pvs(1) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
On Solnix, pvs is the illumos tool at /usr/bin/pvs that prints ELF symbol version definitions and dependencies. It is not the LVM physical-volume report that pvs(8) is on Linux and NetBSD, so scripts that call pvs for LVM will not work.
The manual pages
- Solnix: pvs(1) from
pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man· illumos.org - Linux: pvs(8) lvm2-2.03.39
- NetBSD: pvs(8) 11.0
What Solnix runs
A default Solnix system runs the illumos pvs at /usr/bin/pvs. No other variants are shipped. For LVM-style physical volume reports there is no equivalent in this page; the bundle does not describe any LVM tooling on Solnix.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Linux, NetBSD | different program | Solnix pvs(1) displays version information inside ELF files (version definitions and dependencies). Linux and NetBSD pvs(8) produce formatted reports about LVM physical volumes. Only the name is shared. Source: Solnix pvs(1) NAME, DESCRIPTION; Linux pvs(8) NAME, DESCRIPTION; NetBSD pvs(8) NAME, DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD | no counterpart in bundle | The bundle has no FreeBSD or OpenBSD page for pvs, so nothing is stated about those systems. Source: Bundle header: counterparts listed only for linux and netbsd |
| Linux, NetBSD | operands | Solnix pvs requires one or more ELF file operands. Linux and NetBSD pvs take optional physical volume names (PV or Tag on Linux, PhysicalVolume on NetBSD) and report on all PVs when none are given. Source: Solnix pvs(1) SYNOPSIS, OPERANDS; Linux pvs(8) USAGE (PV|Tag ...); NetBSD pvs(8) SYNOPSIS |
| Linux, NetBSD | -o meaning | Solnix pvs -o makes one-line output that prefixes each line with file and version definition name. On Linux and NetBSD, -o takes a comma-separated list of columns to display.Source: Solnix pvs(1) -o; Linux pvs(8) -o|--options; NetBSD pvs(8) -o, --options |
| Linux, NetBSD | -d meaning | Solnix pvs -d prints version definitions. On Linux and NetBSD, -d|--debug sets debug level (on Linux, repeated 1 to 6 times).Source: Solnix pvs(1) -d; Linux pvs(8) -d|--debug; NetBSD pvs(8) SYNOPSIS -d|--debug |
| Linux, NetBSD | -v meaning | Solnix pvs -v gives verbose output showing weak version definitions and inheritance. On Linux and NetBSD, -v|--verbose is a general verbosity option of the LVM tools. Linux can repeat it.Source: Solnix pvs(1) -v; Linux pvs(8) -v|--verbose; NetBSD pvs(8) -v|--verbose |
| Linux, NetBSD | -r and -s | Solnix pvs -r prints version dependencies and -s prints symbols for each version definition. Neither flag appears in the Linux or NetBSD synopsis. NetBSD has --segments and --separator long options instead, and Linux has --segments and --separator.Source: Solnix pvs(1) -r, -s; Linux pvs(8) USAGE; NetBSD pvs(8) SYNOPSIS |
| Linux, NetBSD | -O meaning and sorting | Solnix pvs has no sort option; -n normalizes inheritance and -N selects a version name. Linux and NetBSD -O|--sort sorts report columns. Solnix has no -O.Source: Solnix pvs(1) SYNOPSIS, -n, -N; Linux pvs(8) -O|--sort; NetBSD pvs(8) -O, --sort |
| Linux, NetBSD | exit status | Solnix pvs returns non-zero when the requested version information is not found, for example no definitions with -d or no requirements with -r. The Linux and NetBSD bundle texts shown do not describe exit status.Source: Solnix pvs(1) EXIT STATUS; Linux pvs(8) and NetBSD pvs(8) texts in bundle |
| Linux, NetBSD | output selection and machine parsing | For script-friendly output Solnix uses -o (one line per entry with file and version name prefix). Linux and NetBSD use --noheadings, --separator, --nameprefixes and --units. Solnix has no long options.Source: Solnix pvs(1) -o; Linux pvs(8) --noheadings, --separator, --nameprefixes; NetBSD pvs(8) --noheadings, --separator, --nameprefixes |
Standards
- POSIX: pvs is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
- Solnix: The page's SEE ALSO points to attributes(7); the bundle text does not include an interface stability table for pvs.
Writing portable scripts
- Do not call pvs without knowing which one is installed: on Solnix it inspects ELF files, on Linux and NetBSD it reports LVM physical volumes. Check the platform first.
- For ELF version information on Solnix, pass file operands and choose
-d,-ror both; the default with neither is both.
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.