Need Command to find linux operating system information

raajesh_ak · 12-20-2005, 01:36 AM

Hi Linuxions

I am Linux Newbie.I just want to know how to find what version of linux os is running in a system. Is there any command available?.

Looking for help

With Thanks
Raajesh

J.W. · 12-20-2005, 02:12 AM

Do you mean what version of the kernel? If so

Code:

uname -r

Welcome to LQ!

Mishra100 · 12-20-2005, 09:35 AM

uname -a
Will also give you additional info.

you could
man uname
for information

alienDog · 12-20-2005, 03:45 PM

If you need to know which distribution it's running, you could try something like:

Code:

cat /etc/*-version

or

Code:

cat /etc/*-release

There might be others, but i think the these are the most common ones.

Mishra100 · 12-20-2005, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alienDog

If you need to know which distribution it's running, you could try something like:

Code:

cat /etc/*-version

or

Code:

cat /etc/*-release

There might be others, but i think the these are the most common ones.

I recently learned that

cat /etc/issue

works really well

alienDog · 12-20-2005, 05:24 PM

/etc/issue doesn't contain distribution information on all distributions, but it can well be used on some of them. In my opinion there really should be a standard location for this information /etc/distribution or something alike.

raajesh_ak · 12-20-2005, 11:19 PM

Thanks a lot for your replies.

Many Thanks
raajesh

james.math.u · 12-21-2005, 03:43 AM

I just tried out the command /etc/*-release, and it worked fine for me....
My doubt is..where is this info stored...like, i did ls -a inside etc, but i couldn't find any file with the word release...

prasanta · 12-21-2005, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Code:

cat /etc/*-version

Works fine.

Quote:

Code:

cat /etc/*-release

File not found. Does that depend upon the distibution ?

Code:

uname -o

works.

--
Prasanta

alienDog · 12-21-2005, 06:38 PM

Yep, it depends on the distribution. uname -o doesn't tell you the distribution, only the operating system name (which in Linux systems is always GNU/Linux).

The information is stored in a file with -release or -version ending under /etc/, it is there for sure james.math.u, look closer

In redhat systems it's /etc/redhat-release, in slackware /etc/slackware-version and in debian (I believe) /etc/debian-version and so on.