Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

`makedbm(8)` on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs

On Solnix, makedbm is the illumos /usr/sbin/makedbm. It writes ndbm files (outfile.pag and outfile.dir) for NIS maps. It has extra key-splitting options (-S, -D, -E) that the OpenBSD and NetBSD pages do not list, and -u takes a file argument, as on NetBSD.

The manual pages

Solnix: makedbm(8) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
OpenBSD: makedbm(8) 8.0
NetBSD: makedbm(8) 11.0

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos makedbm at /usr/sbin/makedbm. No other variants are shipped. Linux has no counterpart page in the bundle, so no Linux comparison is made.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
OpenBSD, NetBSD	output file format	Solnix makedbm writes a pair of ndbm files, outfile.pag and outfile.dir. OpenBSD describes a slightly modified ndbm format. NetBSD describes a db(3) database file. Map files are not interchangeable across these systems without checking the format. Source: Solnix makedbm(8) DESCRIPTION, OPERANDS outfile; OpenBSD makedbm(8) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD makedbm(8) DESCRIPTION
OpenBSD, NetBSD	key splitting options `-S`, `-D`, `-E`	Solnix has `-S` delimiter, `-D` number_of_delimiters and `-E` (delimiters are escaped) to control how the key is formed. The OpenBSD and NetBSD pages list none of these. Without them, the documented rule is key = text up to the first space or tab. Source: Solnix makedbm(8) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS -S, -D, -E; OpenBSD makedbm(8) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD makedbm(8) SYNOPSIS
OpenBSD	`-u` argument and `-U`	Solnix `-u` takes a dbm file name (makedbm `-u` dbmfilename). On OpenBSD, `-u` is a plain flag in the main synopsis and the page names no file argument. OpenBSD also has `-U`, which tries the hash(3) format as well. Solnix has no `-U`. Source: Solnix makedbm(8) SYNOPSIS, -u; OpenBSD makedbm(8) SYNOPSIS, -U, -u
NetBSD	`-u` output format	Solnix `-u` prints one entry per line with a single space between key and value. NetBSD says its `-u` output is suitable to be passed back into makedbm. The Solnix page does not make that claim. Source: Solnix makedbm(8) -u; NetBSD makedbm(8) -u
NetBSD	comment handling in input	Solnix makedbm does not treat # as special, so a line starting with # becomes a record. NetBSD says # is a comment character and the rest of the line is ignored, and blank lines are ignored. Solnix does not say how it handles blank lines. Source: Solnix makedbm(8) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD makedbm(8) DESCRIPTION
OpenBSD, NetBSD	line continuation	Solnix continues a record onto the next line when a line ends with a backslash. The OpenBSD and NetBSD pages do not mention line continuation. Source: Solnix makedbm(8) DESCRIPTION; OpenBSD makedbm(8) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD makedbm(8) DESCRIPTION
OpenBSD, NetBSD	yp_last_modified entry	Solnix adds a special key yp_last_modified, set to the date of infile or the current time when infile is the dash. The OpenBSD and NetBSD pages do not mention this entry. Source: Solnix makedbm(8) DESCRIPTION; OpenBSD makedbm(8) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD makedbm(8) DESCRIPTION
OpenBSD, NetBSD	special key names	OpenBSD and NetBSD name the keys in upper case (YP_DOMAIN_NAME, YP_INPUT_FILE, YP_MASTER_NAME, YP_OUTPUT_FILE). The Solnix page writes them as yp_domain_name, yp_input_file and so on. Solnix says keys with the prefix yp_ are interpreted by NIS server utilities. Source: Solnix makedbm(8) OPTIONS -d, -i, -m, -o; OpenBSD makedbm(8) -d; NetBSD makedbm(8) -d
OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-m` default and `-b` scope	On Solnix, `-m` without a master name sets yp_master_name to the local host name. The BSD pages take the name as the option argument and do not describe a default. OpenBSD and NetBSD say `-b` only has effect on hosts.byname and hosts.byaddr; the Solnix page does not restrict it. Source: Solnix makedbm(8) -m, -b; OpenBSD makedbm(8) -m, -b; NetBSD makedbm(8) -m, -b

Standards

POSIX: makedbm is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
OpenBSD: The OpenBSD page has no STANDARDS section in the bundle.
NetBSD: The NetBSD page has no STANDARDS section in the bundle.

Writing portable scripts

Use only -b, -d, -i, -l, -m, -o, -s and the infile outfile operands in portable scripts. Avoid -S, -D, -E and -U.
Do not assume outfile names or format. Solnix writes outfile.pag and outfile.dir; NetBSD describes a db(3) file. Generate maps on the system that will serve them.

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.