tcpd(8) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
tcpd is the TCP wrapper that inetd is tricked into running in place of a network server. On a default Solnix system it is the illumos tcpd at /usr/sbin/tcpd. The DESCRIPTION text is the same as FreeBSD's. The Solnix page omits the BUGS and SEE ALSO sections that the FreeBSD page has.
The manual pages
- Solnix: tcpd(8) from
pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man· illumos.org - FreeBSD: tcpd(8) 15.1-RELEASE
What Solnix runs
A default Solnix system runs the illumos tcpd at /usr/sbin/tcpd. No other variants are shipped. The bundle shows no counterpart tcpd page for Linux, OpenBSD or NetBSD, so the differences below compare Solnix with FreeBSD only.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| FreeBSD | same behaviour description | The NAME and DESCRIPTION text is the same on Solnix and FreeBSD. inetd runs tcpd instead of the server, tcpd logs the request and checks it, then runs the real server and exits. Both support sockets and TLI. Source: Solnix tcpd(8) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD tcpd(8) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD | documented limitations (BUGS) | The FreeBSD page lists three limits: only the request that started a lingering wait-option UDP/RPC daemon is logged; RPC services over TCP (rpc/tcp, such as rexd) do not work; RPC broadcasts appear to come from the responding host. The Solnix page has no BUGS section and does not say whether these apply. Source: FreeBSD tcpd(8) BUGS; Solnix tcpd(8) (no BUGS section) |
| FreeBSD | pointers to configuration formats | The FreeBSD page points to hosts_access(5) for the access control tables, syslog.conf(5) and inetd.conf(5). The Solnix page has no SEE ALSO section, so it names none of these. The manual does not say where the tables live on Solnix. Source: FreeBSD tcpd(8) SEE ALSO; Solnix tcpd(8) (no SEE ALSO section) |
| FreeBSD | interface stability | The Solnix page gives an Interface Stability of Committed. The FreeBSD page has no ATTRIBUTES or stability statement. Source: Solnix tcpd(8) ATTRIBUTES; FreeBSD tcpd(8) (no ATTRIBUTES section) |
| Linux, OpenBSD, NetBSD | no counterpart page | The bundle has no tcpd page for Linux, OpenBSD or NetBSD, so the manual cannot be used to say whether tcpd is present or how it behaves on those systems. Source: Bundle header (only a FreeBSD counterpart listed) |
Standards
- POSIX: tcpd is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
- Solnix: Interface Stability: Committed.
Writing portable scripts
- Do not assume tcpd and its hosts_access(5) tables exist on every system; the bundle documents tcpd only for Solnix (illumos) and FreeBSD.
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.