IAITS

Docker on Linux on WSL2 is an attractive alternative to Docker for Windows Desktop in an enterprise setting where licensing money are tight, so here's a quick rundown.

1. Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (and the Windows Virtualization Platform)
2. Download and install the Kernel Update (https://wslstorestorage.blob.core.windows.net/wslblob/wsl_update_x64.msi)
3. Open Command Prompt / Powershell
   1. wsl.exe --set-default-version=2
   2. wsl.exe --install -D Debian (you'll be prompted to supply root username and password)

You should now have a Debian installation - you need to make sure it's the latest (Debian 11 / Bullseye  at the time of writing).

Open WSL (type wsl.exe in command prompt) and run the following commands

1. sudo apt-get install lsb-release (supply root password)
2. lsb_release -a

It should return something like 

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Debian
Description:    Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)
Release:        11
Codename:       bullseye

If not, edit /etc/apt/sources.list and replace version name from "stretch" to "buster" or "buster" to "bullseye" (if you're on Debian 9 or 10 respectively), run "sudo apt update  && sudo apt upgrade && sudo apt full-upgrade"  (first 9-> 10, restart, then 10 -> 11)

When on Debian 11 on WSL2

Firstly, I need to mention that I ran into this issue when installing: docker service will not start on Debian on wsl2 · Discussion #4872 · microsoft/WSL · GitHub. To spare you the read, run "update-alternatives --set iptables /usr/sbin/iptables-legacy" and "update-alternatives --set iptables6 /usr/sbin/iptables6-legacy" before installing.

Otherwise follow the instructions here: Install Docker Engine on Debian | Docker Documentation - there's really no point in my copying the instructions here. Remember to check the Docker Engine post-installation steps | Docker Documentation, it contains the instructions to add your user to the docker-group and how to start docker automatically.