Getting started

Windows Services for UNIX components provide interoperability between Windows 2000 and UNIX platforms. You can use Windows Services for UNIX to manage and conduct activities and tasks on both platforms and to share information between them. This includes sharing files, centralizing and managing passwords and groups, and conducting character-based terminal sessions. In addition, Windows Services for UNIX includes Interix, a complete, high-performance UNIX environment that provides two command shells (C and Korn), over 350 commands and utilities (such as the vi editor and Perl), and a complete set of development tools and libraries for porting your UNIX-based applications to the Interix subsystem.

• Before you install Windows Services for UNIX, see Checklist: Installing Windows Services for UNIX.
• To find new features and changes to Windows Services for UNIX, see What's new in Windows Services for UNIX 3.0 and New ways to do familiar tasks.
• For tips about using Windows Services for UNIX, see Best practices.
• For help with specific tasks, see How to.
• For general background information, see Concepts.
• For problem-solving instructions, see Troubleshooting.
• For the latest information about Windows Services for UNIX, including information about creating automated customized installations, see the Microsoft Web site. (http://www.microsoft.com/)
• For information about copyrights, product support options, and software licenses, see Copyrights, product support, and license agreement.

Windows Services for UNIX consists of the following components:

• Utilities
• • Base utilities, including common Windows utilities; UNIX utilities; X-Windows utilities, X11R5 window managers, terminal emulators, and graphic programs; Cron service; and Telnet Client. Installing this component also installs the Interix subsystem. For more information see Interix overview.
  • UNIX perl. Installing this component also installs the base utilities.
• Interix GNU components
• • Interix GNU utilities. Interix utilities distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) that supplement the base utilities. Installing this component also installs the base utilities.
  • Interix GNU Software Development Kit (SDK). Interix SDK tools distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) that supplement the Interix SDK. Installing this component also installs the GNU utilities and the Interix SDK.
  • For more information about Interix GNU components, see Files covered by the GNU Public License (GPL).
• Network file system (NFS)
• • Client for NFS
  • Server for NFS
  • Gateway for NFS
• Server for NIS
• Password Synchronization
• Remote connectivity
  • Telnet Server
  • Remote Shell service
• Authentication tools
  • Server for PCNFS
  • Server for NFS Authentication. For more information, see Understanding Server for NFS Security.
  • User Name Mapping
• The Interix Software Development Kit (SDK). Installing the Interix SDK also installs base utilities and Unix perl. For more information, see Porting applications to the Interix subsystem.
• ActiveState ActivePerl 5.6. Allows Windows-based perl scripts to be executed on the server.