How can I get system information from the command line?












2














Sometimes when I log on to a system via SSH (for example to the production server), I have such privileges that there can install some software, but to do that I need to know the system with which I am dealing.



I would be able to check how the system is installed there.



Is there a way from the CLI to determine what distribution of Unix/Linux is running?










share|improve this question



























    2














    Sometimes when I log on to a system via SSH (for example to the production server), I have such privileges that there can install some software, but to do that I need to know the system with which I am dealing.



    I would be able to check how the system is installed there.



    Is there a way from the CLI to determine what distribution of Unix/Linux is running?










    share|improve this question

























      2












      2








      2


      1





      Sometimes when I log on to a system via SSH (for example to the production server), I have such privileges that there can install some software, but to do that I need to know the system with which I am dealing.



      I would be able to check how the system is installed there.



      Is there a way from the CLI to determine what distribution of Unix/Linux is running?










      share|improve this question













      Sometimes when I log on to a system via SSH (for example to the production server), I have such privileges that there can install some software, but to do that I need to know the system with which I am dealing.



      I would be able to check how the system is installed there.



      Is there a way from the CLI to determine what distribution of Unix/Linux is running?







      ssh command-line distributions






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked Dec 16 '16 at 7:35









      simhumilecosimhumileco

      1529




      1529






















          5 Answers
          5






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          5














          Try:



          uname -a


          It will give you output such as:



          Linux debianhost 3.16.0-4-686-pae #1 SMP Debian 3.16.36-1+deb8u2 (2016-10-19) i686 GNU/Linux


          You can also use:



          cat /etc/*release*
          PRETTY_NAME="Debian GNU/Linux 8 (jessie)"
          NAME="Debian GNU/Linux"
          VERSION_ID="8"
          VERSION="8 (jessie)"
          ID=debian
          HOME_URL="http://www.debian.org/"
          SUPPORT_URL="http://www.debian.org/support"
          BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.debian.org/"





          share|improve this answer





















          • In my case uname -a works, but cat /etc/*relase* it's not.
            – simhumileco
            Dec 16 '16 at 7:50










          • Ok. My bad, I thought that command would work across all distributions, I was apparently wrong!
            – maulinglawns
            Dec 16 '16 at 7:54










          • But it's good that you have entered it, because certainly in many cases it may be helpful...
            – simhumileco
            Dec 16 '16 at 7:56



















          2














          To get the hostname, kernel version, and other useful information about the system:



          uname -a


          To get the version of the Linux distribution, there is not an unique command. Every distro implements it differently. On Debian and Ubuntu:



          cat /etc/debian_version


          On Red Hat:



          cat /etc/redhat-release 
          cat /etc/lsb-release
          lsb_release -a


          On Fedora:



          cat /etc/fedora-release





          share|improve this answer

















          • 1




            Systems using systemd should also have an /etc/os-release file.
            – James Sneeringer
            Dec 16 '16 at 17:59





















          1














          For Linux you can try lsb_release command which provides Linux Standard Base and distro specific information. Try:



          lsb_release -d


          Also check for other options in man page






          share|improve this answer





























            0














            Sometimes it is helpful:



            lsb_release -a


            ...show all information






            share|improve this answer





























              0














              This has been answered a couple of times over on SuperUser with the usual tricks already mentioned here. But this answer has a novel method I quite like:



              python -c "import platform; print platform.dist()"





              share|improve this answer





















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                5 Answers
                5






                active

                oldest

                votes








                5 Answers
                5






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes









                5














                Try:



                uname -a


                It will give you output such as:



                Linux debianhost 3.16.0-4-686-pae #1 SMP Debian 3.16.36-1+deb8u2 (2016-10-19) i686 GNU/Linux


                You can also use:



                cat /etc/*release*
                PRETTY_NAME="Debian GNU/Linux 8 (jessie)"
                NAME="Debian GNU/Linux"
                VERSION_ID="8"
                VERSION="8 (jessie)"
                ID=debian
                HOME_URL="http://www.debian.org/"
                SUPPORT_URL="http://www.debian.org/support"
                BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.debian.org/"





                share|improve this answer





















                • In my case uname -a works, but cat /etc/*relase* it's not.
                  – simhumileco
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:50










                • Ok. My bad, I thought that command would work across all distributions, I was apparently wrong!
                  – maulinglawns
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:54










                • But it's good that you have entered it, because certainly in many cases it may be helpful...
                  – simhumileco
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:56
















                5














                Try:



                uname -a


                It will give you output such as:



                Linux debianhost 3.16.0-4-686-pae #1 SMP Debian 3.16.36-1+deb8u2 (2016-10-19) i686 GNU/Linux


                You can also use:



                cat /etc/*release*
                PRETTY_NAME="Debian GNU/Linux 8 (jessie)"
                NAME="Debian GNU/Linux"
                VERSION_ID="8"
                VERSION="8 (jessie)"
                ID=debian
                HOME_URL="http://www.debian.org/"
                SUPPORT_URL="http://www.debian.org/support"
                BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.debian.org/"





                share|improve this answer





















                • In my case uname -a works, but cat /etc/*relase* it's not.
                  – simhumileco
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:50










                • Ok. My bad, I thought that command would work across all distributions, I was apparently wrong!
                  – maulinglawns
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:54










                • But it's good that you have entered it, because certainly in many cases it may be helpful...
                  – simhumileco
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:56














                5












                5








                5






                Try:



                uname -a


                It will give you output such as:



                Linux debianhost 3.16.0-4-686-pae #1 SMP Debian 3.16.36-1+deb8u2 (2016-10-19) i686 GNU/Linux


                You can also use:



                cat /etc/*release*
                PRETTY_NAME="Debian GNU/Linux 8 (jessie)"
                NAME="Debian GNU/Linux"
                VERSION_ID="8"
                VERSION="8 (jessie)"
                ID=debian
                HOME_URL="http://www.debian.org/"
                SUPPORT_URL="http://www.debian.org/support"
                BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.debian.org/"





                share|improve this answer












                Try:



                uname -a


                It will give you output such as:



                Linux debianhost 3.16.0-4-686-pae #1 SMP Debian 3.16.36-1+deb8u2 (2016-10-19) i686 GNU/Linux


                You can also use:



                cat /etc/*release*
                PRETTY_NAME="Debian GNU/Linux 8 (jessie)"
                NAME="Debian GNU/Linux"
                VERSION_ID="8"
                VERSION="8 (jessie)"
                ID=debian
                HOME_URL="http://www.debian.org/"
                SUPPORT_URL="http://www.debian.org/support"
                BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.debian.org/"






                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Dec 16 '16 at 7:39









                maulinglawnsmaulinglawns

                6,22121225




                6,22121225












                • In my case uname -a works, but cat /etc/*relase* it's not.
                  – simhumileco
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:50










                • Ok. My bad, I thought that command would work across all distributions, I was apparently wrong!
                  – maulinglawns
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:54










                • But it's good that you have entered it, because certainly in many cases it may be helpful...
                  – simhumileco
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:56


















                • In my case uname -a works, but cat /etc/*relase* it's not.
                  – simhumileco
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:50










                • Ok. My bad, I thought that command would work across all distributions, I was apparently wrong!
                  – maulinglawns
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:54










                • But it's good that you have entered it, because certainly in many cases it may be helpful...
                  – simhumileco
                  Dec 16 '16 at 7:56
















                In my case uname -a works, but cat /etc/*relase* it's not.
                – simhumileco
                Dec 16 '16 at 7:50




                In my case uname -a works, but cat /etc/*relase* it's not.
                – simhumileco
                Dec 16 '16 at 7:50












                Ok. My bad, I thought that command would work across all distributions, I was apparently wrong!
                – maulinglawns
                Dec 16 '16 at 7:54




                Ok. My bad, I thought that command would work across all distributions, I was apparently wrong!
                – maulinglawns
                Dec 16 '16 at 7:54












                But it's good that you have entered it, because certainly in many cases it may be helpful...
                – simhumileco
                Dec 16 '16 at 7:56




                But it's good that you have entered it, because certainly in many cases it may be helpful...
                – simhumileco
                Dec 16 '16 at 7:56













                2














                To get the hostname, kernel version, and other useful information about the system:



                uname -a


                To get the version of the Linux distribution, there is not an unique command. Every distro implements it differently. On Debian and Ubuntu:



                cat /etc/debian_version


                On Red Hat:



                cat /etc/redhat-release 
                cat /etc/lsb-release
                lsb_release -a


                On Fedora:



                cat /etc/fedora-release





                share|improve this answer

















                • 1




                  Systems using systemd should also have an /etc/os-release file.
                  – James Sneeringer
                  Dec 16 '16 at 17:59


















                2














                To get the hostname, kernel version, and other useful information about the system:



                uname -a


                To get the version of the Linux distribution, there is not an unique command. Every distro implements it differently. On Debian and Ubuntu:



                cat /etc/debian_version


                On Red Hat:



                cat /etc/redhat-release 
                cat /etc/lsb-release
                lsb_release -a


                On Fedora:



                cat /etc/fedora-release





                share|improve this answer

















                • 1




                  Systems using systemd should also have an /etc/os-release file.
                  – James Sneeringer
                  Dec 16 '16 at 17:59
















                2












                2








                2






                To get the hostname, kernel version, and other useful information about the system:



                uname -a


                To get the version of the Linux distribution, there is not an unique command. Every distro implements it differently. On Debian and Ubuntu:



                cat /etc/debian_version


                On Red Hat:



                cat /etc/redhat-release 
                cat /etc/lsb-release
                lsb_release -a


                On Fedora:



                cat /etc/fedora-release





                share|improve this answer












                To get the hostname, kernel version, and other useful information about the system:



                uname -a


                To get the version of the Linux distribution, there is not an unique command. Every distro implements it differently. On Debian and Ubuntu:



                cat /etc/debian_version


                On Red Hat:



                cat /etc/redhat-release 
                cat /etc/lsb-release
                lsb_release -a


                On Fedora:



                cat /etc/fedora-release






                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Dec 16 '16 at 12:33









                dr01dr01

                15.9k114970




                15.9k114970








                • 1




                  Systems using systemd should also have an /etc/os-release file.
                  – James Sneeringer
                  Dec 16 '16 at 17:59
















                • 1




                  Systems using systemd should also have an /etc/os-release file.
                  – James Sneeringer
                  Dec 16 '16 at 17:59










                1




                1




                Systems using systemd should also have an /etc/os-release file.
                – James Sneeringer
                Dec 16 '16 at 17:59






                Systems using systemd should also have an /etc/os-release file.
                – James Sneeringer
                Dec 16 '16 at 17:59













                1














                For Linux you can try lsb_release command which provides Linux Standard Base and distro specific information. Try:



                lsb_release -d


                Also check for other options in man page






                share|improve this answer


























                  1














                  For Linux you can try lsb_release command which provides Linux Standard Base and distro specific information. Try:



                  lsb_release -d


                  Also check for other options in man page






                  share|improve this answer
























                    1












                    1








                    1






                    For Linux you can try lsb_release command which provides Linux Standard Base and distro specific information. Try:



                    lsb_release -d


                    Also check for other options in man page






                    share|improve this answer












                    For Linux you can try lsb_release command which provides Linux Standard Base and distro specific information. Try:



                    lsb_release -d


                    Also check for other options in man page







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Dec 16 '16 at 13:42









                    daemontoshdaemontosh

                    3917




                    3917























                        0














                        Sometimes it is helpful:



                        lsb_release -a


                        ...show all information






                        share|improve this answer


























                          0














                          Sometimes it is helpful:



                          lsb_release -a


                          ...show all information






                          share|improve this answer
























                            0












                            0








                            0






                            Sometimes it is helpful:



                            lsb_release -a


                            ...show all information






                            share|improve this answer












                            Sometimes it is helpful:



                            lsb_release -a


                            ...show all information







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered Jul 26 '17 at 12:13









                            simhumilecosimhumileco

                            1529




                            1529























                                0














                                This has been answered a couple of times over on SuperUser with the usual tricks already mentioned here. But this answer has a novel method I quite like:



                                python -c "import platform; print platform.dist()"





                                share|improve this answer


























                                  0














                                  This has been answered a couple of times over on SuperUser with the usual tricks already mentioned here. But this answer has a novel method I quite like:



                                  python -c "import platform; print platform.dist()"





                                  share|improve this answer
























                                    0












                                    0








                                    0






                                    This has been answered a couple of times over on SuperUser with the usual tricks already mentioned here. But this answer has a novel method I quite like:



                                    python -c "import platform; print platform.dist()"





                                    share|improve this answer












                                    This has been answered a couple of times over on SuperUser with the usual tricks already mentioned here. But this answer has a novel method I quite like:



                                    python -c "import platform; print platform.dist()"






                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered 37 mins ago









                                    Heath RafteryHeath Raftery

                                    24518




                                    24518






























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