Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

`rpcinfo(8)` on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs

On Solnix, rpcinfo is the illumos rpcinfo at /usr/bin/rpcinfo, which talks to rpcbind with transport (-T) and universal-address (-a) support, like FreeBSD and NetBSD. OpenBSD's rpcinfo is a different, portmapper-only tool: it has no -T, -a, -l, -m, and its -s creates a registration instead of printing a concise list.

The manual pages

Solnix: rpcinfo(8) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
FreeBSD: rpcinfo(8) 15.1-RELEASE
OpenBSD: rpcinfo(8) 8.0
NetBSD: rpcinfo(8) 11.0

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos rpcinfo at /usr/bin/rpcinfo. No other variants are shipped. The page is published in pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
OpenBSD	`-s` meaning	Solnix rpcinfo `-s` [host] prints a concise list of registered RPC programs. OpenBSD rpcinfo `-s` program version port creates a portmapper registration. The same flag is read-only on Solnix and changes state on OpenBSD. Source: Solnix rpcinfo(8) -s; OpenBSD rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS and -s
OpenBSD	transport selection (`-T`, `-a`, `-l`, `-m`)	OpenBSD rpcinfo has no `-T`, `-a`, `-l` or `-m`. Solnix has all four: transport choice, a universal address that skips rpcbind, a per-program entry list, and an rpcbind statistics table. Source: Solnix rpcinfo(8) OPTIONS -T, -a, -l, -m; OpenBSD rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS
OpenBSD	daemon queried	Solnix rpcinfo talks to rpcbind (protocol versions 2, 3 and 4). OpenBSD's page speaks only of the portmapper and refers to portmap(8). Source: Solnix rpcinfo(8) DESCRIPTION, -m; OpenBSD rpcinfo(8) -n, -p, SEE ALSO
OpenBSD	program argument	OpenBSD accepts a program name or a number. The Solnix page describes prognum as a number (see rpc(5)) and does not say names are accepted. Source: OpenBSD rpcinfo(8) DESCRIPTION; Solnix rpcinfo(8) DESCRIPTION
OpenBSD	`-b` and `-d` scope	On OpenBSD, `-b` broadcasts using UDP, and `-d` restricts deletion of registrations on ports below 1024 to the superuser. On Solnix, `-b` and `-d` accept `-T` transport. `-d` is limited to the service owner, except the superuser. Source: OpenBSD rpcinfo(8) -b, -d; Solnix rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS, -b, -d
OpenBSD	default host for `-p`	OpenBSD `-p` defaults to the value returned by hostname(1). Solnix `-p` defaults to the local host. Source: OpenBSD rpcinfo(8) -p; Solnix rpcinfo(8) -p
FreeBSD, NetBSD	`-p` and IPv6	The Solnix page says `-p` is not useful for IPv6 and points to `-s`. The FreeBSD and NetBSD `-p` text has no such warning. Source: Solnix rpcinfo(8) -p; FreeBSD rpcinfo(8) -p; NetBSD rpcinfo(8) -p
FreeBSD, NetBSD	`-l` versnum	The Solnix synopsis for `-l` requires versnum (host prognum versnum). The FreeBSD and NetBSD synopses show versnum as optional. Source: Solnix rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS
FreeBSD, NetBSD	`-t` optional in synopsis	FreeBSD and NetBSD show `-t` as optional in the synopsis, as [`-t`] host prognum. Solnix shows `-t` as required there. The option text is the same on all three. Source: FreeBSD rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS; Solnix rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS
FreeBSD	synopsis for `-p`	The FreeBSD synopsis lists plain rpcinfo [host] as the second form and has no separate rpcinfo `-p` line, although `-p` is documented in OPTIONS. Solnix and NetBSD list rpcinfo `-p` [host]. Source: FreeBSD rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS; Solnix rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD rpcinfo(8) SYNOPSIS

Standards

POSIX: rpcinfo is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Solnix: The page lists attributes(7) under SEE ALSO. The trimmed text in the bundle has no ATTRIBUTES or INTERFACE STABILITY section.

Writing portable scripts

For a script on all four systems, use only -p host (list), -t or -u host prognum [versnum] (ping), and -n, -b and -d. Avoid -s, since it means different things on OpenBSD and elsewhere.
Use -T, -a, -l and -m only when the target is not OpenBSD, since OpenBSD's rpcinfo lacks them.

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.