Install Ansible on Windows with WSL 2

Why WSL 2

Ansible control nodes need Linux. On Windows you run it inside WSL 2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux), a real Linux kernel in a light virtual machine. WSL 2 gives you fast performance, full Linux compatibility and a close link with Windows files.

Requirements

• Windows 10 (version 2004 or newer) or Windows 11.
• A 64-bit processor with virtualization turned on.

Step 1: Install a Linux distribution

Open PowerShell as administrator and run:

wsl --install

This installs WSL 2 and Ubuntu. To see other distributions:

wsl --list --online

Restart if asked, then open Ubuntu from the Start menu and create a user name and password.

Step 2: Update the distribution

In the Ubuntu terminal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Step 3: Install Ansible

sudo apt install ansible

Ansible needs these pieces, and the package installs them:

• Python. Ansible is written in Python.
• PyYAML. Reads and writes YAML files.
• Jinja2. The template engine.
• OpenSSH. Used to connect to the managed machines.

Step 4: Check the installation

ansible --version

First test

Make a small inventory file hosts:

[servers]
203.0.113.10 ansible_user=youruser

Test the connection:

ansible -i hosts servers -m ping

Advantages of WSL 2

• Easy to install. One command.
• Fast. Quick start-up and file operations inside Linux.
• Low overhead compared with a full virtual machine.
• Full Linux system call compatibility.
• Windows integration. Open Windows files from Linux in /mnt/c.

Quick recap

• wsl --install, then update Ubuntu.
• sudo apt install ansible.
• Check with ansible --version.