rwho(1) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
On Solnix, rwho is the illumos rwho at /usr/bin/rwho. It shows users on other machines whose rwhod broadcasts it has received. The main difference from FreeBSD and NetBSD is the down-host timeout: 5 minutes on Solnix, 11 minutes on the BSDs. NetBSD also has -H and -q, which Solnix lacks.
The manual pages
- Solnix: rwho(1) from
pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man· illumos.org - FreeBSD: rwho(1) 15.1-RELEASE
- NetBSD: rwho(1) 11.0
What Solnix runs
A default Solnix system runs the illumos rwho at /usr/bin/rwho. /usr/ucb/rwho is also shipped, but the bundle does not describe it. The daemon is in.rwhod(8), which must be enabled for rwho to return useful results. The page also says /var/spool/rwho must exist on the host that runs rwho.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | host-down timeout | Solnix rwho treats a machine as down after 5 minutes without a report. FreeBSD and NetBSD use 11 minutes. A host that is missed briefly can drop off the Solnix listing sooner. Source: Solnix rwho(1) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD rwho(1) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD rwho(1) DESCRIPTION |
| NetBSD | -H column headings | NetBSD rwho -H writes column headings above the output. Solnix rwho has only -a, so -H is not documented there.Source: NetBSD rwho(1) SYNOPSIS, -H; Solnix rwho(1) SYNOPSIS |
| NetBSD | -q quick mode | NetBSD rwho -q lists only user names and the number of users logged on, and ignores other options. Solnix has no -q.Source: NetBSD rwho(1) -q; Solnix rwho(1) OPTIONS |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | daemon name and requirements | The Solnix page names the daemon in.rwhod(8) and says it must be enabled. It also says /var/spool/rwho must exist on the host running rwho. The FreeBSD and NetBSD pages list rwhod(8) under SEE ALSO and do not state either requirement.Source: Solnix rwho(1) NOTES, SEE ALSO; FreeBSD rwho(1) SEE ALSO; NetBSD rwho(1) SEE ALSO |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | network limits documented | The Solnix page says rwho does not work through gateways. It also says bandwidth use grows with the number of hosts, to a prohibitive cost on large networks. FreeBSD and NetBSD only say it is unwieldy on large local nets. Source: Solnix rwho(1) NOTES; FreeBSD rwho(1) BUGS; NetBSD rwho(1) BUGS |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | -a behaviour | -a means the same on all three: include users idle for an hour or more, who are otherwise omitted. This is not a difference.Source: Solnix rwho(1) -a; FreeBSD rwho(1) -a; NetBSD rwho(1) -a |
Standards
- POSIX: rwho is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
- FreeBSD: HISTORY: the rwho command appeared in 4.3BSD.
- NetBSD: HISTORY: the rwho command appeared in 4.3BSD.
Writing portable scripts
- Use only rwho and rwho
-ain portable scripts.-Hand-qexist only on NetBSD. - Do not rely on a host being absent from the output to mean it is down. The timeout is 5 minutes on Solnix and 11 minutes on FreeBSD and NetBSD.
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.