WSL vs Oracle VirtualBox: Performance Comparison and Best Use Cases for Running Multiple Instances

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced world of software development and IT administration, it’s essential to have the right tools to manage virtual environments efficiently. Two of the most widely used options for running Linux-based systems on Windows are Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Oracle VirtualBox. While both solutions allow users to run Linux alongside Windows, they operate fundamentally differently and serve distinct use cases. The purpose of this article is to compare WSL and Oracle VirtualBox, focusing on their performance and suitability for running multiple instances simultaneously.

What is Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)?

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a feature provided by Microsoft that allows Windows users to run a Linux environment directly on Windows, without the need for a virtual machine. Originally introduced with WSL 1, which was based on a translation layer to run Linux binaries on Windows, WSL has evolved significantly with the introduction of WSL 2, which runs a real Linux kernel inside a lightweight virtual machine. This shift to a real kernel dramatically improves the performance and compatibility of Linux software on Windows.