Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Interix
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
{{Short description|Unix subsystem for Windows NT operating systems}} {{Infobox software | name = Interix | title = Interix | logo = | screenshot = | caption = | other_names = OpenNT | author = Softway Systems | developer = [[Microsoft]] | released = {{Start date and age|1996|03|29}}<!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} --> | latest release version = Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications in Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 (6.1) | latest release date = {{Start date and age|2010|03|11}} | latest preview version = | latest preview date = | repo = | programming language = | operating system = [[Microsoft Windows]] | platform = | size = | language = | language count = <!-- DO NOT include this parameter unless you know what it does --> | language footnote = | genre = | license = | website = }} '''Interix''' was an optional{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}, [[POSIX]]-conformant{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} [[Unix]] subsystem for [[Windows NT]] [[operating system]]s. Interix was a component of [[Windows Services for UNIX]], and a superset of the [[Microsoft POSIX subsystem]]. Like the POSIX subsystem, Interix was an [[Architecture of Windows NT#User mode|environment subsystem]] for the [[Architecture of Windows NT#Kernel|NT kernel]]. It included numerous [[open source]] [[utility software]] programs and [[Library (computing)|libraries]]. Interix was originally developed and sold as '''OpenNT''' until purchased by Microsoft in 1999. Interix versions 5.2 and 6.0 were respective components of [[Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2]], [[Windows Vista Enterprise]], [[Windows Vista Ultimate]], and [[Windows Server 2008]] as '''Subsystem for Unix-based Applications'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/R2/unixcomponents/default.mspx |title=Windows Server 2003 R2 UNIX Interoperability Components|website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115202837/https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/R2/unixcomponents/default.mspx |archive-date=2008-01-15 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ('''SUA'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/Library/695ac415-d314-45df-b464-4c80ddc2b3bc1033.mspx |title=Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications |access-date=2006-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060323182645/http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/Library/695ac415-d314-45df-b464-4c80ddc2b3bc1033.mspx |archive-date=2006-03-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>). Version 6.1 was included in [[Windows 7]] (Enterprise and Ultimate editions) but disabled by default,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lbw.sourceforge.net/interix.html |title=LBW: Installing Interix |publisher=Lbw.sourceforge.net |access-date=2014-03-31 |archive-date=2015-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411031240/http://lbw.sourceforge.net/interix.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in [[Windows Server 2008 R2]] (all editions).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=DC03485B-629B-49A6-B5EF-18617D1A9804&displaylang=en |title=Utilities and SDK for Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications in Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2|website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012042853/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=DC03485B-629B-49A6-B5EF-18617D1A9804&displaylang=en |archive-date=2010-10-12 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was available as a deprecated<ref>{{cite web |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-R2-and-2012/hh831568(v=ws.11)?redirectedfrom=MSDN |title=Features Removed or Deprecated in Windows Server 2012|date=31 August 2016 }}</ref> separate download for [[Windows 8]] and [[Windows Server 2012]], and is not available at all on [[Windows 10]]. ==Details== The complete installation of Interix included (at version 3.5): * Over 350 [[List of Unix commands|Unix utilities]] such as [[Vi (text editor)|vi]], [[KornShell|ksh]], [[C shell|csh]], [[ls]], [[cat (Unix)|cat]], [[AWK|awk]], [[grep]], [[kill (command)|kill]], etc. * A complete set of [[Man page|manual pages]] for utilities and APIs * [[GNU Compiler Collection|GCC]] 3.3 compiler, [[Header file|includes]] and [[Library (computing)|libraries]] * A cc/c89-like wrapper for [[Microsoft Visual Studio]] command-line C/C++ compiler * [[GNU Debugger]] * [[X Window System|X11]] client applications and libraries (no X server included, though third party servers were available) * Has Unix "[[Toor (BSD)|root]]" capabilities (i.e. [[setuid]] files) * Has [[POSIX Threads|pthreads]], [[library (computing)#Dynamic linking|shared libraries]], [[Executable and Linkable Format|DSO]]s, [[job control (Unix)|job control]], [[Signal (computing)|signals]], [[Berkeley sockets|sockets]], [[Shared memory (interprocess communication)|shared memory]] The development environment included support for [[C (programming language)|C]], [[C++]] and [[Fortran]]. Threading was supported using the Pthreads model. Additional languages could be obtained ([[Python (programming language)|Python]], [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]], [[Tcl]], etc.). Unix-based software packaging and build tools were available for installing or creating pre-build software packages. Starting with release 5.2 (Server 2003/R2) the following capabilities were added:<ref name=autogenerated1>{{Cite web |url=http://www.interopsystems.com/tools/tm.aspx?m=5623 |title=Windows 2003 R2 + Interix<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061024231752/http://www.interopsystems.com/tools/tm.aspx?m=5623 |archive-date=2006-10-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * "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 * [[UNIX System V|System V]] R4 utilities can be optionally installed instead of the default [[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]]-based utilities * [[Microsoft Visual C++|MSVC]] debugging plug-in * Database (OCI/[[ODBC]]) library connectivity With release 6.0 (Vista and Server 2008) the following new features were added: * [[IPv6]] support for socket APIs and daemons * Updates to utilities for additional functionality * MSVC debugging plug-in enhanced Interix release 6.0 for [[Windows Vista|Vista]] was only available with the [[Windows Vista Ultimate|Ultimate]] and [[Windows Vista editions#Windows Vista Enterprise|Enterprise]] editions. Interix release 6.1 was available for [[Windows Server 2008 R2]] and [[Windows 7]] for the Enterprise and Ultimate editions. ==Support== Traditional support was provided by Microsoft for a fee or service contract, though released hotfixes can usually be obtained free of charge from Microsoft. Previously, free support could be found via the forums at the SUA Community site<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.suacommunity.com/forum/default.aspx |title=SUA Community hosted by Interop Systems |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080817020302/http://www.suacommunity.com/forum/default.aspx |archive-date=2008-08-17 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> and with the FAQ,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.suacommunity.com/FAQs.htm |title=FAQs |website=SUA Community |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918072912/http://www.suacommunity.com/FAQs.htm |archive-date=2008-09-18 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> however this appears to have been withdrawn. ==Additions== Additional pre-built applications and development libraries could be obtained for free from the {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080918072900/http://www.suacommunity.com/ SUA Community]}} site, the [http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/gentoo-alt/prefix/ Gentoo-prefix] site and the {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140102155326/http://debian-interix.net/ Debian-Interix]}} site. These included commonly used applications not part of the Microsoft installation such as [[OpenSSH]], [[Git (software)|Git]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]] and [[Bash (Unix shell)|bash]]. The '''SUA Community''' site included for developers of Interix and the site has been contracted by Microsoft for several '''Interix''' and '''SUA''' updates of utilities and documentation. ==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. The Interix interoperability suite developed by Softway Systems Inc., included substantial code from [[OpenBSD]],.<ref name="wsu35_review">{{citation |url = http://www.osnews.com/story/5751 |last = Dohnert |first = Roberto J. |title = Review of Windows Services for UNIX 3.5 |work = [[OSNews]] |publisher = [[David Adams (businessman)|David Adams]] |date = 2004-01-21 |access-date = 2020-07-19 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080211164430/http://www.osnews.com/story/5751 |archive-date = 2008-02-11 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=wontfix>{{cite web |url=https://brianreiter.org/2010/01/26/wontfix-select2-in-sua-5-2-ignores-timeout/ |title=WONTFIX: select(2) in SUA 5.2 ignores timeout |first=Brian |last=Reiter |publisher=brianreiter.org |date=2010-01-26 }}</ref> Microsoft acquired Interix in 1999.<ref name="softway">{{citation |url = http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/1999/sept99/softwaypr.aspx |title = Microsoft Acquires Softway Systems To Strengthen Future Customer Interoperability Solutions |work = Microsoft News Center |publisher = [[Microsoft]] |date = 1999-09-17 }}</ref><ref name="interix">{{cite web |url=https://www.milltech.com/about |title=Milltech Consulting Inc. |date=2019 |access-date=2020-06-23 |archive-date=2020-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918125111/https://www.milltech.com/about |url-status=dead }}</ref> Microsoft continued to distribute Interix 2.2 as a standalone product until 2002. Interix release 3.0 was released as component of [[Windows 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 a component of the regular Windows OS distribution<ref name=autogenerated1 /> as a component of [[Windows Server 2003 R2]] in December, 2005 at release 5.2 and was a component of the [[Windows Vista]] release as release 6.0 (RTM November, 2006). [[Windows Server 2008]] had release 6.0. [[Windows 7]] and [[Windows Server 2008 R2]] included SUA 6.1. Microsoft announced in 2011 that Interix would not be included in Windows versions after Windows 8<!-- does that mean it doesn't work in Windows 8.1? Seems available and work in Win 8--> and customers should start migrating their applications to an alternative solution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/sfu/archive/2011/10/03/installing-sua-components-on-windows-8.aspx |title=Installing SUA components on Windows 8|date=28 August 2023 }}</ref> ==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<ref>{{cite conference |last=Walli |first=Stephen R. |date=1997-08-12 |df=mdy |title=OPENNT: UNIX Application Portability to Windows NT via an Alternative Environment Subsystem |department=We're Not in Kansas Anymore |book-title= |conference=USENIX Windows NT Workshop, 1997 |url=https://www.usenix.org/legacy/publications/library/proceedings/usenix-nt97/walli.html |access-date=2022-05-20}}</ref> : 1997-08-12 "OpenNT: UNIX Application Portability to Windows NT" Usenix presentation<ref>{{cite conference |last=Walli |first=Stephen R. |date=1997-08-12 |df=mdy |title=OPENNT: UNIX Application Portability to Windows NT |department=We're Not in Kansas Anymore |book-title= |conference=USENIX Windows NT Workshop, 1997 |url=https://www.usenix.org/legacy/publications/library/proceedings/usenix-nt97/presentations/walli/index.htm |access-date=2022-05-20}}</ref> (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 (does not contain Interix; included for historical purposes with MS acquisition) : 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 (does not contain Interix; included for historical purposes with MS acquisition) : 2000-06 SFU 2.0 ja for WinNT 4.0(SP4+),5.0 i386 (does not contain Interix; included for historical purposes with MS acquisition) : 2001-06-30 "Strangely Enough It All Turns Out Well" Usenix talk<ref>{{cite conference |last=Walli |first=Stephen R. |date=2001-06-30 |df=mdy |title=Strangely Enough, It All Turns Out Well |book-title= |conference=USENIX Technical Conference, 2001 |url=https://www.usenix.org/legacy/event/usenix01/invitedtalks/walli.pdf |access-date=2022-05-20}}</ref> ; 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 ; Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications in Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 (6.1) : 2010-03-11 WinNT 6.1 ==See also== {{Div col|colwidth=22em}} * [[Windows Subsystem for Linux]] * [[Xming]] * [[MKS Toolkit]] * [[UnxUtils]] * [[UWIN]] * [[GnuWin32]] * [[GNUWin II]] * [[Cygwin]] * [[MinGW]] * [[DJGPP]] {{div col end}} ==References== {{Reflist}} == Further reading == * {{cite conference|author1-first=Stephen R.|author1-last=Walli|title=OPENNT: UNIX application portability to Windows NT via an alternative environment subsystem|editor1-first=Ed|editor1-last=Lazowska|editor2-first=Michael B.|editor2-last=Jones|book-title=Proceedings of the USENIX Windows NT Symposium. 1997|location=Berkeley, CA|publisher=USENIX Association|date=August 1997}} * {{cite web|first=Stephen R.|last=Walli|date=2016-04-13|work=medium.com|title=Running Linux Apps on Windows (and other stupid human tricks) Part I|url=https://medium.com/@stephenrwalli/running-linux-apps-on-windows-and-other-stupid-human-tricks-part-i-acbf5a474532}} * {{cite web|first=Stephen R.|last=Walli|date=2016-04-13|work=medium.com|title=Running Linux Apps on Windows (and other stupid human tricks) Part II|url=https://medium.com/@stephenrwalli/running-linux-apps-on-windows-and-other-stupid-human-tricks-part-ii-c244b2ee535}} ==External links== * [http://blogs.msdn.com/sfu/ Services for UNIX - Interoperability: A blog on Services for UNIX and UNIX Interoperability components in Windows by Ashish] (official blog, MSDN) * [http://stephesblog.blogs.com/papers/usenix-interix.pdf INTERIX: UNIX Application Portability to Windows NT via an Alternative Environment Subsystem] PDF historical * [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324081 HOW TO: Install Interix] (KB 324081 for Windows NT4/5 up to XP) * [http://wiki.tcl.tk/Interix Description from the Tcl-Wiki] * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140102155326/http://debian-interix.net/ Debian-Interix Port]}}; Debian based applications for Interix/SUA * [http://distfiles.gentoo.org/experimental/prefix/x86-interix/current/ Gentoo Prefix Port] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825064932/http://distfiles.gentoo.org/experimental/prefix/x86-interix/current/ |date=2023-08-25 }} Gentoo based port of many applications * [http://cowlark.com/lbw/ LBW: Linux Binaries on Windows], an Interix-based Linux system call translator for Windows {{Microsoft Windows components}} {{Unix-Windows interoperability}} [[Category:Compatibility layers]] [[Category:Unix emulators]] [[Category:Unix history]] [[Category:Windows components]]
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page
(
help
)
:
Template:Citation
(
edit
)
Template:Citation needed
(
edit
)
Template:Cite conference
(
edit
)
Template:Cite web
(
edit
)
Template:Div col
(
edit
)
Template:Div col end
(
edit
)
Template:Infobox
(
edit
)
Template:Infobox software
(
edit
)
Template:Main other
(
edit
)
Template:Microsoft Windows components
(
edit
)
Template:Reflist
(
edit
)
Template:Short description
(
edit
)
Template:Template other
(
edit
)
Template:Unix-Windows interoperability
(
edit
)
Template:Usurped
(
edit
)
Template:Webarchive
(
edit
)