Interix
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Interix is the name of an optional, full-featured POSIX and Unix environment subsystem for Microsoft's Windows NT-based operating systems. It is a component of the Services for Unix (SFU) release 3.0 and 3.5 (this last one is distributed free). The most recent releases of Interix, 5.2 and 6.0, are components of the Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Vista Enterprise and Ultimate editions and Windows Server 2008 under the name SUA [1] (Subsystem for Unix-based Applications).[2]
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[edit] Details
Like the Microsoft POSIX subsystem in Windows NT, Interix is an implementation of an environment subsystem running atop the Windows kernel, but with increased functionality. Interix provides numerous open source utilities, much like the cygwin project.
The complete installation of Interix includes (at version 3.5):
- Over 350 Unix utilities such as vi, ksh, csh, ls, cat, awk, grep, kill, etc.
- A complete set of manual pages for utilities and API's
- GCC 3.3 compiler, includes and libraries
- A cc/c89-like wrapper for Microsoft Visual Studio command-line C/C++ compiler
- GNU Debugger
- X11 client applications and libraries (no X server included though, you can use Xming for example)
- Has Unix "root" capabilities (i.e. setuid files)
- Supports pthreads, shared libraries, DSO's, job control, signals, sockets, shared memory
The development environment includes support for C, C++ and Fortran. Threading is supported using the Pthreads model. Additional languages can be obtained (Python, Ruby, Tcl, etc.). Unix-based software packaging and build tools are available for installing or creating pre-build software packages.
Starting with release 5.2 (Server 2003/R2) the following capabilities were added:[3]
- "Mixed mode" for linking Unix programs with Windows DLLs
- 64-bit CPU support (in addition to 32-bit)
- Large file system support on 64-bit systems
- System V utilities can be optionally installed instead of the default BSD-based utilities
- MSVC debugging plug-in
- SVR4 based utilities as an alternate installation
- Database (OCI/ODBC) library connectivity
With release 6.0 (Vista and Server 2008) the following new features were added:
- IPv6 support for socket API's and daemons
- Updates to utilities for additional functionality
- MSVC debugging plug-in enhanced
Interix release 6.0 for Vista is only available with the Ultimate and Enterprise editions.
[edit] History
This product began to be developed in 1996 under the product name OpenNT by Softway Systems, Inc. before the name was changed to Interix in 1998. The last release by Softway Systems was release 2.2. Softway Systems had virtually completed the next release code-named Firebrand in 1999 which became the basis of Interix 3.0.
Interix was acquired by Microsoft in 1999. Microsoft continued to distribute Interix 2.2 as a standalone product until 2002.
Interix release 3.0 was released as component of Services for Unix (SFU) 3.0 in 2002. Interix release 3.5 was released as component of SFU 3.5 in January, 2004.
Interix became integrated as component of the regular Windows OS distribution[3] as a component of Windows Server 2003 R2 in December, 2005 at release 5.2 and is a component of the Windows Vista release as release 6.0 (RTM November, 2006). Windows Server 2008 has release 6.0. Windows 7 betas presently include SUA 6.1.[4]
[edit] Releases
- OpenNT Commands & Utilities, Release 1.0 (1.0)
- 1996-03-29 OpenNT Commands & Utilities, Release 1.0 for WinNT POSIX Subsystem
- 1996-07 X11R6 Server (Win32)
- 1996-08 telnetd (and inetd)
- OpenNT 1.1 and SDK (1.1)
- 1996-09 OpenNT 1.1 and SDK for WinNT i386,alpha
- OpenNT 2.0 (2.0)
- 1997-05 OpenNT 2.0 (Apache httpd and xv) for WinNT i386,alpha
- 1997-08-12 "OpenNT: UNIX Application Portability to Windows NT via an Alternative Environment Subsystem" Usenix paper
- 1997-08-12 "OpenNT: UNIX Application Portability to Windows NT" Usenix presentation (again 1998-06)
- 1997-11 "inetd and telnetd on Windows NT with OpenNT"
- OpenNT 2.1 (2.1)
- 1997-12 OpenNT 2.1 for WinNT i386,alpha
- 1998-01 OpenNT 2.1
- 1998-02 "Technical Note #9: inetd and the Daemon Package"
- 1998-spring paper update
- 1998-06 Interix 2.1 rebranding
- Interix 2.2 (2.2)
- 1998-06 Interix 2.2(.0)?
- 1999-02 SFU 1.0 en for WinNT 4.0(SP3+) i386,alpha
- 1999-09-17 Acquired by Microsoft
- 1999-12 Interix 2.2(.0) for WinNT 3.51(SP5+),4.0(SP3+),5.0
- Interix 2.2 Service Pack 1 (2.2.4)
- Interix 2.2.5 (2.2.5)
- 2000-02 Interix 2.2.5 for WinNT 4.0(SP5+),5.0
- 2000-04 SFU 2.0 en for WinNT 4.0(SP4+),5.0 i386
- 2000-06 SFU 2.0 ja for WinNT 4.0(SP4+),5.0 i386
- 2001-06-30 "Strangely Enough It All Turns Out Well" Usenix talk
- Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX 3.0 (3.0)
- 2002-05 SFU 3.0 en for WinNT 4.0(SP6a+),5.0,5.1 i386
- Interix 3.0 (AKA Firebrand)
- 2002-10 SFU 3.0 ja for WinNT 4.0(SP6a+),5.0,5.1 i386
- Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX 3.5 (3.5)
- 2004-01 SFU 3.5 en,ja for WinNT 5.0,5.1,5.2 i386
- Windows Server 2003 R2 (all editions) Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (5.2)
- 2005-12-06 WinNT 5.2 R2
- Windows Vista (Ultimate and Enterprise editions) Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (6.0)
- 2006-11-08 WinNT 6.0 (2007-01-30)
- Windows Server 2008 (all editions) Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (6.0)
- 2008-02-04 WinNT 6.0
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- UNIX Tools for Windows; prepackaged application binaries from Interop Systems
- Services for UNIX - Interoperability: A blog on Services for UNIX and UNIX Interoperability components in Windows by Ashish (official blog, MSDN)
- INTERIX: UNIX Application Portability to Windows NT via an Alternative Environment Subsystem PDF historical
- SUA Installation Webcast on Interop Systems
- Interix: Unix for Microsoft Windows; third-party informational site
- Description from the Tcl-Wiki
- Debian-Interix Port
