Services for Unix Updated

Updates to Microsoft’s Services for Unix (SFU) are designed to help Windows compete with Linux as a platform for replacing Unix. The incremental feature improvements and free availability will make this interoperability product an attractive tool in markets around the world—particularly in Asia, where Linux is making inroads.

What Is SFU?

SFU is a set of tools that help customers manage a mixed Unix and Windows environment and migrate or port Unix- and POSIX-compliant applications to Windows.

SFU assists in the following areas:

Interoperability. SFU supports running important Unix services on Windows. For example, it supports the Network File System (NFS) as both a client and a server, enabling customers to transfer files between Unix and Windows. Customers can also use Windows Active Directory as a Network Information System (NIS) server for security and configuration information.

Manageability. SFU supports single sign-on and password synchronization between Windows and Unix, enabling users to have the same ID and password on both systems for easy access.