How to check os version in Linux command line

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Check os version in Linux

I am a new Linux system user. How do I check os version in linux command line?Linux is a free and open source operating system. There are many variants of Linux out there. They are typically called Linux distribution. Suse, OpenSUSE, Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Arch, Fedora, RHEL all are common Linux distribution names. Knowing your os version and name can be very useful for security patches.

The procedure to find os name and version on Linux:

Open the terminal application (bash shell) For remote server login using the ssh: ssh user@server-name Type any one of the following command to find os name and version in Linux:

cat /etc/os-release

lsb_release -a

hostnamectl Type the following command to find Linux kernel version:

uname -r

Let us see all examples in detailed.

/etc/os-release file

Type the following cat command:

$ cat /etc/os-release

Sample outputs:

NAME="Ubuntu" VERSION="17.10 (Artful Aardvark)" ID=ubuntu ID_LIKE=debian PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 17.10" VERSION_ID="17.10" HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/" SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/" BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/" PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy" VERSION_CODENAME=artful UBUNTU_CODENAME=artful

lsb_release command

The lsb_release command gives LSB (Linux Standard Base) and distribution-specific information on the CLI. The syntax is:

$ lsb_release -a

Sample outputs:

LSB Version: :core-4.1-amd64:core-4.1-noarch Distributor ID: CentOS Description: CentOS Linux release 7.4.1708 (Core) Release: 7.4.1708 Codename: Core

hostnamectl command

Use hostnamectl command to query and change the system hostname and related settings. Just type the following command to check OS name and Linux kernel version:

$ hostnamectl

Sample outputs:

Static hostname: nixcraft-www-42 Icon name: computer-vm Chassis: vm Machine ID: beb217fbb4324b7d9959f78c279e6599 Boot ID: 10f00cc5ca614b518a84d1793d0134bc Virtualization: qemu Operating System: Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS Kernel: Linux 4.10.0-42-generic Architecture: x86-64

uname command

Just print Linux kernel version, run:

$ uname -r

Sample outputs:



Another option is to type the following command:

$ cat /proc/version

Sample outputs:

Linux version 3.10.0-693.11.6.el7.x86_64 (mockbuild@x86-041.build.eng.bos.redhat.com) (gcc version 4.8.5 20150623 (Red Hat 4.8.5-16) (GCC) ) #1 SMP Thu Dec 28 14:23:39 EST 2017

/etc/issue file

Use more command/less command as follows:

$ cat /etc/issue

$ more /etc/issue

$ less /etc/issue

Getting help

You can also view the manual page on uname using the following command:

$ man hostnamectl

$ man uname

$ man cat

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