Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

On Solnix, rlogin is the illumos rlogin at /usr/bin/rlogin. It adds Kerberos V5 authentication and encryption options (-A, -K, -f, -F, -k, -x, -PN, -PO) that the Linux (inetutils) and NetBSD pages do not have. It lacks the -4, -6, -d, -n and -p options those pages document.

The manual pages

Solnix: rlogin(1) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
Linux: rlogin(1) inetutils-2.7
NetBSD: rlogin(1) 11.0

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos rlogin at /usr/bin/rlogin. /usr/ucb/rlogin is also shipped, but the bundle does not describe it. The Solnix page text in the bundle is trimmed, so later sections (for example ENVIRONMENT, EXIT STATUS, ATTRIBUTES) are not visible here.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
Linux, NetBSD	Kerberos options	Solnix rlogin has `-A`, `-K`, `-f`, `-F`, `-k` realm, `-x` and `-PN`/-PO for Kerberos V5 authentication, credential forwarding and encryption. The Linux and NetBSD pages document none of these. Both use the rhosts mechanism or document no Kerberos. Source: Solnix rlogin(1) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS -A -K -f -F -k -x -PN -PO; Linux rlogin(1) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD rlogin(1) DESCRIPTION
Linux, NetBSD	IPv4/IPv6 selection	Linux and NetBSD have `-4` and `-6` to restrict rlogin to IPv4 or IPv6. The Solnix SYNOPSIS and OPTIONS have neither flag. Source: Linux rlogin(1) -4, -6; NetBSD rlogin(1) -4, -6; Solnix rlogin(1) SYNOPSIS
NetBSD	`-p` port	NetBSD `-p` uses a port other than the one assigned to the service "login". The Solnix page documents no `-p` option, so no way to choose the port is shown. Source: NetBSD rlogin(1) -p; Solnix rlogin(1) SYNOPSIS
Linux, NetBSD	`-d` socket debugging	Linux `-d` sets SO_DEBUG and NetBSD `-d` turns on socket debugging on the TCP sockets. The Solnix page has no `-d` option. Source: Linux rlogin(1) -d, --debug; NetBSD rlogin(1) -d; Solnix rlogin(1) SYNOPSIS
NetBSD	`-n` TCP_NODELAY	NetBSD `-n` sets TCP_NODELAY. Solnix has no `-n` option in its SYNOPSIS or OPTIONS. Source: NetBSD rlogin(1) -n; Solnix rlogin(1) SYNOPSIS
Linux	long options and `-V`	Linux rlogin accepts GNU long options (`--ipv4`, `--8-bit`, `--escape`, `--no-escape`, `--user`, `--debug`, `--usage`) and `-V` for version. The Solnix page documents only single-letter options and no version flag. Source: Linux rlogin(1) DESCRIPTION option list; Solnix rlogin(1) SYNOPSIS
NetBSD	user@host form	NetBSD accepts username@host as an alternative to `-l` username. The Solnix SYNOPSIS shows only `-l` username followed by hostname. Source: NetBSD rlogin(1) SYNOPSIS (second form); Solnix rlogin(1) SYNOPSIS
Linux, NetBSD	`-L`, `-a` and `-8` behaviour	Solnix has `-L` (litout mode) and `-a` (send a null local username to force a password prompt). Neither is documented on Linux or NetBSD. `-8` passes eight-bit data on all three, but only NetBSD says parity bits are otherwise stripped. Source: Solnix rlogin(1) -L, -a, -8; Linux rlogin(1) -8; NetBSD rlogin(1) -8
NetBSD	escape sequences	Solnix documents ~. to disconnect, ~susp and ~dsusp (usually Control-Z and Control-Y, via tty(1)), with suspend only under a job-control shell. NetBSD describes the same sequences with the escape character and ^Z. Source: Solnix rlogin(1) Escape Sequences; NetBSD rlogin(1) DESCRIPTION
NetBSD	`-e` argument form	NetBSD `-e` accepts a literal character or an octal value in the form \nnn. The Solnix page says `-ec` specifies a different escape character c and does not mention octal values. Source: NetBSD rlogin(1) -e; Solnix rlogin(1) -ec
Linux, NetBSD	trust files	Solnix describes `/etc/hosts.equiv` and ~/.rhosts for non-secure sessions, and ~/.k5login for Kerberos access control. The Linux page names no trust files. NetBSD points to hosts.equiv(5) and rhosts(5). Source: Solnix rlogin(1) USAGE; Linux rlogin(1) SEE ALSO; NetBSD rlogin(1) SEE ALSO

Standards

POSIX: rlogin is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
NetBSD: HISTORY: the rlogin command appeared in 4.2BSD.

Writing portable scripts

Use only -8, -E, -e char and -l username in scripts: those four are documented on Solnix, Linux and NetBSD. Avoid -4, -6, -d, -n and -p, which Solnix does not document.
Pass the remote user with -l username rather than username@host, since the Solnix SYNOPSIS shows only -l.

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.