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Asked: 2024-09-26T16:50:19+05:30 In:

What steps can be taken to resolve a temporary name resolution failure encountered while using WSL on Ubuntu?

I’ve been diving into WSL on my Windows machine, specifically using Ubuntu, and I’ve run into this annoying issue with name resolution. It’s like one minute everything’s working fine, and the next, I can’t reach any websites or even ping Google. I did some digging and found that it’s a temporary name resolution failure, but I’m kind of at a loss about how to deal with it.

I remember the first time it happened, I was in the middle of running a script that required downloading some packages. Suddenly, bam! I couldn’t resolve any names, and I felt totally stuck. I tried restarting WSL and even rebooting my machine, but that didn’t help at all. I thought about checking my internet connection, but everything else on my Windows side was running smoothly—like streaming videos and playing games, so I knew it had to be a WSL-specific issue.

I’ve seen some forum posts suggesting modifying the resolv.conf file, but I get a little nervous about messing with network settings. There’s also mention of using different DNS servers instead of the default, like Google’s 8.8.8.8 or Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1. Has anyone here tried that with success?

I’m curious about the step-by-step process to tackle this kind of problem. Like, what would you do first? Should I just jump into the settings right away, or is there something simpler I should try? If anyone’s experienced this and could share their game plan, that would be super helpful. Or if you know about any settings I should adjust in the Ubuntu terminal, please spill the beans!

It would be awesome to hear from anyone who has dealt with this before. Sometimes I wonder if it’s a common issue or if I’m just the unlucky one. Any tips, tricks, or even personal stories on how you’ve resolved similar name resolution failures would be greatly appreciated! Could really use some guidance here, thanks!

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    2 Answers



    1. WSL Name Resolution Issues

      Dealing with temporary name resolution failures in WSL can indeed be frustrating, especially when you’re in the middle of a critical task. Since you’re using Ubuntu on WSL, the first thing to try is modifying the DNS settings to use a more reliable DNS server. Open your terminal and edit the /etc/resolv.conf file. You can do this by using a text editor like nano or vim: sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf. Once you’re in, replace the existing nameserver line with nameserver 8.8.8.8 for Google DNS or nameserver 1.1.1.1 for Cloudflare. Be sure to save the file and exit the editor. This should help resolve the name resolution issues you’re facing.

      If you find that changes to resolv.conf do not persist after a restart, you may need to prevent WSL from overwriting it. You can do this by creating a custom /etc/wsl.conf file. Add the following content to that file: [network]
      generateResolvConf = false. This will stop WSL from automatically regenerating resolv.conf on startup, allowing your custom settings to stick. After you’ve set this up, restart WSL, and things should work more smoothly. If you continue to experience issues, it might be worth checking your firewall settings or ensuring that your installation of WSL is up to date, as Microsoft frequently releases updates that can resolve network issues.




    2. WSL Name Resolution Issue


      Tackling WSL Name Resolution Issues

      It sounds frustrating to run into those name resolution problems while using WSL on your Windows machine! It’s like everything’s smooth, and then suddenly, it all goes wonky. No worries, you’re definitely not alone in this. Here’s a possible game plan to tackle it:

      Step-by-Step Guide:

      1. Check Your Internet Connection: Even though your browser and games are working fine, it’s good to double-check that your connection is stable. Run ping google.com in the WSL terminal and see if you can at least reach the DNS.
      2. Check /etc/resolv.conf: The resolv.conf file is where DNS settings are configured. You can look at it by running cat /etc/resolv.conf. If you see a line with something like nameserver 127.0.0.53, it’s using the system’s default DNS resolver.
      3. Temporarily Change DNS Servers: If you want to try changing DNS servers, you can edit the resolv.conf file. Open it using your favorite text editor (like nano or vim):
        sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf, then replace the line with:

        nameserver 8.8.8.8

        for Google or 

        nameserver 1.1.1.1

        for Cloudflare. Remember, this file might get overwritten when you restart WSL or your system, so you’ll have to do this again.

      4. Make resolv.conf Immutable (Optional): If you’re okay with the DNS change and want to prevent it from being overwritten, you can run this command:
        sudo chattr +i /etc/resolv.conf. This makes the file immutable. To change it back, you’d use sudo chattr -i /etc/resolv.conf.
      5. Restart WSL: Sometimes a simple restart can help! Use the command wsl --shutdown in PowerShell to restart the WSL instance.
      6. Check Firewall/Antivirus Settings: On the Windows side, ensure that your firewall or antivirus isn’t blocking WSL from accessing the network. Just a good thing to check!

      If the issue persists after all this, consider looking for any recent updates or patches for Windows or WSL that might address network issues. It’s also worth searching through forums and communities—these kinds of hiccups can often be common, and someone might have figured out more specific fixes!

      Hopefully, one of these steps helps you get back up and running. Good luck, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have more questions!


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