How to manually trigger an update of /etc/hosts in WSL?

Question

When I start the first WSL terminal (ubuntu 20.04 bash in my case), WSL generates the /etc/hosts file based on the host file of my windows system %WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.

If I now change the %WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts, e.g. add some entries, the /etc/hosts in my WSL is not updated. Even if I close all WSL terminals and open a new one. Only reboot of my windows system helps.

Is there a way I can manually trigger the update of the /etc/hosts so that I do not have to reboot?

bjoster · Accepted Answer · 2021-11-22T14:12:06.933

18

As long as this

[network]
generateHosts = true
generateResolvConf = true

is in your /etc/wsl.conf a restart of the LxssManager* services should do the trick.

Restart-Service LxssManager*

But: Restarting Lxss* will terminate all your running WSL Instances.

edited Nov 22 '21 at 14:12

answered Nov 17 '20 at 12:57

bjoster

4,423
5
22
32

3

It works. I just had to execute `Restart-Service LxssManager*` in a power shell that was started with admin rights. – René Link Nov 17 '20 at 17:55
1

It also worked for my although I don't have those entries in `wsl.conf` – Juanitocalero May 25 '21 at 12:56
1

Beware that restarting this service will terminate all your active WSL instances. – metalhead Nov 16 '21 at 13:09

How to manually trigger an update of /etc/hosts in WSL?

1 Answers1