Microsoft has released WSL 2.9.8, a significant pre-release update that introduces approximately 60 changes aimed at enhancing Docker compatibility within the wslc container CLI. Key features include new flags for networking and mounts, container healthchecks, idle-terminate session VMs, and enterprise policy controls such as ADMX policies and registry allowlists. Networking and memory management improvements have also been implemented, alongside updates to distro images for several Linux distributions. The update signifies a strong commitment from Microsoft to advance wslc towards full Docker CLI feature parity and support for enterprise use cases

WSL 2.9.8 Pre-Release Adds Docker CLI Parity, Healthchecks and Enterprise Policies

Microsoft has published WSL 2.9.8, a substantial pre-release that bundles roughly 60 changes spanning versions 2.9.3 through 2.9.8. The update heavily focuses on bringing the wslc container CLI closer to full Docker compatibility, adding dozens of new flags for networking, mounts, image builds, and output formatting. Beyond CLI alignment, the release introduces container healthchecks, idle-terminate session VMs, configurable storage paths, and new enterprise-grade policies like ADMX controls and registry allowlists. Distro images for Kali, Tumbleweed, SLE 16.0, and Arch Linux have also been updated alongside critical networking and memory reclamation improvements.

WSL 2.9.8 Pre-Release Adds Docker CLI Parity, Healthchecks and Enterprise Policies @ NT Compatible