users(1) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
On Solnix, users is GNU coreutils users, which is not in the base system; install pkgs.solnix.coreutils to get it. It reads /var/adm/utmpx by default and accepts an optional FILE argument. The BSD users takes no arguments.
The manual pages
What Solnix runs
Not installed by default: add pkgs.solnix.coreutils. The header lists /usr/ucb/users as another illumos variant, but the bundle does not describe it, so its behaviour is not covered here.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | same program as Linux | Solnix and Linux both document GNU coreutils users with the same synopsis, [OPTION]... [FILE], and the same options, --help and --version. Only the default file path differs.Source: Solnix users(1) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION; Linux users(1) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION |
| Linux | default login record file | With no FILE, Solnix users reads /var/adm/utmpx, and the page says /var/adm/wtmpx is a common alternative. Linux reads /var/run/utmp, with /var/log/wtmp as the common alternative.Source: Solnix users(1) DESCRIPTION; Linux users(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | FILE argument and options | Solnix users accepts an optional FILE and the options --help and --version. The FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD synopses are just `users`, with no arguments or options documented.Source: Solnix users(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD users(1) SYNOPSIS; OpenBSD users(1) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD users(1) SYNOPSIS |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | output format | The BSD pages say output is login names in sorted order, space separated, on a single line. The Solnix page does not describe sorting, separators or duplicates, so a script should not assume the BSD format. Source: FreeBSD users(1) DESCRIPTION; OpenBSD users(1) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD users(1) DESCRIPTION; Solnix users(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | availability | On the BSDs users is documented as a base-system utility. On Solnix it is not in the base system, and the command is missing until pkgs.solnix.coreutils is installed. Source: Solnix bundle header (command on PATH: none); FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD users(1) NAME |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | related pages | Solnix SEE ALSO lists getent(1) and who(1). The BSD pages point to finger(1), last(1) and who(1), plus getutxent(3) on FreeBSD and utmp(5) on OpenBSD and NetBSD. Source: Solnix users(1) SEE ALSO; FreeBSD users(1) SEE ALSO; OpenBSD users(1) SEE ALSO; NetBSD users(1) SEE ALSO |
Standards
- POSIX: users is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
- FreeBSD: HISTORY: the users command appeared in 3.0BSD.
- OpenBSD: HISTORY: the users command appeared in 3.0BSD.
- NetBSD: HISTORY: the users command appeared in 3.0BSD.
Writing portable scripts
- Do not pass FILE,
--helpor--versionin portable scripts: the BSD users takes no arguments. Run plain `users` and do not rely on the file path. - Treat the output as a list of names split on whitespace. Only the BSD pages promise sorted, single-line output, so pipe through sort if you need order.
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.