ypserv(8) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
On Solnix, ypserv is the illumos NIS server at /usr/lib/netsvc/yp/ypserv, which is not on PATH and is normally started by SMF (svc:/network/nis/server:default) or ypstart(8). Its options (-d -v -i -I -r -R) cover NIS-to-LDAP (N2L) mode and have almost nothing in common with the FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD flags.
The manual pages
- Solnix: ypserv(8) from
pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man· illumos.org - FreeBSD: ypserv(8) 15.1-RELEASE
- OpenBSD: ypserv(8) 8.0
- NetBSD: ypserv(8) 11.0
What Solnix runs
A default Solnix system runs the illumos ypserv at /usr/lib/netsvc/yp/ypserv. It is not in /usr/bin, /usr/sbin or /sbin. No other variants are shipped. The same page also documents ypxfrd (/usr/lib/netsvc/yp/ypxfrd), the fast map-transfer daemon. Start all NIS daemons with ypstart(8) and stop them with ypstop(8).
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | how the daemon is started | Solnix ypserv is started from the SMF service svc:/network/nis/server:default, or by root with ypstart(8). FreeBSD starts it from /etc/rc.d/ypserv if enabled in /etc/rc.conf. OpenBSD starts it at boot if /var/yp/<domainname> exists. The NetBSD page does not say.Source: Solnix ypserv(8) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD ypserv(8) DESCRIPTION; OpenBSD ypserv(8) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD ypserv(8) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | command path | Solnix ypserv lives at /usr/lib/netsvc/yp/ypserv, off the normal PATH. The BSD pages give the bare command name ypserv in their synopses.Source: Solnix ypserv(8) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD ypserv(8) SYNOPSIS |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | -d meaning | Solnix -d turns on DNS forwarding for host lookups regardless of YP_INTERDOMAIN. It needs /etc/resolv.conf, and without it ypserv complains and ignores -d. FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD use -d for a DNS query when a hosts.byname or hosts.byaddr lookup fails. OpenBSD also does this without -d for maps built with makedbm -b.Source: Solnix ypserv(8) -d; OpenBSD ypserv(8) -d; NetBSD ypserv(8) -d; FreeBSD ypserv(8) SYNOPSIS |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | -i, -I, -r, -R: N2L map initialisation | Solnix -i, -I, -r and combinations such as -ir initialise the DIT from the maps or refresh LDAP_-prefixed maps from it. In these modes ypserv runs in the foreground and exits when done. The BSD pages document no LDAP mode.Source: Solnix ypserv(8) OPTIONS -i, -I, -r, -ir; FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD ypserv(8) SYNOPSIS |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | -v and foreground options | Solnix -v prints diagnostics to stderr. NetBSD -f runs in the foreground and -l logs all requests. The Solnix page documents neither of those. Its foreground behaviour is tied to the initialisation options.Source: Solnix ypserv(8) -v; NetBSD ypserv(8) -f, -l |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | -p meaning and port binding | FreeBSD -P sets the port and -p sets the maps path. NetBSD -p sets the port. Solnix ypserv has no -p or -P. The page does not say how its port is chosen.Source: FreeBSD ypserv(8) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD ypserv(8) -p; Solnix ypserv(8) SYNOPSIS |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | access control | Solnix has the YP_SECURE map key, which restricts answers to clients on reserved ports. securenets(5) is only listed in SEE ALSO. FreeBSD reads /var/yp/securenets and supports tcpwrapper. OpenBSD uses /var/yp/securenet or ypserv.acl(5) via -a. NetBSD uses libwrap.Source: Solnix ypserv(8) YP_SECURE, SEE ALSO; FreeBSD ypserv(8) Security; OpenBSD ypserv(8) -a; NetBSD ypserv(8) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | map storage format | Solnix maps are ndbm files under /var/yp. FreeBSD and NetBSD use db(3) format. OpenBSD stores them as Berkeley databases.Source: Solnix ypserv(8) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD ypserv(8) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD ypserv(8) DESCRIPTION; OpenBSD ypserv(8) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | logging | NetBSD sends messages to syslog with facility LOG_DAEMON. OpenBSD writes to /var/yp/ypserv.log only if that file exists. The Solnix page says -v prints diagnostics to stderr and that N2L warnings are logged, but names no log destination.Source: NetBSD ypserv(8) DESCRIPTION; OpenBSD ypserv(8) DESCRIPTION; Solnix ypserv(8) -v, N2L section |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | NIS v1 and signals | OpenBSD -1 lets ypserv answer YP version 1 requests, and SIGHUP makes it reopen its log and reread configuration. FreeBSD gives partial v1 client support. The Solnix and NetBSD pages describe neither.Source: OpenBSD ypserv(8) -1, SIGHUP; FreeBSD ypserv(8) NIS v1 compatibility |
Standards
- POSIX: ypserv is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
- Solnix: The visible part of the page has no ATTRIBUTES or standards section. It refers to the YP Protocol Specification and the header <rpcsvc/yp_prot.h> for the operations ypserv performs.
Writing portable scripts
- Do not call ypserv by name or pass flags in portable scripts. The path, flags and start mechanism differ everywhere. Use the platform tool: svcadm/ypstart on Solnix, rc.conf on 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.