Open The Gates

This PowerShell script automates the process of forwarding ports from the host machine to a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) instance. It is useful for scenarios where you need to access services running inside WSL from the host or other network devices.

Features

• Automatically discovers the IP address of the WSL instance.
• Forwards a specified list of ports from the host to the WSL instance.
• Manages Windows Firewall rules to allow inbound traffic on the forwarded ports.

Usage

1. Obtain the Script: Download or clone the repository to your local machine.

2. Run the Script:

   • Open PowerShell with administrative privileges.
   • Navigate to the directory containing the script.
   • Execute the script by running .\forward_wsl_ports.ps1.

3. Customize Ports: Modify the $portArray variable in the script to include the ports you want to forward.

4. Verify Configuration:

   • Ensure that the WSL instance is running and reachable from the host.
   • Confirm that the ports you're forwarding are not already in use by other services.

5. Review Output: The script will display the IP address of the WSL instance and the ports being forwarded.

6. Firewall Rule: If a firewall rule named "Allow WSL Ports" already exists, the script will update it. Otherwise, it will create a new rule to allow inbound traffic on the forwarded ports.

Scheduling as a Task

You can schedule the port forwarding script to run automatically using Windows Task Scheduler. Follow these steps to set up a scheduled task:

1. Open Task Scheduler: Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, and hit Enter.

2. Create a New Task:

   • In the Task Scheduler window, navigate to Action > Create Task.
   • Provide a name and description for the task.

3. Configure Triggers:

   • Go to the Triggers tab and click New.
   • Choose the trigger conditions for running the script. For example, you might want it to run at system startup or on a specific schedule.

4. Set Action:

   • Switch to the Actions tab and click New.
   • Select Start a program as the action.
   • Browse and select the PowerShell executable (powershell.exe).
   • In the Add arguments field, enter the full path to the script (C:\path\to\forward_wsl_ports.ps1).

5. Configure Conditions and Settings:

   • Adjust any additional settings as needed, such as conditions and settings tabs.

6. Save and Exit: Click OK to save the task.

Now, the port forwarding script will run automatically according to the schedule you defined.

Note:

• Ensure that the user account running the scheduled task has sufficient privileges to execute PowerShell scripts and modify network settings.
• Test the scheduled task to verify that it runs as expected.

Requirements

• Windows 10 or later with Windows Subsystem for Linux installed.
• PowerShell with administrative privileges.

Disclaimer

This script modifies network settings and firewall rules on your system. Use it at your own risk and ensure you understand the implications before executing it.