dump(1) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
Solnix dump(1) is the illumos tool at /usr/bin/dump that prints selected parts of ELF object files and archives. It is not the BSD dump(8) file system backup program, so the same name and single-letter flags do entirely different jobs.
The manual pages
- Solnix: dump(1) from
pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man· illumos.org - FreeBSD: dump(8) 15.1-RELEASE
- OpenBSD: dump(8) 8.0
- NetBSD: dump(8) 11.0
What Solnix runs
A default Solnix system runs the illumos dump at /usr/bin/dump, and no other variants are shipped. The page says dump suits shell scripts and recommends elfdump(1) for more human-readable output. The bundle does not say which tool does file system backups on Solnix.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | purpose and section | Solnix dump(1) dumps parts of object files and archives. FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD dump(8) is a file system backup tool that copies files to tape, disk or another medium. Running a BSD backup command on Solnix will not back anything up. Source: Solnix dump(1) NAME, DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD dump(8) NAME, DESCRIPTION; OpenBSD dump(8) NAME; NetBSD dump(8) NAME |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | arguments | Solnix dump takes one or more object file or archive names (filename...). BSD dump takes a file system (device or mount point), or on OpenBSD and NetBSD a list of files and directories on one file system (files-to-dump). Source: Solnix dump(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD dump(8) SYNOPSIS; OpenBSD dump(8) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD dump(8) SYNOPSIS |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | dump level digits | Solnix dump has no -0 to -9 dump levels, no incremental concept, and no /etc/dumpdates handling or -u. On the BSDs these are core options, and -u updates /etc/dumpdates.Source: Solnix dump(1) OPTIONS; FreeBSD dump(8) -0-9, -D; OpenBSD dump(8) -0-9, -u; NetBSD dump(8) -0-9, -D |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | -a, -c, -f meanings | On Solnix, -a dumps archive member headers, -c dumps string tables, and -f dumps file headers. On the BSDs, -a is auto-size (write until end of media), -c selects cartridge tape defaults, and -f file names the output device or file.Source: Solnix dump(1) -a, -c, -f; FreeBSD dump(8) -a, -c, -f; OpenBSD dump(8) -a, -c, -f; NetBSD dump(8) -a, -c, -f |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | -h, -n, -s, -d meanings | Solnix -h dumps section headers, -n name restricts output to a named section or symbol, -s dumps section contents, and -d number selects sections. BSD -h level sets the nodump honor level, -n notifies operators, -s feet sets tape length, and -d density sets tape density.Source: Solnix dump(1) -h, -n, -s, -d; FreeBSD dump(8) -h, -n, -s, -d; OpenBSD dump(8) -h, -n, -s, -d; NetBSD dump(8) -h, -n, -s, -d |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | -T meaning | Solnix -T index[,index2] selects symbol table entries by index. FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD -T date sets the starting time of the dump.Source: Solnix dump(1) -T; OpenBSD dump(8) -T; NetBSD dump(8) SYNOPSIS (-T date); FreeBSD dump(8) SYNOPSIS (-T date) |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | -r and -L meanings | Solnix -r dumps relocation information and -L dumps dynamic linking information. FreeBSD -r makes a level 0 dump rsync-friendly and -L dumps a live file system via a snapshot. NetBSD -r sets the read cache size and -L label stores a header label.Source: Solnix dump(1) -r, -L; FreeBSD dump(8) -r, -L; NetBSD dump(8) -r, -L |
| OpenBSD | -r and -L absent | OpenBSD dump(8) documents no -r and no -L in its synopsis. On Solnix both are object-file options: -r for relocations and -L for dynamic linking information.Source: OpenBSD dump(8) SYNOPSIS; Solnix dump(1) -r, -L |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | symbolic output and -v | Solnix -v is a modifier that prints symbolic instead of numeric values for -a, -f, -h, -L, -o, -r, -s and -t. The BSD dump(8) pages document no -v. The Solnix -p modifier suppresses headings.Source: Solnix dump(1) -v, -p; FreeBSD dump(8) SYNOPSIS; OpenBSD dump(8) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD dump(8) SYNOPSIS |
Standards
- POSIX: dump is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Writing portable scripts
- Do not use the name dump in a portable script without checking the OS: on Solnix it reads ELF objects, and on the BSDs it backs up file systems.
- To inspect object files from a script on Solnix, use dump with explicit options such as
-h,-tor-s-nname. The page says it suits scripts, and elfdump(1) gives more readable output.
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.