diff --git a/include/ndnboost/system/api_config.hpp b/include/ndnboost/system/api_config.hpp
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+//  ndnboost/system/api_config.hpp  -------------------------------------------------------//
+
+//  Copyright Beman Dawes 2003, 2006, 2010
+
+//  Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0.
+//  See http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt
+
+//  See http://www.boost.org/libs/system for documentation.
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------//
+
+//  Boost.System calls operating system API functions to implement system error category
+//  functions. Usually there is no question as to which API is to be used.
+//
+//  In the case of MinGW or Cygwin/MinGW, however, both POSIX and Windows API's are
+//  available. Chaos ensues if other code thinks one is in use when Boost.System was
+//  actually built with the other. This header centralizes the API choice and prevents
+//  user definition of API macros, thus elminating the possibility of mismatches and the
+//  need to test configurations with little or no practical value.
+//
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------//
+
+#ifndef NDNBOOST_SYSTEM_API_CONFIG_HPP                  
+#define NDNBOOST_SYSTEM_API_CONFIG_HPP
+
+# if defined(NDNBOOST_POSIX_API) || defined(NDNBOOST_WINDOWS_API)
+#   error user defined NDNBOOST_POSIX_API or NDNBOOST_WINDOWS_API not supported
+# endif
+
+//  NDNBOOST_POSIX_API or NDNBOOST_WINDOWS_API specify which API to use
+//    Cygwin/MinGW does not predefine _WIN32.
+//    Standalone MinGW and all other known Windows compilers do predefine _WIN32
+//    Compilers that predefine _WIN32 or __MINGW32__ do so for Windows 64-bit builds too.
+
+# if defined(_WIN32) || defined(__CYGWIN__) // Windows default, including MinGW and Cygwin
+#   define NDNBOOST_WINDOWS_API
+# else
+#   define NDNBOOST_POSIX_API 
+# endif
+                                     
+#endif  // NDNBOOST_SYSTEM_API_CONFIG_HPP