Allow Installation of WSL2 using web-download instead of Microsoft Store

[BhattTanmay]

Feature request description

Currently, the Podman installer for Windows relies on the Microsoft Store to deploy the WSL2 kernel and utilities. This approach presents challenges in enterprise environments where direct installation from the Store is restricted or disabled.

This issue proposes adding an optional flag or configuration option to the Podman installer to allow users to choose to install the WSL2 components using the wsl --install --web-download method instead of the default Store-based installation.

Use Cases

• Enterprise Environments: Organizations with restricted or disabled Microsoft Store access can still install Podman and utilize WSL2.

Suggest potential solution

The following can be done:

1. Add a command-line flag or configuration option:
   • Example: --wsl-install-method=web-download or a similar option.
2. Modify the installer logic:
   • If the specified flag is present, the installer should use the wsl --install --web-download command to install WSL2.
   • If the flag is not present, the installer should continue with the default Store-based installation.
3. Provide clear documentation:
   • Update the Podman installation documentation to explain the new option and its usage.

Have you considered any alternatives?

User takes care of WSL installation and kernel update

Additional context

NA

[madhub]

+1

[Luap99]

The installer is already quite complicated and has caused us many problems in the past. Any reason to not manually install wsl before podman and then skip the WSL install during the installer? This seems much better long term.

cc @l0rd

[madhub]

The installer is already quite complicated and has caused us many problems in the past. Any reason to not manually install wsl before podman and then skip the WSL install during the installer? This seems much better long term.

cc @l0rd

The goal is to streamline system setup for running containers by using a single, versatile tool. Podman fits this need perfectly, with the exception of one specific scenario. Your suggestion works, but now I have to deal with WSL installer , checking whether WSL is already present , etc.

[l0rd]

I am closing this issue as the team can't work on it. This is not an easy decision, but the team doesn't have the capacity to maintain the Windows installer feature that automatically installs WSL. Hence, we are disabling it. I have detailed this choice here.