Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

On Solnix, last is the illumos last at /usr/bin/last. It reads /var/adm/wtmpx and has only four options (-a, -l, -n, -f). The main trap for Linux and BSD users is that -l, -t, -d, -h and -s either are missing or mean something different, and there is no snapshot-time feature.

The manual pages

Solnix: last(1) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
Linux: last(1) sysvinit-3.04
FreeBSD: last(1) 15.1-RELEASE
OpenBSD: last(1) 8.0
NetBSD: last(1) 11.0

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos last at /usr/bin/last. No other variants are shipped. The page's SEE ALSO points to utmpx(5) for the file format.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
all four	default accounting file	Solnix last reads `/var/adm/wtmpx.` Linux and OpenBSD read `/var/log/wtmp`, FreeBSD reads `/var/log/utx.log`, and NetBSD reads `/var/log/wtmpx` or `/var/log/wtmp.` Pass `-f` only with a path that suits the system you are on. Source: Solnix last(1) DESCRIPTION, -f; Linux last(1) -f; FreeBSD last(1) -f; OpenBSD last(1) -f; NetBSD last(1) -f
Linux	`-l` meaning	Solnix `-l` shows timestamps with seconds and years. On Linux, `-l` allows usernames longer than 8 characters. Linux uses `-F` for full login and logout times. Source: Solnix last(1) -l; Linux last(1) -l, -F
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-l` and longer timestamps	FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD have no `-l`. For more detailed times they use different flags: FreeBSD `-y` (year) and `-w` (seconds in the duration), OpenBSD `-T` (seconds), NetBSD `-T` (year and seconds). Source: Solnix last(1) -l; FreeBSD last(1) -y, -w; OpenBSD last(1) -T; NetBSD last(1) -T
all four	`-t` meaning and tty selection	Solnix has no `-t`. You name users and terminals as plain arguments: last root console. On Linux, `-t` YYYYMMDDHHMMSS shows login state at a given time. On FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD, `-t` tty selects a terminal. Source: Solnix last(1) SYNOPSIS [name \| tty]; Linux last(1) -t; FreeBSD last(1) -t; OpenBSD last(1) -t; NetBSD last(1) -t
FreeBSD, OpenBSD	snapshot of who was logged in	FreeBSD and OpenBSD `-d` date lists users logged in at that date and time. When `-d` is given, all options except `-f` and `-n` are ignored. The Solnix page documents no equivalent. Source: FreeBSD last(1) -d; OpenBSD last(1) -d; Solnix last(1) OPTIONS
Linux	`-d` meaning	Linux `-d` translates a remote host's stored IP number back into a hostname. Solnix has no `-d`. Solnix `-a` only prints the hostname in the last column. Source: Linux last(1) -d, -a; Solnix last(1) -a
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	host filter `-h`	FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD `-h` host restricts output to a host, given as a name or internet number. Solnix has no `-h`. Its `-a` only displays the hostname column. Source: FreeBSD last(1) -h; OpenBSD last(1) -h; NetBSD last(1) -h; Solnix last(1) -a
FreeBSD, OpenBSD	`-s` meaning	Solnix has no `-s`. FreeBSD `-s` reports session duration in seconds. OpenBSD `-s` shows time values as seconds since the Epoch instead of formatted dates. Source: FreeBSD last(1) -s; OpenBSD last(1) -s; Solnix last(1) OPTIONS
NetBSD	`-n` is overloaded	Solnix `-n` number limits the number of entries. NetBSD documents `-n` twice: as a line limit, and as 'print host addresses numerically' (wtmpx entries only). Solnix `-number` is a transition form that the page says will be removed. Source: Solnix last(1) -n number\|-number; NetBSD last(1) SYNOPSIS and -n
Linux	lastb and extra flags	Linux ships lastb, which reads `/var/log/btmp` for bad login attempts, and has `-x` for shutdown and run-level entries. The Solnix page documents neither lastb nor `-x`. Source: Linux last(1) lastb, -x; Solnix last(1) SYNOPSIS
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	extra BSD-only options	OpenBSD `-c` prints total time after the output. FreeBSD `--libxo` emits structured output. NetBSD `-f` - reads standard input, and `-H`, `-L` and `-N` set column widths. The Solnix page documents none of these. Source: OpenBSD last(1) -c; FreeBSD last(1) --libxo; NetBSD last(1) -f, -H, -L, -N; Solnix last(1) OPTIONS

Standards

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

Writing portable scripts

Only name users and ttys as plain arguments for portable use. Avoid -l, -t, -d, -h, -s and -T: they are missing or mean different things across Solnix, Linux and the BSDs.
Do not hard-code the accounting file. Pass -f only after choosing the path per OS (/var/adm/wtmpx on Solnix, /var/log/wtmp on Linux and OpenBSD, /var/log/utx.log on FreeBSD).

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.