users(1b) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
On a default Solnix system, users is the illumos BSD-compatibility command at /usr/ucb/users. It takes an optional filename and reads /var/adm/utmpx by default. The BSDs take no arguments at all, and the Linux version reads /var/run/utmp.
The manual pages
What Solnix runs
The command on PATH is the illumos /usr/ucb/users, published by pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man. No other variants are shipped. The page says typing users is equivalent to typing who -q.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | default data file | Solnix users reads /var/adm/utmpx by default. Linux (coreutils) users reads /var/run/utmp by default and notes that /var/log/wtmp is a common alternative FILE.Source: Solnix users(1b) DESCRIPTION; Linux users(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | file argument | Solnix users accepts an optional filename to read instead of the default. The FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD synopses are plain `users` with no arguments, and their pages document no way to name another file. Source: Solnix users(1b) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD users(1) SYNOPSIS |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | output ordering | The FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD pages say names are printed in sorted order, space separated, on one line. The Solnix page says only 'compact, one-line format' and does not promise sorting. Source: Solnix users(1b) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD users(1) DESCRIPTION |
| Linux | options | Linux users documents --help and --version. The Solnix page lists no options, only the optional filename.Source: Linux users(1) --help, --version; Solnix users(1b) SYNOPSIS |
| all four | location and equivalence to who -q | Solnix users lives in /usr/ucb, the BSD-compatibility directory, and the page says it is equivalent to who -q. The counterpart pages give no path and do not mention who -q.Source: Solnix users(1b) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION; counterpart users(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | data source documented | FreeBSD's SEE ALSO points to getutxent(3), and OpenBSD's and NetBSD's to utmp(5). The Solnix page names the file /var/adm/utmpx and refers only to who(1) and attributes(7).Source: FreeBSD users(1) SEE ALSO; OpenBSD users(1) SEE ALSO; NetBSD users(1) SEE ALSO; Solnix users(1b) SEE ALSO |
Standards
- POSIX: users is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Writing portable scripts
- Call users with no arguments in portable scripts. The filename argument works on Solnix and Linux but is not documented on the BSDs, and the default file differs between systems.
- Do not rely on name order. Sort the output yourself if you need it, since the Solnix page does not promise sorted names.
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.