Microsoft KB Archive/323952

= HOW TO: Understand Compatibility for a UNIX-to-Windows Migration =

Article ID: 323952

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Internet Information Services 5.0

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This article was previously published under Q323952



IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY
 * File Format Compatibility
 * Programming Language Support
 * Networking Support
 * POSIX Compatibility
 * Interoperability Support

REFERENCES



SUMMARY
When you migrate from UNIX to Windows 2000, you must modify and carefully transfer some information. Some elements of the two platforms are compatible. In this document you learn about the elements that are compatible, about the elements that need attention, and about the tools that are available to help the migration process.

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File Format Compatibility
You can transfer most binary-format files from UNIX to Windows without modification. Binary compatibility is the responsibility of the program. For example, graphics files, movies, and other binary data files are the same on both platforms. Binary executables are not transferable.

For text-format files, UNIX uses a linefeed character to end each line in the file, but Windows uses a carriage-return and linefeed-character sequence to end each line. This difference may cause problems in the following files:
 * Text-based data files.
 * Script files for Perl, Python, or other languages.

HTML files are not affected because browsers ignore line termination.

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Programming Language Support
Windows supports C, C++, and Java languages directly or by means of Microsoft Visual Studio. Java-based programs do not require any modifications. You have to rewrite programs that are written in C and C++ if the programs use libraries other than the standard C and C++ versions. There are also versions of Perl, Python, PHP, and other languages that are available for Windows and that work for most scripts.

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Networking Support
Windows 2000 supports the BSD networking standard. Because of this, you can use standard TCP/IP networking principles. Windows 2000 also supports standard UNIX services such as DNS, DHCP, HTTP, FTP, and others.

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POSIX Compatibility
Windows 2000 is compliant with the POSIX 1003.1 standard. It is not compliant with the later POSIX 1003.2 standard.

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Interoperability Support
The Microsoft Services for UNIX product incorporates many tools and utilities that you can use to migrate between the two platforms. These tools and utilities also act as conduits between the platforms during general use. The Windows Services for UNIX product also includes an NFS client and server, user and group data conduits that you can use to share information between UNIX and Windows computers, and tools that you can use to migrate authentication and permission data.

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