fsdb(8) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
On Solnix, fsdb is the illumos /usr/sbin/fsdb, a front end that picks an FSType-specific debugger. The BSD fsdb is a single FFS inode editor with its own command loop. The options differ: Solnix has -F, -V and -o, while the BSDs have -d, -f, -r, -n and -N.
The manual pages
- Solnix: fsdb(8) from
pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man· illumos.org - FreeBSD: fsdb(8) 15.1-RELEASE
- OpenBSD: fsdb(8) 8.0
- NetBSD: fsdb(8) 11.0
What Solnix runs
A default Solnix system runs the illumos fsdb at /usr/sbin/fsdb. No other variants are shipped. The page documents no interactive commands and sends you to the manual page of the FSType-specific fsdb module. It also says the command may not be supported for all FSTypes.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | what the command is | Solnix fsdb takes an FSType and hands off to an FSType-specific debugger, whose capabilities the page does not describe. The BSD pages describe one FFS tool that edits inode data in a command loop. Source: Solnix fsdb(8) DESCRIPTION, NOTES; FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD fsdb(8) NAME, DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | how the file system is named | Solnix takes a special device as a positional argument. FreeBSD takes fsname positionally. OpenBSD and NetBSD synopses show -f fsname as part of the command line.Source: Solnix fsdb(8) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD fsdb(8) SYNOPSIS; OpenBSD fsdb(8) SYNOPSIS, -f; NetBSD fsdb(8) SYNOPSIS |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | -f meaning | Solnix fsdb has no -f. On FreeBSD, -f is accepted but 'has no meaning'. On OpenBSD, -f fsname opens the file system. The NetBSD synopsis shows -f fsname, but its text does not describe -f.Source: Solnix fsdb(8) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD fsdb(8) -f; OpenBSD fsdb(8) -f fsname; NetBSD fsdb(8) SYNOPSIS |
| NetBSD | -F meaning | Solnix -F FSType selects the file system type. NetBSD -F means the target is a file system image, accessed as-is with no disklabel read. A NetBSD invocation with -F means something else on Solnix.Source: Solnix fsdb(8) -F; NetBSD fsdb(8) -F |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD | -F absent | FreeBSD and OpenBSD fsdb have no -F. They take no file system type, because the tool handles FFS only.Source: FreeBSD fsdb(8) SYNOPSIS; OpenBSD fsdb(8) SYNOPSIS; Solnix fsdb(8) -F |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | -V and -o | Solnix -V echoes the command line built from the options and /etc/vfstab, without running it. -o passes FSType-specific options. None of the BSD pages document either option.Source: Solnix fsdb(8) -V, -o; FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD fsdb(8) SYNOPSIS |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | read-only mode | FreeBSD -r opens the file system read-only and disables all writing commands. NetBSD -n disables writing to the device. The Solnix page documents no read-only option, though an FSType-specific page might.Source: FreeBSD fsdb(8) -r; NetBSD fsdb(8) -n; Solnix fsdb(8) OPTIONS |
| NetBSD | superblock on exit | The BSD pages say that on exiting the command loop the superblock is marked dirty and buffered blocks are written. NetBSD -N suppresses the dirty mark. The Solnix page says nothing about superblock handling.Source: NetBSD fsdb(8) DESCRIPTION, -N; FreeBSD fsdb(8) DESCRIPTION; OpenBSD fsdb(8) DESCRIPTION; Solnix fsdb(8) DESCRIPTION |
| OpenBSD | documented commands | The OpenBSD page lists the in-tool commands: inode, ls, rm, ln, chmod, chown, chtype, linkcount and others. The Solnix page lists none and defers to the FSType-specific page. Source: OpenBSD fsdb(8) commands list; Solnix fsdb(8) DESCRIPTION, SEE ALSO |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | FSType lookup and defaults | Solnix finds the FSType from -F, else by matching special in /etc/vfstab, else from /etc/default/fs. The BSD pages name no such lookup files.Source: Solnix fsdb(8) -F; FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD fsdb(8) DESCRIPTION |
Standards
- POSIX: fsdb is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Writing portable scripts
- Do not script fsdb across systems. Its options (
-F,-V,-oon Solnix;-f,-r,-n,-Non the BSDs) and its commands differ. - If you must call it, test the OS first and read the local fsdb(8) for the file system type involved.
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.