The recent Microsoft Build 2017 developer’s conference was a treasure trove plenty of new tech stuff and features being loaded into Windows 10 across all its software variations. Also discussed there were new additions to the online Windows Store of “safe and approved” applications to download and install.
One of the announcements then involved the imminent availability of the Linux operating system in the Store, and in three distributable versions to boot: SUSE, Ubuntu, and Fedora.
Microsoft has, of course, kept its word, having made SUSE the first Linux distro on the Windows Store. But it will not be alone for long. Ubuntu has joined its sibling as well.
Easy Ubuntu install
The fact that the Ubuntu distributable bundle has been added onto the Microsoft was first noticed by tech experts and tweeted to the rest of social media. This is the second Linux distro to be made available thereafter SUSE following the initial publicizing of the news back in Build 2017 earlier this year. The downloadable app on the Windows Store will enable users to install and run the Ubuntu terminal alongside the Windows 10 OS and its apps.
With it, Ubuntu command line utilities (bash, ssh, git, apt, etc.) can be run and recognized.
Before the Ubuntu distributable can be utilized after installation on the Win10, a user must first activate "Turn Windows features on” and then choose "Windows Subsystem for Linux," clicking “Okay,” and then rebooting the system.
Alternatively, a savvier operator can use an Administrator PowerShell Prompt to set the above options to on, which will enable Ubuntu to be run from either the Start Menu or the cmd.exe prompt. The Linux OS will then run in a sandbox area, where it can share access to necessary files and hardware with the main Windows 10 operating system.
Microsoft and open-source support
Microsoft has been very eager to embrace the support of Linux and other OS from the open-source community ever since Build 2017.
The initial steps were taken back in 2016 when the “Windows Subsystem for Linux” was first introduced, to allow the use of the Bash shell inside Windows 10. The Ubuntu download from the Store is a limited version, but in return, the installation steps are definitely much simpler and faster compared to the traditional Linux install procedure.
Granted, all this will only be completely accessible on a Win10 OS that has the Fall Creators Update, and that will not be until later this year. Win10 PCs on the Insider program, however, have an early crack at the Creators Update and therefore can download Ubuntu (and SUSE) from the Windows Store for use with no restrictions.