Chapter 22 - Interoperating with UNIX

Chapter 22

Enterprise computing inevitably means interacting with other environments and operating systems. Frequently, Microsoft Windows 2000 networks need to be able to connect to and work with UNIX in one or another of its various iterations. On its own, Windows 2000 has basic connectivity tools that enable it to function on the same network with UNIX servers. Add-ons from Microsoft and third parties help UNIX and Windows 2000 work nearly seamlessly together, so the system administrators of both environments can provide users with full access to the resources of the other environment almost transparently.

This chapter looks at that basic interoperability and explores some of the add-ons that can extend the functionality and interoperability for both systems. We do assume in this chapter that you have at least a passing familiarity with UNIX and/or Linux, and that's why you're trying to interoperate. We start by examining permissions and security issues because they are related to many of the other subjects in this chapter. Next comes connectivity and file systems, followed by a look at the newest version of the Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX (SFU) product, version 3.0, released in May 2002. Finally, we'll discuss the differences between Windows 2000 and UNIX shells.