Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

On Solnix, hostid is the illumos command at /usr/bin/hostid. It prints the host identifier in hexadecimal and takes no options. In a non-global zone that emulates a host identifier, it prints the emulated value. The only counterpart in the bundle is GNU coreutils hostid on Linux; the bundle has no FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD hostid page.

The manual pages

Solnix: hostid(1) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
Linux: hostid(1) coreutils-full-9.11

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos hostid at /usr/bin/hostid. /usr/ucb/hostid is also shipped, but the bundle does not describe it. The package is pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
Linux	options	Solnix hostid has no options in its SYNOPSIS (just `/usr/bin/hostid`). Linux (GNU coreutils) hostid documents `--help` and `--version`. A script that runs hostid `--version` on Solnix gets no documented behaviour. Source: Solnix hostid(1) SYNOPSIS; Linux hostid(1) SYNOPSIS, --help, --version
Linux	zones and emulated host ID	Solnix hostid, run in a non-global zone that emulates a host identifier, prints the emulated identifier. The Linux page does not mention zones or emulation. Source: Solnix hostid(1) DESCRIPTION; Linux hostid(1) DESCRIPTION
Linux	output format	Both pages say the identifier is printed in hexadecimal. Neither page documents digit count, letter case or zero padding, so do not rely on a fixed width when comparing output across systems. Source: Solnix hostid(1) DESCRIPTION; Linux hostid(1) DESCRIPTION
Linux	underlying library call	The Solnix page refers to sysinfo(2) and gethostid(3C). The Linux page refers only to gethostid(3). The pages do not say how either system derives the value. Source: Solnix hostid(1) SEE ALSO; Linux hostid(1) SEE ALSO
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	BSD counterparts	The bundle has no hostid page for FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD, so the manual material provided does not say whether those systems have this command or how it behaves. Source: Bundle header lists only a Linux counterpart for hostid(1)

Standards

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

Writing portable scripts

Do not assume hostid exists on the BSDs; test with command -v hostid first.
Treat the output as an opaque hexadecimal string. Do not depend on its width, case or on options such as --version.

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.