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February 01, 1999 12:00 AM

Windows NT Services for UNIX Add -On Pack

M Edwards
Windows IT Pro
InstantDoc ID #4777

Password Synchronization
Historically, users lacked an adequate means of synchronizing NT and UNIX passwords because each OS uses a different method to obscure and store passwords. Fortunately, Microsoft has included one-way password synchronization software in the add-on pack. Screen 1 shows the password synchronization configuration file.

One-way password synchronization software hooks into NT and lets NT and UNIX systems share passwords. When users change their password on an NT system, the UNIX system automatically receives the new password. Unfortunately, the software only synchronizes NT passwords to UNIX.

Why didn't Microsoft include the ability to synchronize passwords from UNIX to NT? The answer probably resides in the notion that Microsoft wants NT to be the platform of choice, and having systems administrators manage user account information on an NT system forces UNIX users to use an NT system. Microsoft's plan makes good marketing sense; however, the plan also opens the market to third-party vendors who want to produce software that synchronizes UNIX passwords to NT.

The add-on pack introduces much-needed interoperability between UNIX and NT systems. However, the add-on pack doesn't include an NT-based X-Windows client or server, and the KornShell and associated scripts and binaries don't provide all the functionality a user needs.

Third-party vendors will benefit from the add-on pack. For instance, Softway Systems expects the add-on pack to stimulate sales of the company's Interix middleware solution (formerly OpenNT). Interix lets you run UNIX-based applications on NT without having to rewrite program code and introduces X-server capabilities to NT.

NetManage is working with Microsoft to ensure that its Chameleon UNIX Link software is compatible with the add-on pack. One of Chameleon UNIX Link's best features is a tool that lets users access UNIX-style X-terminal-based applications with a Web browser. Chameleon UNIX Link also includes an NFS server, an FTP client, and terminal emulators.

The Future
Will the add-on pack become part of Windows 2000 (Win2K, formerly NT 5.0)? Based on Microsoft's interest in penetrating the UNIX server market, my guess is that Microsoft will bundle the add-on pack and a lot of other software with Win2K.

Windows NT Services for UNIX Add-On Pack
Contact: Microsoft * 800-426-9400
Web: http://www.microsoft.com
Related Web Addresses
For more information about the add-on pack, third-party upgrade options, and other complementary software packages, visit the following URLs:
http://www.microsoft.com/ windows/news/september1998/ ntserv4unix.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver
http://www.integraph.com
http://www.mks.com
http://www.interix.com
http://www.netmanage.com/ products/unixlink
Corrections to this Article:
  • "Windows NT Services for UNIX Add-On Pack" contained contradictory statements about whether the add-on pack includes X-terminal software for accessing X Windows-based UNIX applications from Windows-based systems. The add-on pack does not include this component. However, Integraph offers several upgrade options for the add-on pack (including a batch-processing solution and X-terminal software) in its AccessNFS Solutions line.


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  • Andrew Wood
    13 years ago
    Aug 06, 1999

    I read Mark Joseph Edwards’ article about Microsoft’s new UNIX add-on pack. Although a decent Telnet server and UNIX-like scripting is all well and good, I think many network managers just want to take the headache out of integrating NT and UNIX servers.
    To this end, I think any article that mentions NT and UNIX integration needs to include a reference to Samba, an open source application that runs on UNIX servers. Notes on the Samba Web site (http://samba.anu.edu.au/samba) credit Samba as being “a complete replacement for Windows NT, Warp, NFS, or NetWare servers.” You can use Samba to integrate file and print services on UNIX servers within an NT domain.
    Although Samba doesn’t offer additional scripting functionality or Telnet servers, the software provides to NT users almost seamless access to resources on UNIX servers. My company has recently deployed Samba 2.02 on its production servers, and we’ve found Samba to be a useful tool. We’ve even used the Samba clients feature to let UNIX server processes print through an NT NetWare gateway onto a Novell network.

    --Andrew Wood

  • James Owusu
    13 years ago
    Aug 06, 1999

    I enjoyed Mark Joseph Edwards’ “Windows NT Services for UNIX Add-On Pack” (February). Systems administrators with heterogeneous environments have been waiting for this add-on pack for years. Is the add-on pack available? Is it free, and where can I download it? Thanks!

    --James Owusu



    According to Microsoft, the NT Services for UNIX Add-on Pack will be available through regular retail distribution channels by the end of April. For more information about the add-on pack, check the main product information page at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/nts/
    exec/overview/sfu.asp.

    --Mark Joseph Edwards

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