Windows Services for UNIX

Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX ( SFU ) is a software package from Microsoft which provides a Unix subsystem and other components of a Unix environment according to the POSIX standard to Windows NT ( or later). This subsystem is called Interix.

Overview

How the Microsoft POSIX subsystem in Windows NT, and the widespread Cygwin package is also Interix no emulation of a Unix kernel, but merely an implementation of a user-mode subsystem, which unlike Cygwin touches directly on the NT kernel. This is fork () / exec () much faster than with Cygwin, but access to drivers of Windows is not possible.

The current version of Services for UNIX (SFU ) includes:

  • The GCC 3.3 compiler, include files and libraries (the libc is Microsoft-specific )
  • A cc -like " wrapper" for the command-line versions of the compiler in Microsoft Visual Studio
  • The GNU Debugger
  • NFS server and client
  • Diverse X11 utilities and libraries
  • A program that, in conjunction with Microsoft's Active Directory, can take on an NIS server function
  • Some Windows and Unix programs for synchronization of passwords and access rights

Programs in Services for UNIX not included can be downloaded as binary versions from various sources and installed separately. Programs that rely on the SCSI drivers, these drivers can not use.

Although X11 client libraries, and application programs are provided, Services for UNIX contains no X server. But it may be any other X servers can be used.

Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications ( SUA)

The Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications ( SUA) is the successor to the SFU. In contrast to the SFU is available for 64- bit versions of various Microsoft operating systems and also supports in principle the execution of 64 - bit applications. However, those supplied in the SDK GCC compiler only support the generation of 32 - bit applications. To create 64- bit applications can e.g. a wrapper for the Microsoft Visual Studio compilers are used.

Official releases

The current version of the SFU has the number 3.5. As release date September 21, 2006 is given. The current version of SUA is 6.2. As publication date October 31, 2012 is given.

Windows Server 2003 R2 contains most of the SFU components, in particular Microsoft Services for Network File System (NFS), Subsystem for UNIX - based Applications ( Interix ) and Identity Management for UNIX.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 in the Enterprise and Ultimate editions also contain components of Services for Unix.

Microsoft has no plans to create more separately installable versions of SFU. However, it is still available for free download. General customer support should be guaranteed through 2011, extended support until 2014. SUA This, however, is expected to be available in future versions of Windows.

From the current version of Operating Systems

Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX can be installed on the Windows Server or Professional versions, an installation on the home versions will no longer provides or supports available.

  • Windows 2000 Server or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
  • Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 or later
  • Windows Server 2003

Subsystem for UNIX - based Applications is provided for the following Windows versions:

  • Windows Server 2003 R2
  • Windows Vista Enterprise and Ultimate
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows 8 Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2012

Unsupported Operating Systems

  • Windows Small Business Server 2003
  • Windows XP ( 64- bit version )
  • Windows Server 2003 ( 64- bit version before R2)

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