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`finger(1)` on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs

On Solnix, finger is the illumos finger at /usr/bin/finger. It uses the finger protocol (RFC 1288) like the BSD versions, but its option set differs: -h hides the .project file, whereas on the BSDs -h selects the remote host column in short format.

The manual pages

Solnix: finger(1) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
FreeBSD: finger(1) 15.1-RELEASE
OpenBSD: finger(1) 8.0
NetBSD: finger(1) 11.0

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos finger at /usr/bin/finger. /usr/ucb/finger is also shipped, but the bundle does not describe it.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-h` meaning	Solnix finger `-h` suppresses the .project file in a long listing. On FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD, `-h` is used with `-s` to show the remote host instead of the office location and phone. Source: Solnix finger(1) -h; FreeBSD finger(1) -h; OpenBSD finger(1) -h; NetBSD finger(1) -h
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-p` meaning	Solnix finger `-p` suppresses only the .plan file in a long listing. On the BSDs, `-p` suppresses the .plan and .project files (and .forward on NetBSD, plus .pubkey on FreeBSD). Source: Solnix finger(1) -p; FreeBSD finger(1) -p; OpenBSD finger(1) -p; NetBSD finger(1) -p
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-o` meaning	Solnix finger has no `-o`. On the BSDs, `-o` together with `-s` shows office location and phone instead of the remote host. On FreeBSD and NetBSD this is the default for `-s`. Source: Solnix finger(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD finger(1) -o; OpenBSD finger(1) -o; NetBSD finger(1) -o
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	default output format	The Solnix page says the default lists logged-in users in multi-column format, and that username arguments give a detailed multi-line listing. The BSD pages state it as a rule: `-l` when operands are given, otherwise `-s`. The Solnix page does not use this wording. Source: Solnix finger(1) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD finger(1) DESCRIPTION
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	extra output formats	Solnix has `-i` (idle format), `-q` (quick format), `-b` (hide home directory and shell), `-f` (hide header) and `-w` (hide full name in short format). None of these appear in the FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD pages. Source: Solnix finger(1) -b, -f, -i, -q, -w; FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD finger(1) SYNOPSIS
OpenBSD	name matching	Solnix `-m` matches on user name only, and matching on first or last name is the normal behaviour. OpenBSD adds `-M` to enable name matching, which is off by default on systems running YP or with large password databases. Solnix has no `-M`. Source: Solnix finger(1) -m; OpenBSD finger(1) -M, -m
FreeBSD, NetBSD	`-g` gecos restriction	FreeBSD and NetBSD finger `-g` restricts gecos output to the real name. Solnix has no `-g`. The Solnix page notes only that GECOS text after a comma is not displayed. Source: FreeBSD finger(1) -g; NetBSD finger(1) -g; Solnix finger(1) DESCRIPTION (GECOS note)
FreeBSD	IPv4/IPv6 and accounting database	FreeBSD finger has `-4` and `-6` to force an address family, and `-k` to disable use of the user accounting database. The Solnix page documents none of these. Source: FreeBSD finger(1) -4, -6, -k; Solnix finger(1) SYNOPSIS
NetBSD	8-bit output	On Solnix, finger passes only printable 7-bit ASCII per RFC 1288, and the PASS option in `/etc/default/finger` can change this. On NetBSD, the `-8` option passes 8-bit data. Neither OpenBSD nor FreeBSD documents either mechanism. Source: Solnix finger(1) DESCRIPTION (PASS); NetBSD finger(1) -8
FreeBSD	environment, .nofinger and finger.conf	FreeBSD finger reads the FINGER environment variable for default options, honours ~/.nofinger for non-root callers, and supports aliases in finger.conf(5). The Solnix page documents none of these. It configures behaviour through `/etc/default/finger.` Source: FreeBSD finger(1) ENVIRONMENT, .nofinger, finger.conf(5); Solnix finger(1) DESCRIPTION (PASS)
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	files shown in long format	Solnix long format shows .project (first line only) and .plan. FreeBSD also shows .forward and .pubkey, and NetBSD also shows .forward. OpenBSD shows the full .plan and .project files. Source: Solnix finger(1) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD finger(1) -l; NetBSD finger(1) -l; OpenBSD finger(1) -l
Linux	Linux counterpart	The bundle has no Linux finger page, so no Linux comparison can be made. Source: bundle header lists only FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD counterparts

Standards

POSIX: finger is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Solnix: The page refers to the finger user information protocol, RFC 1288 (Zimmerman, D., The Finger User Information Protocol, December 1991).
OpenBSD: STANDARDS lists D. Zimmerman, The Finger User Information Protocol, RFC 1288, December 1991.

Writing portable scripts

Use only -l, -s and -m, and the user@host form with -l only, in portable scripts. -h, -p and -o differ between Solnix and the BSDs.
Do not rely on the default format being the same everywhere. Pass -l or -s explicitly.

Every difference here is taken from the manual pages linked above: Solnix's published page, Linux (man-pages and the GNU and util-linux manuals), FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD. Each row names its source. Where a manual is silent, this page is too. Compiled 2026-10-26. Found a mistake? Mail hackers@lists.solnix.io.