ipfs(8) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs

On Solnix, ipfs is the illumos ipfs at /usr/sbin/ipfs, which saves and restores NAT and filter state tables across a reboot. Its synopsis matches NetBSD's except for the zone options -G and -z, and it documents no -f option.

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos ipfs at /usr/sbin/ipfs, published in pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man. No other variants are shipped. The -G and -z options only work from the Global Zone.

Differences

Compared withTopicWhat differs
NetBSDzone options -G and -zSolnix ipfs takes -G or -z zonename on every form, to act on a zone's state tables. The NetBSD synopsis has neither option. Both Solnix options are only available in the Global Zone.
Source: Solnix ipfs(8) SYNOPSIS, -z, -G; NetBSD ipfs(8) SYNOPSIS
NetBSDdefault zone scopeWithout -z or -G, Solnix ipfs uses the current zone. NetBSD has no zone concept in its ipfs page.
Source: Solnix ipfs(8) -z, -G; NetBSD ipfs(8) OPTIONS
NetBSD-i interface renameThe NetBSD page documents -i ifname1,ifname2, which renames interfaces in a state save file, for example after a hardware change. The Solnix SYNOPSIS lists -i, but its OPTIONS section does not describe it.
Source: NetBSD ipfs(8) OPTIONS -i; Solnix ipfs(8) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS
NetBSD-f filenameBoth SYNOPSIS sections use -f filename with -r, -w and -i. Neither OPTIONS section describes -f. In the Solnix and NetBSD SYNOPSIS, -f is optional with -r and -w, and required with -i.
Source: Solnix ipfs(8) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD ipfs(8) SYNOPSIS
NetBSDstate directoryBoth systems save and restore ipstate.ipf and ipnat.ipf in /var/db/ipf by default, and -d changes the directory. The file names and default path are the same.
Source: Solnix ipfs(8) -R, -W; NetBSD ipfs(8) -R, -W
NetBSDrelated pagesSolnix SEE ALSO points to zones(7), ipf(8), ipmon(8) and ipnat(8), and ipf(8) has the ZONES section. NetBSD points to ipl(4) in place of the zone pages. The Solnix bundle does not include an ipl(4) reference.
Source: Solnix ipfs(8) SEE ALSO; NetBSD ipfs(8) SEE ALSO
Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSDno counterpart in the bundleThe bundle has no ipfs page for Linux, FreeBSD or OpenBSD, so the manual cannot support any comparison with them. Check each system's own firewall tools.
Source: bundle header (only a NetBSD counterpart listed)

Standards

  • POSIX: ipfs is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
  • Solnix: Interface Stability: Committed.

Writing portable scripts

  • Do not assume ipfs exists outside Solnix and NetBSD. For scripts on both, avoid -G and -z, and check that -i is supported before using it, since the Solnix OPTIONS section does not describe it.

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.