Category: Windows Server Admin

Windows Server Admin blog which includes guides to boost performance and efficiency, written by an experienced Microsoft SQL DBA, Peter Whyte.


  • How to Disable Windows Firewall with PowerShell

    This post provides a demo on how to disable Windows Firewall with PowerShell on a Windows computer. ⚠ Important: Disabling the Windows Firewall is not recommended as it reduces your system’s security. However, there are scenarios, such as troubleshooting, where temporarily disabling the firewall may help identify if…

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  • The Best Terminal for Windows

    This is a post to share an opinion on the best Terminal for Windows, which is Windows Terminal. The easiest way to install Windows Terminal is by following this link which takes you to the Microsoft Store, we can one click download/install from there. Windows Terminal is installed…

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  • How to Reboot WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

    To restart WSL simply, run wsl –shutdown to stop your WSL distros, then enter back into WSL distro as normal to start it back up again. This post contains a guide to help explain the process. A WSL reboot might be needed if your WSL instance or app…

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  • How to Restart Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

    If your Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) instance encounters errors or you’ve updated the .wslconfig file (e.g., to modify memory limits), restarting your WSL distributions may be necessary. This guide demonstrates two effective methods for restarting WSL distributions: > (Preferred Approach) Run the WSL –Shutdown Command > (Old…

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  • How to Upgrade WSL from Version 1 to Version 2

    This guide explains how to upgrade your Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distribution from Version 1 (WSL 1) to Version 2 (WSL 2). WSL supports two versions: the original WSL 1 and the more advanced WSL 2. You can install multiple Linux distributions on your system and easily…

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  • How to Downgrade from WSL Version 2 to WSL Version 1

    In certain development or system administration scenarios, you may need to downgrade your Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distribution from WSL version 2 (WSL 2) to version 1 (WSL 1). While WSL 2 brings many enhancements, such as a real Linux kernel and better performance, there are times…

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  • How to Change Your Default Distro in WSL

    Changing the default Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distribution is simple. This guide shows you how to list your installed distros and set a new default using just a couple of commands. 1. Listing Installed WSL Distributions Before setting a new default, check which distributions are installed on…

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  • How to Check WSL Distro Versions

    This is a quick post on how to check your Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distribution versions, with added info on what being on a different WSL version means. To check your WSL version we can simply run wsl -l -v in our PowerShell terminal window. This will…

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  • How To Change From WSL2 to WSL1

    This is a post on how to change a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distribution from running on Version 2 to Version 1. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) supports two versions:> WSL2: The latest version with full Linux kernel support, offering better compatibility and performance. > WSL1: The…

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