Determining Your Linux Version

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.

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'

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

System Information Tools (general)

inxi

Instantly deduce user system configuration and hardware information. Tool provides output of system information (similar to Micro$oft systeminfo.exe). inxi was created by someone that wanted a way for a brief system summary for users seeking help via linux groups on IRC.

sudo apt-get install inxi   [On Debian/Ubuntu/Linux Mint]
sudo yum install inxi       [On CentOs/RHEL/Fedora]

Example Usage:

inxi -Fi
inxi -Fxz

lspci

lspci is a utility for displaying information about PCI buses in the system and devices connected to them. Should already be on your system. Example:

lspci|grep -i vga

will show your video card driver information attached video card