Differences between UNIX and Windows

Reality on Windows differs from Reality on UNIX in the following ways:

• On Windows, only partition databases using standard host files are supported. See Types of Database for details.

• Many configuration parameters are stored in the Windows registry instead of in host files.

• Windows services manage Reality databases instead of UNIX daemons.

• No on-site build capability is available.

• Startup and shutdown procedures are implemented using realserv, instead of realstart and killreal. However, killreal -d is available to terminate a database server. See Starting and Stopping Reality.

• Procedures for setting up system and network printers are different. See Overview of Spooler Operation.

• Private printers are not supported on Windows.

• For incoming TCP connections to a Reality database on a UNIX host, the supplied user-id and password are validated by UNIX. Each Reality user-id used for remote access must therefore have a corresponding UNIX user-id. The password for the UNIX user-id must be used when establishing a connection.

  On Windows, the supplied user-id and password are validated on the database. Incoming TCP connections to Reality use the Windows user-id 'Reality User'.

• On UNIX, users' remote system connection details are held in the host USERS file and administered using the UNIX-Connect netadmin utility. On Windows, these details are held in the database's USERS file and are administered using SSM.

• UNIX Connect functionality is an integral part of Reality on Windows. The smanager background process replaces SMANAGER in UNIX. See Networking.

• The user logon process is different.

• On Windows, multi-reel tape handling is not supported by FILE-SAVE. If the database cannot be fitted onto one reel, dbsave must be used. Note, however, that FILE-SAVE can be used to remote tape units on UNIX systems.

• 1/2 inch tape is not supported on Windows.

Environment Variables

UNIX and Windows use different methods of referencing environment variables:

• On UNIX, precede the name of the environment variable with a dollar sign; for example, $REALROOT.

• On Windows, enclose the name of the environment variable in percent signs; for example, %REALROOT%.

In general, environment variables are shown using UNIX conventions. If you have installed Reality on a Windows host, you must use the Windows equivalent.

Path Separators

UNIX and Windows also use different path separators:

• On UNIX, directory names must be separated with forward slashes (/).

• On Windows, in most cases you can use either forward slashes or backslashes (\) to separate directory names. However, when entering commands at a command prompt, you must use backslashes. Note also that on Windows, directories may be referred to as folders.

In general, path separators are shown using UNIX conventions. If you are using Reality on a Windows host, you must use the Windows equivalent.