Information About Interix and Filenames (246316)

SUMMARY

Currently, the Interix system does not have a single-rooted file system. In Microsoft Windows NT, multiple volumes are available by using drive letters. To use Interix to obtain access to these volumes, you must use the syntax "//L" (where L must be an uppercase letter).

This requirement directly affects your code porting process. Configure scripts, makefiles, and objects such as file selection boxes in X programs do not make allowances for the "special" volume prefix.

There are two scenarios where this is an issue:

• Configure scripts assume the absolute locations of certain utilities -> /bin/rm or /bin/sh. On an Interix system, sh is located in $Interix_ROOT/bin ($OPENNT_ROOT deprecated). In shell scripts of pathnames passed to functions /bin/sh will not work.
• Even if absolute locations (such as //C/Interix/bin) are defined for the current installation, these will not be correct on systems where Interix is installed on a different volume.