how to find out what distro is on PC

dd1313 · 01-29-2010, 01:26 PM

Hi Guys

So I start up a Server and it ends at the console.I enter the username/password.How can I find out what Linux distro this is
version etc from the command line

Thanks
Dev

nuwen52 · 01-29-2010, 01:33 PM

Code:

cat /etc/issue

That works on CentOS and Mint, for certain. So, it might work on all distros.

slacker_et · 01-29-2010, 01:38 PM

This has been covered in other threads. Search is your friend.
/etc/issue is not reliable.
Look for /etc/*release* and/or /etc/*version*.

--ET

druuna · 01-29-2010, 01:39 PM

Hi,

/etc/issue is a good place to start.

If that doesn't help look for a file with release in its name (/etc/redhat-release for example). The distro is in the name, specifics are in the file.

kforbus · 01-29-2010, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuwen52

Code:

cat /etc/issue

That works on CentOS and Mint, for certain. So, it might work on all distros.

If that doesn't work you could try either of:

Code:

cat /etc/*release

Code:

cat /etc/*version

It depends on the distro. Kind of ironic, huh.

worm5252 · 01-29-2010, 01:49 PM

on Debian based disributions you can simply run lsb_release -a. It will give you an output like so.

Code:

jared@Sarah:~$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Debian
Description:    Debian GNU/Linux 5.0.3 (lenny)
Release:        5.0.3
Codename:       lenny
jared@Sarah:~$

From that I know this machine is Debian 5.0.3 which is known as Debian Lenny. If you need to know more information you can use uname -a to find out what kernel version is running. This should tell you if you are 32-bit or 64-bit or if you are running a kernel design for a specfic CPU or a custom built kernel . I personally have an AMD 64-bit processor so I ahve a 64-bit version of Linux. if I run uname -a I get the following output

Code:

jared@Sarah:~$ uname -a
Linux Sarah 2.6.26-2-amd64 #1 SMP Thu Nov 5 02:23:12 UTC 2009 x86_64 GNU/Linux
jared@Sarah:~$

Hope that helps

worm5252 · 01-29-2010, 01:51 PM

I also have a 32-bit version of Debian Lenny that I use for a file server. If I run uname -a on that server I get the following output

Code:

jared@S-FSXX01:~$ uname -a
Linux S-FSXX01 2.6.26-2-686 #1 SMP Wed Aug 19 06:06:52 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux
jared@S-FSXX01:~$

686 is an indicator of a 32-bit system. i386 is as well

dd1313 · 01-29-2010, 02:33 PM

Hi Guys

Please check this.This is from a Xubuntu live CD,What does it mean
when it says that the version is 4.0

THanks
Dev

EricTRA · 01-29-2010, 02:58 PM

The 4 from version means that it's based on Debian version 4 (etch) if I'm not mistaking, which is the current oldstable release. Current stable release is 5 (lenny) on which *buntu 9 are build.

Kind regards,

Eric