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

On Solnix, ftp is the illumos ftp at /usr/bin/ftp, an interactive client with GSSAPI (Kerberos) options. Its synopsis has no URL or auto-fetch arguments, so the scripted fetching that FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD ftp offer is not documented. Several single-letter flags (-a, -f, -s, -T, -x) mean something different from the BSDs.

The manual pages

Solnix: ftp(1) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
Linux: ftp(1) inetutils-2.7
FreeBSD: ftp(1) 15.1-RELEASE
OpenBSD: ftp(1) 8.0
NetBSD: ftp(1) 11.0

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos ftp at /usr/bin/ftp. /usr/ucb/ftp is also shipped, but the bundle does not describe it. The Linux counterpart in the bundle is GNU inetutils 2.7 ftp, a different program from the Solnix one.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-a` meaning	Solnix ftp `-a` means GSSAPI authentication only, and the connection is closed if authentication fails. On FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD, `-a` bypasses normal login and logs in anonymously. A BSD script using `-a` for anonymous login gets GSSAPI on Solnix. Source: Solnix ftp(1) -a; FreeBSD ftp(1) -a; OpenBSD ftp(1) -a; NetBSD ftp(1) -a
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-s` meaning	Solnix `-s` takes no argument and skips the SYST command sent on connection. On FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD, `-s` takes an address argument (srcaddr) used as the local source address for connections. Source: Solnix ftp(1) -s; FreeBSD ftp(1) -s srcaddr; OpenBSD ftp(1) -s sourceaddr; NetBSD ftp(1) -s srcaddr
FreeBSD, NetBSD	`-T` meaning	Solnix `-T` timeout sets a global connection timer in seconds. On FreeBSD and NetBSD, `-T` takes direction,maximum[,increment] and sets a maximum transfer rate in bytes per second. Source: Solnix ftp(1) -T timeout; FreeBSD ftp(1) -T; NetBSD ftp(1) -T
FreeBSD, NetBSD	`-f` meaning	Solnix `-f` forwards local security credentials to the remote server. On FreeBSD and NetBSD, `-f` forces a cache reload for transfers through FTP or HTTP proxies. OpenBSD's synopsis has no `-f`. Source: Solnix ftp(1) -f; FreeBSD ftp(1) -f; NetBSD ftp(1) -f; OpenBSD ftp(1) SYNOPSIS
OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-x` and `-m` meaning	Solnix `-x` requests GSSAPI authentication and encryption, with data and command channel protection "private". On NetBSD, `-x` xfersize sets the socket buffer size. Solnix `-m` takes a GSS mechanism; on OpenBSD, `-m` forces the progress meter on. Source: Solnix ftp(1) -x, -m; NetBSD ftp(1) -x xfersize; OpenBSD ftp(1) -m
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	URL fetching in scripts	FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD ftp accept ftp:// and http:// URLs (OpenBSD and NetBSD also https://) and fetch them into the current directory. The Solnix synopsis takes only [hostname [port]], so scripts using URL fetching do not carry over. Source: Solnix ftp(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD ftp(1) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION; OpenBSD ftp(1) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD ftp(1) SYNOPSIS
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-o` output and `-u` upload	Solnix has no `-o` to save a fetched file under a chosen name. FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD have `-o` output. FreeBSD and NetBSD also have `-u` URL file ... to upload files from the command line. Source: Solnix ftp(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD ftp(1) -o, -u; OpenBSD ftp(1) -o; NetBSD ftp(1) -o, -u
all four	passive and active mode	Solnix `-p` enables passive mode and the page presents it as the way to get passive transfers. FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD call `-p` deprecated: they try passive by default and fall back to active. Linux has `-A` for active; Solnix has no `-A`. Source: Solnix ftp(1) -p, SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD ftp(1) -A, -p; OpenBSD ftp(1) -A, -p; NetBSD ftp(1) -A, -p; Linux ftp(1) -A, -p
all four	`-t` packet tracing	The Solnix page marks `-t` "packet tracing" as unimplemented. The Linux, FreeBSD and NetBSD pages describe `-t` as enabling packet tracing and do not say it is unimplemented. Source: Solnix ftp(1) -t; Linux ftp(1) -t, --trace; FreeBSD ftp(1) -t; NetBSD ftp(1) -t
all four	`-V` meaning	Solnix ftp has no `-V`. On Linux, `-V` prints the program version. On FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD, `-V` disables verbose output and progress, overriding the terminal default. Source: Solnix ftp(1) SYNOPSIS; Linux ftp(1) -V, --version; FreeBSD ftp(1) -V; NetBSD ftp(1) -V; OpenBSD ftp(1) SYNOPSIS
Linux	long options	Linux (GNU inetutils) ftp has long options such as `--passive`, `--no-login`, `--no-prompt`, `--no-glob` and `--netrc=NETRC`. The Solnix page documents single-letter options only. Linux `-n`, `-i` and `-g` match Solnix in meaning. Source: Linux ftp(1) options; Solnix ftp(1) SYNOPSIS, -n, -i, -g
all four	missing `-4`, `-6`, `-e`, `-N`	Solnix ftp has no `-4`/-6 to force an address family and no `-e` to disable command-line editing. `-N` selects a netrc file on Linux, FreeBSD and NetBSD, and an error-report name on OpenBSD. Solnix has no `-N`. Source: Solnix ftp(1) SYNOPSIS; Linux ftp(1) -4, -6, -e, -N; FreeBSD ftp(1) -N; OpenBSD ftp(1) -N; NetBSD ftp(1) -N

Standards

POSIX: ftp is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.

Writing portable scripts

Use only -d, -g, -i, -n and -v in portable scripts. They have the same meaning on every system in the bundle. Avoid -a, -f, -s, -T, -x and -V, which differ.
For non-interactive transfers across systems, feed commands to ftp -n on stdin. Do not rely on URL arguments, which the Solnix synopsis lacks.

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.