That's right, Microsoft could soon distribute Linux. Popular PC Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora, and SuSE, could soon be available through the Windows Store. Microsoft made this startling announcement at its Build 2017 keynote. The idea here is to make Linux distributions available to power-users who want to run the operating systems in virtual machines, or install the OS in a manner that lets you run Linux applications directly on Windows 10.There are still limits to what you can do with Linux you get from the Windows Store. For starters, the OS can't be installed on the host machine, in say, a separate partition/volume, which you can choose to boot from, using a bootloader such as GRUB. The download also doesn't directly expose the .iso installer disk image of your Linux distro. It could still be useful for developers seeking a turnkey Linux environment instantly for development or testing, or for schools to teach Linux.

22 Comments on Fedora, Ubuntu, and SuSE Linux Available from Windows Store

#1 PowerPC

This is the best timeline, isn't it folks? Posted on May 12th 2017, 4:42 Reply

#2 dorsetknob

"YOUR RMA REQUEST IS CON-REFUSED" btarunr There are still limits to what you can do with Linux you get from Windows Store. For starters, the OS can't be installed on the host machine, in say, a separate partition/volume, which you can choose to boot from, using a bootloader such as GRUB while its a move in the right direction why would any one wanting Linux accept these Restrictions imposed by microsoft while its a move in the right direction why would any one wanting Linux accept these Restrictions imposed by microsoft Posted on May 12th 2017, 4:50 Reply

#3 RejZoR

So, this runs virtualized out of the box then if it doesn't install itself as multi-boot OS ? Any info on what virtualization system it's using? Hyper-V ? Probably, considering it's on top of Windows... Posted on May 12th 2017, 4:50 Reply

#4 Kaotik

They're not really operating systems you could install, but just parts of them (command line -like tools and ability to run certain command line -based applications) Posted on May 12th 2017, 5:21 Reply

#5 close

dorsetknob while its a move in the right direction why would any one wanting Linux accept these Restrictions imposed by microsoft Performance penalty aside, why would anyone be against running an OS in a virtualized environment? It gives the user the kind of security and flexibility that's hard to replicate. Of course you may get a different experience based on the particular implementation but I definitely wouldn't consider this a drawback. Especially since this option isn't for Linux die hards who will single boot their Linux installation, rather for people who want to use Windows as the "base" OS for whatever reason. Performance penalty aside, why would anyone be against running an OS in a virtualized environment? It gives the user the kind of security and flexibility that's hard to replicate. Of course you may get a different experience based on the particular implementation but I definitely wouldn't consider this a drawback. Especially since this option isn't for Linux die hards who will single boot their Linux installation, rather for people who want to use Windows as the "base" OS for whatever reason. Posted on May 12th 2017, 5:45 Reply

#6 bobalazs

Rec. Sys. Req.? Posted on May 12th 2017, 6:04 Reply

#7 alucasa

The end is nigh. Posted on May 12th 2017, 6:15 Reply

#8 RejZoR

Kaotik They're not really operating systems you could install, but just parts of them (command line -like tools and ability to run certain command line -based applications) Aha, I see. Basically, Linux without the shell? Something like having only PowerShell from Windows 10. Aha, I see. Basically, Linux without the shell? Something like having only PowerShell from Windows 10. Posted on May 12th 2017, 6:39 Reply

#9 PowerPC

close Performance penalty aside, why would anyone be against running an OS in a virtualized environment? It gives the user the kind of security and flexibility that's hard to replicate. Of course you may get a different experience based on the particular implementation but I definitely wouldn't consider this a drawback. Especially since this option isn't for Linux die hards who will single boot their Linux installation, rather for people who want to use Windows as the "base" OS for whatever reason. Exactly. A lot of my co-workers and I use virtual desktops for practically everything these days. It makes it super easy to make backups and also very portable. The performance difference is also negligible these days for most applications. I honestly don't see any drawbacks, but the upsides make it very convenient. I won't stop using visualization software (VMWare Player usually) for what Microsoft is offering here because that's not the point. But it might be interesting if I already have a Windows VM and I want to test something out with Ubuntu, then maybe I won't have to switch to a full Ubuntu VM. This might even stop a lot of people from ever trying to install a full Linux OS just to see how it works and then find they actually don't need Windows. :p Exactly. A lot of my co-workers and I use virtual desktops for practically everything these days. It makes it super easy to make backups and also very portable. The performance difference is also negligible these days for most applications. I honestly don't see any drawbacks, but the upsides make it very convenient. I won't stop using visualization software (VMWare Player usually) for what Microsoft is offering here because that's not the point. But it might be interesting if I already have a Windows VM and I want to test something out with Ubuntu, then maybe I won't have to switch to a full Ubuntu VM. This might even stop a lot of people from ever trying to install a full Linux OS just to see how it works and then find they actually don't need Windows. :p Posted on May 12th 2017, 7:06 Reply

#10 Solaris17

Dainty Moderator SUSE! Posted on May 12th 2017, 7:14 Reply

#11 Boosnie

MS embracing the open source movement.

SQL Server runs on Linux, Mono, various integration projects.

I believe they are betting big on cloud services and they came to the conclusion that running *nix in datacenter is cheaper and more secure. Posted on May 12th 2017, 7:20 Reply

#12 Easo

It seems people here missed the fact that WSL with Ubuntu has been available for almost a year now and are surprised, when SUSE and Fedore have been added to the list.

Only difference there is that Ubuntu will install directly from the Store, I assume, without the need to turn on dev mode, add Windows feature and so on. Posted on May 12th 2017, 7:52 Reply

#13 idx









Edit: For those who have no idea what is this. This picture sums it all up:

This is not what you guys think, It is basically to provide a linux/Unix Terminal for Windows, just like the one you see in MacOS. This is a really nice thing.Edit: For those who have no idea what is this. This picture sums it all up: Posted on May 12th 2017, 7:56 Reply

#14 theeldest

RejZoR So, this runs virtualized out of the box then if it doesn't install itself as multi-boot OS ? Any info on what virtualization system it's using? Hyper-V ? Probably, considering it's on top of Windows... It's actually not virtualized, this is a fair bit more clever. It's most similar to Wine on linux which lets you run windows applications on linux. Windows Subystem for Linux has implemented the Linux API on windows. It basically passes through the linux system calls to the appropriate windows system call.



So the Linux userspace applications from Ubuntu, Fedora & SUSE aren't running virtualized or emulated or recompiled. They're running natively. There is effectively not a performance penalty--any penalty will be from Windows doing a specific process less efficiently than Linux. dorsetknob while its a move in the right direction why would any one wanting Linux accept these Restrictions imposed by microsoft It's not really so people can run Linux but so people can use the Linux userspace tools without needing a separate system or VM. idx This is not what you guys think, It is basically to provide a linux/Unix Terminal for Windows, just like the one you see in MacOS. This is a really nice thing. I was at Ignite (microsoft conference) last year. They as much as said they implemented this so that Azure developers can use a windows machine to manage the linux VMs without needing external tools like Putty. It's actually not virtualized, this is a fair bit more clever. It's most similar to Wine on linux which lets you run windows applications on linux. Windows Subystem for Linux has implemented the Linux API on windows. It basically passes through the linux system calls to the appropriate windows system call.So the Linux userspace applications from Ubuntu, Fedora & SUSE aren't running virtualized or emulated or recompiled. They're running natively. There is effectively not a performance penalty--any penalty will be from Windows doing a specific process less efficiently than Linux.It's not really so people can run Linux but so people can use the Linux userspace tools without needing a separate system or VM.I was at Ignite (microsoft conference) last year. They as much as said they implemented this so that Azure developers can use a windows machine to manage the linux VMs without needing external tools like Putty. Posted on May 12th 2017, 8:04 Reply

#15 idx

It can be a really good solution for those who had to use something like Msys or Cygwin too (I'm one of them lol). Posted on May 12th 2017, 8:11 Reply

#16 Kaotik

RejZoR Aha, I see. Basically, Linux without the shell? Something like having only PowerShell from Windows 10. Yeah, and they run within Windows 10 (via Windows Subsystem for Linux) Yeah, and they run within Windows 10 (via Windows Subsystem for Linux) Posted on May 12th 2017, 8:37 Reply

#17 PowerPC

theeldest It basically passes through the linux system calls to the appropriate windows system call. I wonder how well they will be able to map it though. It's not like every Linux function is available on Windows now. I wonder how well they will be able to map it though. It's not like every Linux function is available on Windows now. Posted on May 12th 2017, 9:11 Reply

#18 alucasa

Isn't Microsoft the biggest donator to the Lunix foundation? Posted on May 12th 2017, 9:42 Reply

#19 PowerPC

alucasa Isn't Microsoft the biggest donator to the Lunix foundation? I also heard they are the single biggest contributer of Linux open source development. A lot of Microsoft employees push code into Linux to make certain features better that they themselves use for Server stuff. It makes sense that at some point they might say "this is ours". I also heard they are the single biggest contributer of Linux open source development. A lot of Microsoft employees push code into Linux to make certain features better that they themselves use for Server stuff. It makes sense that at some point they might say "this is ours". Posted on May 12th 2017, 10:02 Reply

#20 theoneandonlymrk

dorsetknob while its a move in the right direction why would any one wanting Linux accept these Restrictions imposed by microsoft Playing fair , i get you but before i read down to your post i was thinking.



" Great im shit at linux i could sort a virtual pc to learn it easier that way"



They do mention schools. Playing fair , i get you but before i read down to your post i was thinking." Great im shit at linux i could sort a virtual pc to learn it easier that way"They do mention schools. Posted on May 12th 2017, 10:47 Reply

#21 notb

Just one word: fantastic.



Unlike the author suggests, it's not just for testers and developers, because (opposite to what many believe) Linux is not just for administrators and GRUB fanboys.

It's great for typical users as well - simply because many, many productivity tools work better in a shell-driven environment. As a result, many PC users that wanted to stay on Windows for practical matters, went for a dual boot (IMO awful idea) or virtualization.

VMs are generally fine as long as you're fine with the encapsulated environment. It gets much less pleasant if you want to build a workflow on both the host and the VM or (even worse) on few VMs.



Microsoft has been going this direction for years now. They wanted to end the image of making software for office clerks. Just few examples: PowerShell (sadly didn't get the credit it deserves), Visual Studio, Bash in Windows, Microsoft R, SQL Server and now Linux integration. With every new release there are less and less reasons to go for a different OS.

And keep in mind this Linux VM can be way more interesting that what we usually get via Virtualbox or VMware. I'm not hoping for a seamless integration, but anything close to that would be a revolution and a revelation. :D Posted on May 13th 2017, 11:41 Reply