Chapter 21 -- Interoperating with UNIX

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Chapter 21

Enterprise computing inevitably means being able to work with and interconnect to a variety of environments and operating systems. One of the most prevalent alternative operating systems that Microsoft Windows 2000 users work with is UNIX—in all of its various forms. On its own Windows 2000 has basic connectivity tools that enable it to function on the same network with UNIX servers. Additional 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 their 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. It starts by examining permissions and security issues because they are related to many of the other subjects in this chapter. Next it covers connectivity and file systems, followed by a look at the new Microsoft Windows NT Services for UNIX (SFU) package released in early 1999. Finally it examines the differences between Windows 2000 and UNIX shells.