Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

On Solnix, logger is the illumos logger at /usr/bin/logger. It takes only -i, -f, -p and -t. The -s option that Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD all have (copy to standard error) is missing, and so are the remote-host and console options.

The manual pages

Solnix: logger(1) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
Linux: logger(1) util-linux-2.42.3
FreeBSD: logger(1) 15.1-RELEASE
OpenBSD: logger(1) 8.0
NetBSD: logger(1) 11.0
Standard: POSIX.1-2024 (IEEE Std 1003.1-2024), logger

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos logger at /usr/bin/logger, published in pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man. A second variant, /usr/ucb/logger, is also shipped, but the bundle does not describe it.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
all four	no `-s` (copy to stderr)	Solnix logger has no `-s`. Linux (`-s`, `--stderr`), FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD use `-s` to write the message to standard error as well as the system log. A script using logger `-s` fails or misbehaves on Solnix. Source: Solnix logger(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD logger(1) -s; OpenBSD logger(1) -s; NetBSD logger(1) -s; Linux logger(1) -s, --stderr
OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-c` console fallback	OpenBSD and NetBSD logger `-c` writes the message to the console if syslogd cannot take it (NetBSD names /dev/console). Solnix has no `-c`. Source: OpenBSD logger(1) -c; NetBSD logger(1) -c; Solnix logger(1) SYNOPSIS
Linux, FreeBSD	remote logging	Solnix logger documents no way to send to a remote host. Linux uses `-n`/-`-server`, with `--udp`, `--tcp` and `-P`/-`-port`. FreeBSD uses `-h` host and `-P` port. The Solnix page describes only the local system log. Source: Solnix logger(1) DESCRIPTION, OPTIONS; Linux logger(1) -n, --server, -d, -P; FreeBSD logger(1) -h, -P
Linux, NetBSD	`-n` meaning	Solnix has no `-n`. On Linux, `-n` takes a remote server name. On NetBSD, `-n` takes no argument and opens the log immediately (LOG_NDELAY). The same letter does unrelated things on those two systems. Source: Linux logger(1) -n, --server; NetBSD logger(1) -n; Solnix logger(1) SYNOPSIS
Linux, NetBSD	`-d` meaning	Solnix has no `-d`. On Linux, `-d` means use UDP only. On NetBSD, `-d` sd puts the argument in the structured data (SD) field. Source: Linux logger(1) -d, --udp; NetBSD logger(1) -d; Solnix logger(1) SYNOPSIS
FreeBSD	`-i` is ignored	On FreeBSD, `-i` is ignored and the process ID is always logged. On Solnix, the PID of the logger process is logged with each line only when `-i` is given. The Solnix page does not say what is logged without `-i`. Source: FreeBSD logger(1) -i; Solnix logger(1) -i
FreeBSD	default tag	FreeBSD marks lines with the current login name unless `-t` is given, and `-t` tag[N] inserts a specific process ID. The Solnix page documents only `-t` tag and states no default tag and no tag[N] form. Source: FreeBSD logger(1) -t; Solnix logger(1) -t
Linux, FreeBSD	`-f` together with a message	Linux says `-f` cannot be combined with a command-line message. FreeBSD ignores `-f` when a message is given. The Solnix page does not say what happens when both are given, so do not combine them in portable scripts. Source: Linux logger(1) -f, --file; FreeBSD logger(1) -f; Solnix logger(1) DESCRIPTION, -f
Linux, NetBSD	structured data and journald	Linux offers `--rfc3164`, `--rfc5424`, `--msgid`, `--sd-id` and `--journald` for structured or journal entries. NetBSD offers `-d` sd and `-m` msgid. Solnix logger has no equivalent options. Linux says RFC 5424 has been its default since version 2.26. Source: Linux logger(1) --rfc5424, --journald, --msgid; NetBSD logger(1) -d, -m; Solnix logger(1) SYNOPSIS
all four	common behaviour	On every system, `-p` takes a numeric priority or a facility.level pair and defaults to user.notice. Exit status is 0 on success and greater than 0 on error. Solnix `-f` logs the file's contents. Source: Solnix logger(1) -p, EXIT STATUS; Linux logger(1) -p; FreeBSD logger(1) -p; OpenBSD logger(1) -p; NetBSD logger(1) -p

Standards

POSIX: logger is a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Solnix: Interface Stability: Standard. The page points to standards(7).
FreeBSD: The logger command is expected to be IEEE Std 1003.2 (“POSIX.2”) compatible.
OpenBSD: The logger utility is compliant with the IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 (“POSIX.1”) specification. The flags [-cfipst] are extensions to that specification.
NetBSD: The logger utility conforms to IEEE Std 1003.2-1992 (“POSIX.2”).

Writing portable scripts

Stick to -p facility.level, -t tag and a plain message. Every page in the bundle documents them, with the same user.notice default priority.
Do not rely on -s, -c, -n, -d or -h in portable scripts. Solnix has none of them, and -n and -d mean different things on Linux and NetBSD.
Do not combine -f with a command-line message. Linux rejects it, FreeBSD ignores -f, and the Solnix page does not say.

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.