Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

On Solnix, rpcgen is the illumos RPC protocol compiler at /usr/bin/rpcgen. The bundle has only a FreeBSD counterpart. The difference that matters most is -I: on FreeBSD it is required for inetd/port-monitor servers, while on Solnix it is backward-compatibility only and is meant to be used with -b.

The manual pages

Solnix: rpcgen(1) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
FreeBSD: rpcgen(1) 15.1-RELEASE

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos rpcgen at /usr/bin/rpcgen, published in pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man. No other variants are shipped. The bundle has no Linux, OpenBSD or NetBSD rpcgen page, so nothing is claimed about those systems.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
FreeBSD	`-I` and port-monitor servers	On Solnix, `-I` is for backward compatibility only and should be used with `-b`. Without `-b`, rpcgen already generates servers that port monitors can invoke. On FreeBSD, `-I` is needed to generate servers invokable through port monitors and inetd(8). Source: Solnix rpcgen(1) -I; FreeBSD rpcgen(1) -I
FreeBSD	`-i` default inline size	Both pages document `-i` size as the size at which inline code generation starts. The Solnix default is 5. The FreeBSD default is actually 0, which disables inline code unless you pass a non-zero value. Generated code can differ between the two. Source: Solnix rpcgen(1) -i; FreeBSD rpcgen(1) -i (backwards-compatibility note)
FreeBSD	`-C` meaning	On Solnix, `-C` generates header and stub files usable with ANSI C compilers, and the headers also work with C++. On FreeBSD, ANSI C code is always generated and `-C` exists only for backwards compatibility. Source: Solnix rpcgen(1) -C; FreeBSD rpcgen(1) -C
FreeBSD	`-A` automatic multithreaded mode	Solnix rpcgen has `-A`, which enables Automatic MT mode in the server main program and implicitly turns on `-M`. The FreeBSD SYNOPSIS and option list have no `-A`. Source: Solnix rpcgen(1) SYNOPSIS, -A; FreeBSD rpcgen(1) SYNOPSIS
FreeBSD	transport environment variable	For a server started by a port monitor, Solnix takes the transport name from PM_TRANSPORT. FreeBSD takes it from NLSPROVIDER. Both fall back to NETPATH, then to the visible transports in `/etc/netconfig.` Source: Solnix rpcgen(1) DESCRIPTION (PM_TRANSPORT); FreeBSD rpcgen(1) DESCRIPTION (NLSPROVIDER)
FreeBSD	`-P` with `-I`	The FreeBSD synopsis shows `-I` together with `-P`: [`-I` `-P` [`-K` seconds]]. The Solnix synopsis shows [`-I` [`-K` seconds]] and has no `-P`. The FreeBSD text in the bundle does not describe what `-P` does. Source: FreeBSD rpcgen(1) SYNOPSIS; Solnix rpcgen(1) SYNOPSIS
FreeBSD	port monitors named	The Solnix page says generated servers can be started by port monitors such as inetd or listen, and that listen(8) always spawns a new process per request. The FreeBSD page names only inetd(8) and ties this behaviour to `-I`. Source: Solnix rpcgen(1) DESCRIPTION, -K; FreeBSD rpcgen(1) DESCRIPTION
FreeBSD	RPC_MSGOUT error hook	Solnix documents compiling the generated proto_svc.c with `-DRPC_MSGOUT=func` to redirect server error reports, with a printf-like signature. The FreeBSD text in the bundle does not document RPC_MSGOUT. Source: Solnix rpcgen(1) Server Error Reporting; FreeBSD rpcgen(1) (no such section in the bundle)
FreeBSD	`-v` option	The Solnix SYNOPSIS lists `-v`. The FreeBSD SYNOPSIS has no `-v`. The Solnix text in the bundle does not describe it. Source: Solnix rpcgen(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD rpcgen(1) SYNOPSIS

Standards

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

Writing portable scripts

Pass -i with an explicit non-zero size if you want inline code on both systems, since the defaults are 5 on Solnix and 0 on FreeBSD.
Do not rely on -I alone to get an inetd-capable server. On Solnix, use -I -b. On FreeBSD, -I is required.

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.