Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

On Solnix, ypcat is the illumos ypcat at /usr/bin/ypcat. It prints the values of a NIS map. Compared with the BSDs, it has no -t to turn off nickname translation, and its -x is allowed alongside a map name. There is no Linux counterpart in the bundle.

The manual pages

Solnix: ypcat(1) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
FreeBSD: ypcat(1) 15.1-RELEASE
OpenBSD: ypcat(1) 8.0
NetBSD: ypcat(1) 11.0

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos ypcat at /usr/bin/ypcat. No other variants are shipped. The Solnix page is dated January 23, 1995 and does not describe an exit status or any environment variables.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-t` missing	FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD ypcat have `-t`, which stops map nicknames being translated to map names. The Solnix SYNOPSIS and OPTIONS list no `-t`, so the page documents no way to bypass nickname translation. Source: FreeBSD ypcat(1) -t; OpenBSD ypcat(1) -t; NetBSD ypcat(1) -t; Solnix ypcat(1) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-x` synopsis form	On the BSDs, `-x` is a separate form, 'ypcat `-x`', that takes no map name. The Solnix synopsis is a single form 'ypcat [`-kx`] [`-d` ypdomain] mname', so mname appears to be required with `-x`. The page does not say whether it is ignored. Source: Solnix ypcat(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD ypcat(1) SYNOPSIS; OpenBSD ypcat(1) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD ypcat(1) SYNOPSIS
NetBSD	`-b` retry limit	NetBSD ypcat `-b` num_retry limits how many times it retries reaching the ypserver, from 0 to 65535. The Solnix page has no `-b` and does not describe retry behaviour. Source: NetBSD ypcat(1) -b; Solnix ypcat(1) OPTIONS
NetBSD	`-s` whitespace compression	NetBSD ypcat `-s` compresses whitespace in each value to a single space, which helps when values contain newlines. Solnix has no `-s`, so values are printed as the map holds them, as far as the page says. Source: NetBSD ypcat(1) -s; Solnix ypcat(1) OPTIONS
NetBSD	nickname table source	NetBSD ypcat `-x` shows the table from `/var/yp/nicknames`, with a built-in default if the file is absent. The Solnix page says only that `-x` displays map nicknames and does not name a file. Source: NetBSD ypcat(1) -x; Solnix ypcat(1) -x
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-k` description	Solnix `-k` says it is for maps where values are null or the key is not part of the value, and adds that maps derived from `/etc` ASCII files are never in this class. The BSD pages give the same use but do not say which maps qualify. Source: Solnix ypcat(1) -k; FreeBSD ypcat(1) -k; OpenBSD ypcat(1) -k; NetBSD ypcat(1) -k
Linux	no Linux page in the bundle	The bundle has no Linux ypcat page, so no Linux comparison can be made. The manual does not say how Linux ypcat differs. Source: Bundle header: counterparts are FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD only

Standards

POSIX: ypcat is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Solnix: The Solnix page lists attributes(7) under SEE ALSO, but the bundle text contains no ATTRIBUTES or Interface Stability section.

Writing portable scripts

Use only 'ypcat [-k] [-d domain] mapname', which works on Solnix, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD. Avoid -t, -s and -b, which are missing on Solnix.
Use real map names instead of nicknames if you need predictable results. Solnix has no -t to turn nickname translation off.

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.