praliases(1) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
On Solnix, praliases is the illumos command at /usr/bin/praliases, documented in section 1. FreeBSD documents the same command in section 8, with the same -C and -f options. The main difference is that the Solnix page describes a single key operand, while FreeBSD accepts several keys.
The manual pages
- Solnix: praliases(1) from
pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man· illumos.org - FreeBSD: praliases(8) 15.1-RELEASE
What Solnix runs
A default Solnix system runs the illumos praliases at /usr/bin/praliases. No other variants are shipped. The bundle contains no Linux, OpenBSD or NetBSD counterpart page, so nothing is claimed about those systems.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| FreeBSD | manual section | Solnix documents praliases in section 1 (user commands), at /usr/bin/praliases. FreeBSD documents it in section 8 (system administration). Use the right section number when running man.Source: Solnix praliases(1) header; FreeBSD praliases(8) header |
| FreeBSD | number of keys | The Solnix synopsis takes one optional key, and the operand text says 'a specific alias key'. FreeBSD takes one or more keys (key ...) and shows entries matching any of them. The Solnix page does not say whether extra keys are accepted. Source: Solnix praliases(1) SYNOPSIS, OPERANDS (key); FreeBSD praliases(8) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD | key lookup wording | Solnix says only the given key is looked up and its key:value is shown if found. FreeBSD says entries which match the keys are displayed. The FreeBSD page does not define 'match' further. Source: Solnix praliases(1) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD praliases(8) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD | special @:@ alias | FreeBSD praliases displays the special internal @:@ alias if present. The Solnix page does not mention this alias. Source: FreeBSD praliases(8) DESCRIPTION; Solnix praliases(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD | -f and multiple alias files | FreeBSD -f replaces the configured sendmail system aliases file(s), plural. Solnix -f replaces the default sendmail system aliases file, singular. The Solnix page does not say whether several alias files can be configured.Source: Solnix praliases(1) -f; FreeBSD praliases(8) -f |
| FreeBSD | output format | Solnix documents the output form as key:value, one per line, in no particular order. FreeBSD says one alias per line in no particular order and does not state the key:value form. Do not rely on ordering on either system. Source: Solnix praliases(1) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD praliases(8) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD | exit status | Both exit 0 on success and above 0 on error. Only the Solnix page has an EXIT STATUS section; the FreeBSD page gives the same values in the description. Source: Solnix praliases(1) EXIT STATUS; FreeBSD praliases(8) DESCRIPTION |
Standards
- POSIX: praliases is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
- Solnix: The Solnix page's SEE ALSO refers to attributes(7), but the bundle contains no stability or standards text for praliases.
Writing portable scripts
- Look up one alias per praliases call. FreeBSD accepts several keys, and the Solnix page documents only one.
- Do not depend on output order. Sort the output if a script needs stable results.
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.