docker, or testing applications.
Resource Usage
It's important to note that Windows 11 itself requires over 2GB of memory, and running other apps alongside WSL can increase GPU usage.
Hardware Control
One major drawback of WSL is its limited hardware control. It uses a NAT adapter, which can be difficult to manage. Accessing hardware and networking is more restricted compared to a native Linux system. For instance, large input/output operations are slower in WSL. A 1GB sequential write task took 32 seconds in WSL, while it took just 3 seconds on native hardware. Performance drops significantly when working with directories like /mnt/c/, but it's better with the home directory.
Visual Performance
When it comes to visual performance, WSLg is just okay. It allows running GUI apps on Windows, but it's not perfect. WSLg renders via Windows, not directly through the GPU, which can make performance sluggish. If you're into gaming, installing Linux natively and configuring GPU drivers and Steam is a better choice. WSL is more suited for technical tasks like local LLM workloads, where it can use GPU CUDA cores effectively.
Conclusion
In the end, a native Linux install is superior. It lets you use all your system's hardware without the overhead of virtualization. You can customize it for any purpose without compromises. While WSL makes running Linux on Windows easier, it's still not a complete replacement for a real Linux desktop experience.
