Difference between revisions of "Determining Your Linux Version"
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* Many distributions create a 'release' text file in /etc. Try typing 'ls -a /etc |grep -i release' | * Many distributions create a 'release' text file in /etc. Try typing 'ls -a /etc |grep -i release' | ||
* Or try: 'cat /etc/*release' or 'cat /etc/*version'. Many have a file '/etc/os-release'. | * Or try: 'cat /etc/*release' or 'cat /etc/*version'. Many have a file '/etc/os-release'. | ||
+ | |||
+ | An amazing and useful tool is inxi which is installed on mint and probably ubuntu by default. For any debian system to install type: | ||
+ | sudo apt install inxi | ||
+ | Useful command line switches included in this run example: | ||
+ | inxi -Fxz | ||
=== CentOS === | === CentOS === |
Revision as of 08:30, 24 October 2018
With Microsoft Windows it is easy to determine the version of the MS Windows Operating system currently installed. With Linux it is easy to determine the version of the Linux kernel you are running. However, the distribution version is determined differently depending on which distribution you are using. Also, further component version information depends on distribution and kernel.
[Krissy's Question and Answer] addresses the issue of determining installed version information briefly. Here we explore it in greater detail.
Contents
Linux Kernel
Q: how can I tell what linux kernel version I have?
A: type 'uname -s -r'
Linux Components
gcc compiler
Q: how can I tell what gcc version I have?
A: type 'gcc --version'
glibc
Q: how can I tell what glibc version I have?
A: type '/lib/libc.so.6'
Xwindows / XFree86 / and Windows Managers
XFree86
Q: how can I tell what vesion of xwindows I have?
A: type 'XFree86 -version' or 'xdpyinfo'
KDE
GNome
Linux Distribution Specific
There is no one super command to accomplish this. Instead you will need to make some observations.
- Use 'dmesg' to see if system displayed distro during boot.
- Check for presence of certail signature distro files,
- You may also check the issue or issue.net file. type 'cat /etc/issue'
- Many distributions create a 'release' text file in /etc. Try typing 'ls -a /etc |grep -i release'
- Or try: 'cat /etc/*release' or 'cat /etc/*version'. Many have a file '/etc/os-release'.
An amazing and useful tool is inxi which is installed on mint and probably ubuntu by default. For any debian system to install type:
sudo apt install inxi
Useful command line switches included in this run example:
inxi -Fxz
CentOS
CentOS creates '/etc/centos-release'
Debian
Debian creates '/etc/debian_version'
Knoppix
With the CD in the drive (doesn't work for disk installation) type: strings /mnt/cdrom/KNOPPIX/boot.img | grep BETA
for installed knoppix, at the shell type: /etc/knoppix-version
Mandrake
at the shell type: cat /etc/mandrake-release
Mint
at the shell type: cat /etc/apt/sources.list
inxi should be installed by default, for a pretty formatted display of system information type:
inxi -Fxz
Redhat
Redhat creates '/etc/redhat-release'
SuSE
SuSE creates '/etc/SuSE-release'
Ubuntu
at the shell type: sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
or within the GUI, System > About Ubuntu
or at the shell type: lsb_release -a
or at the shell type: sudo cat /etc/apt/sources.list|grep Release