In this article, we will delve deep into the various methods you can use to access a web application running in Ubuntu/Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) from another PC on the same network. This can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re using WSL2, which has different networking behavior compared to WSL1. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
To access a web application in Ubuntu/WSL from another PC on the network, you have several options. You can switch to WSL1 for better network access, use SSH reverse tunnel forwarding, set up Windows port forwarding, or utilize the WSL2 Preview with Bridge (Windows 11 Pro/Education or higher). Each option has its own advantages and requirements, so choose the one that best suits your needs and system configuration.
Option 1: Switch to WSL1
The first option is to switch to WSL1, which provides better network access compared to WSL2. WSL1 uses the Windows network interface, which allows other machines on the network to access the web application.
To convert your WSL2 instance to WSL1, you can use the following command in PowerShell:
wsl --set-version <distribution> 1In the above command, replace <distribution> with the name of your Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu). This command sets the version of the specified distribution to WSL1.
Option 2: Use SSH Reverse Tunnel Forwarding
Another option is to use SSH reverse tunnel forwarding. This method involves installing the Windows OpenSSH Server and configuring it to allow gateway ports.
After installing the OpenSSH Server, you can set up a reverse tunnel from Ubuntu/WSL2 to Windows using the SSH command:
ssh -R <WindowsPort>:localhost:<LinuxPort> localhostIn this command, <WindowsPort> is the port on the Windows machine that you want to forward, and <LinuxPort> is the port on the Linux machine where your web application is running. This command forwards connections from the specified Windows port to the web application running in Ubuntu/WSL2.
Option 3: Windows Port Forwarding
You can also set up port forwarding from the Windows side to access the web application in Ubuntu/WSL2. This method is a bit more complicated because the IP address of WSL2/Ubuntu changes dynamically on each reboot.
To set up port forwarding, you can use the netsh command in PowerShell:
netsh interface portproxy add v4tov4 listenport=<WindowsPort> listenaddress=0.0.0.0 connectport=<LinuxPort> connectaddress=<LinuxIPAddress>In this command, <WindowsPort> is the port on the Windows machine that you want to forward, <LinuxPort> is the port on the Linux machine where your web application is running, and <LinuxIPAddress> is the IP address of the Linux machine. This command sets up port forwarding from the specified Windows port to the specified Linux IP address and port.
Option 4: WSL2 Preview with Bridge (Windows 11 Pro/Education or higher)
If you’re running Windows 11 Pro, Education, or a higher edition, you can install the Preview release of WSL2, which allows you to specify a specific Hyper-V network switch to use with WSL2 and configure it to bridge. This option requires running a Preview release and is not available for Windows 10.
To set up a bridge, you can use the Set-NetIPInterface command in PowerShell:
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "vEthernet (WSL)" -Forwarding EnabledIn this command, "vEthernet (WSL)" is the name of the Hyper-V network switch that you want to use with WSL2. This command enables IP forwarding for the specified network interface.
Conclusion
Accessing a web application running in Ubuntu/WSL from another PC on the network can be a bit tricky, but it’s definitely doable. Whether you choose to switch to WSL1, use SSH reverse tunnel forwarding, set up Windows port forwarding, or use the WSL2 Preview with Bridge, each option has its own advantages and requirements. Choose the one that best suits your needs and system configuration. Happy networking!
Yes, it is possible to access a web application running in Ubuntu/WSL from another PC on the same network. There are several methods you can use to achieve this, such as switching to WSL1, using SSH reverse tunnel forwarding, setting up Windows port forwarding, or using the WSL2 Preview with Bridge.
To switch to WSL1, you can use the following command in PowerShell:
wsl --set-version <distribution> 1Replace <distribution> with the name of your Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu). This command sets the version of the specified distribution to WSL1.
SSH reverse tunnel forwarding allows you to establish a connection from Ubuntu/WSL2 to Windows and forward incoming connections from a specified Windows port to a port on the Linux machine where your web application is running. This allows other machines on the network to access the web application. You can set up a reverse tunnel using the SSH command:
ssh -R <WindowsPort>:localhost:<LinuxPort> localhostReplace <WindowsPort> with the port on the Windows machine that you want to forward, and <LinuxPort> with the port on the Linux machine where your web application is running.
To set up port forwarding from the Windows side, you can use the netsh command in PowerShell. Here’s the command:
netsh interface portproxy add v4tov4 listenport=<WindowsPort> listenaddress=0.0.0.0 connectport=<LinuxPort> connectaddress=<LinuxIPAddress>Replace <WindowsPort> with the port on the Windows machine that you want to forward, <LinuxPort> with the port on the Linux machine where your web application is running, and <LinuxIPAddress> with the IP address of the Linux machine.
Yes, if you’re running Windows 11 Pro, Education, or a higher edition, you can install the Preview release of WSL2 and configure it to use a specific Hyper-V network switch in bridge mode. This allows you to access the web application running in Ubuntu/WSL2 from another PC on the network. However, please note that this option is only available for Windows 11 and not for Windows 10.
When choosing the method to access a web application, consider your system configuration, the version of WSL you are using, and the specific requirements of your web application. Some methods may require switching to WSL1 or using a Preview release of WSL2. Evaluate the advantages and limitations of each method before making a decision.
