Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) quietly released an official image for WSL — but most of us won’t be able to use it

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In April, the anticipated Fedora 42 finally debuted as an officially backed Linux distribution within the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). This was fantastic news for Fedora enthusiasts like me.

After that, yet another distribution based on Fedora has unobtrusively rolled out an official Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) image. As of May, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Release 10 became available without much noise or excitement.

Unfortunately, since it’s only available through an enterprise subscription, much like standard Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), the majority of us won’t be able to utilize it. However, this version of RHEL, owned by IBM, is provided exclusively to enterprise clients and comes with enhancements, certification, and comprehensive support tailored for a variety of business applications.

Fedora, the open-source operating system on which Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is built, is actually a community-driven initiative, backed financially by Red Hat.

As a tech enthusiast, I find myself constantly keeping an eye on the dynamic relationship between Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and its upstream counterpart, Fedora. Unlike RHEL, which is primarily a tool for businesses emphasizing stability, Fedora undergoes updates approximately every six months. Since RHEL 10 is designed with a focus on longevity, it’s based on Fedora 40, two versions behind the latest release.

If you’re a RHEL user and considering using it with WSL, here are a couple of methods to set it up. For comprehensive instructions, refer to Red Hat’s documentation. In summary, you have the choice between downloading a pre-configured image or creating your own custom image for the setup.

It additionally offers an alternative method for individuals who require Linux workflows in their daily tasks to integrate these with Windows 11, all without the need for utilizing virtual machines.

In simple terms, WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) works smoothly within Windows 11, and although there are certain restrictions, it’s nearly identical to operating a complete Linux system directly on your current Windows 11 computer. It offers the benefits of two systems in one.

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2025-06-25 13:39