Configuring WSL2 distro for static IPv4 address

[shortthirdman]

Recently, I have started working on WSL2 by spinning up a Oracle Linux 8.6 distro application from Microsoft Store.

The systemd has been enabled through its /etc/wsl.conf and some basic software applications like Java 8/11, Apache Maven, Python and Tomcat have been installed as standalone.

I want to make this WSL2 instance as a single node cluster for MapR Hadoop system with Hive and HBase.

Could you all in this community please suggest some possible workarounds for setting a static IP address to the container VM, as I am aware that Microsoft is working on bringing this feature in the future releases.

[davidshen84]

If you quickly search the web, you can confirm it is a much-needed feature. Unfortunately, no official comments on it yet.

[shortthirdman]

@davidshen84 Looking up on the web didn't help much but still I am searching on for a better workaround now.

[davidshen84]

Hi, after the recent WSL update, I found my WSL instance eth0 IP never changes. It stays the same after the computer restart or WSL shutdown.

I am not using any external script or doing any particular configuration.

[Biswa96]

The IP address is probably stored in NatIpAddress registry value in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss registry key.

[davidshen84]

Exactly...what is this reg value for? I don't remember I created it.

[Biswa96]

NatIpAddress registry key is created by WslService. There is also NatNetwork and NatGatewayIpAddress registry values in HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss registry key.

The feature is not documented yet. Probably it will documented in future with a blog post.

[davidshen84]

Is it the feature that gives a WSL instance a static IP, or is it a happy implementation coincidence that forces WSL to use a fixed IP? - thanks

[Biswa96]

Is it the feature that gives a WSL instance a static IP

It seems to be me like a feature that gives a WSL instance a static IP. I am not sure though.

[luxzg]

The IP address is probably stored in NatIpAddress registry value in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss registry key.

This is most interesting. Have you tried with multiple instances, do you get same IP in multiple OS instances, or is it just for default one?

[Biswa96]

do you get same IP in multiple OS instances

Yes, there will be same IP address in multiple WSL instances.

[ravatheodor]

Hi,
on WSL version: 2.3.24.0 the registry key is re-written when WSL is restarted.