Hey Cygwin users! Service for Unix will be free!

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-01-14 08:52pm

For all of you guys who use Cygwin for one purpose or another, Microsoft will be releasing Windows Services for Unix 3.5 for free.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-01-14 09:32pm

Can you give a comparison? Also aren't some parts of it GPLed, with source on some obscure server somewhere to satisfy licensing?

I hate Cygwin's installer- makes installing over dialup a bitch.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-01-14 10:26pm

Pu-239 wrote:Can you give a comparison? Also aren't some parts of it GPLed, with source on some obscure server somewhere to satisfy licensing?

I don't think so. It does hook in at a lower level than Cygwin however (for example, if you ran top, you'd see everything, unlike Cygwin).

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2004-01-15 05:23am

I'll probable give Cygwin the drop kick once I get Service for Unix.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2004-01-15 06:44am

Where can I get this?

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2004-01-15 08:26am

His Divine Shadow wrote:Where can I get this?

The beta appears to be here (I didnt check to see if you needed a product key or anything)

With a nice warning:

Before you continue, it is important to understand that the Beta release of any product will not display the stability of a shipped Microsoft product. You may encounter problems with beta release of Services for UNIX version 3.5, which could possibly result in a loss or destruction of data. This release is not appropriate for production use, and we suggest that you back up your existing data before you install and run this software.

Now thats a disclaimer which spells out all the gory details.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2004-01-15 09:03am

My system install is 1.5 years old and still stable, I won't be risking it.

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2004-01-15 09:25am

After a bit of digging, the Beta is out now (15th January), with the actual release aiming for just after the 20th of January.

Due to the really short difference between the public beta & the actual release, it looks like the Beta is near/is production quality.

Personally, I think they are using the 5 days to polish the new website (since the existing one will require an overhall) and doing misc polishing of the installer & stuff.

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2004-01-15 02:07pm

Well it looks like its out now.

Requires an .NET Passport to download, aka hotmail address. Then followed by a questionnaire about why you want the stuff(With a link at the bottem of the page pointing to contact options, my MS & MS partners ).

And then a 217mb download.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-01-16 04:30am

There is GPLed stuff in there- bash/gcc/coreutils - the source downloads are dead links though.

I won't switch- too large and monolithic download- better to use minimal cygwin install, since I don't need gcc/perl/whatever (use a real *nix box). I hardly use the windows machine anyway.