The common scenario is that you have been given an access to a Linux system physically or via remote login and you have no idea what Linux version is installed on this particular system. Given that many of the today’s Linux Distributions have implemented systemd as part of their core design, to check for a Linux version is in many cases relatively simple procedure.
The simplest way to check Linux version is by using the hostnamectl
command without any arguments. For example the below hostnamectl
command will return the Linux distribution name, version and codename in use along with the currently loaded Linux kernel version:
$ hostnamectl
Static hostname: x220
Icon name: computer-laptop
Chassis: laptop
Machine ID: 2d4efda5efb0430faeb2087d0a335c6b
Boot ID: f8c4a3a776a74d42878347efc2c00634
Operating System: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)
Kernel: Linux 4.9.0-9-amd64
Architecture: x86-64
DID YOU KNOW?
It is a common mistake to refer to the entire GNU/Linux operating system simply as Linux. The important note here is that the so called Linux is actually only the Kernel part of the system whereas GNU is the actual system as in collection of pre-compiled binaries, libraries and system tools. Both GNU and Linux kernel must function in tandem in order for the operating system to actually work.
Hence, one cannot exists without the other, so next time when you talk about your operating system and you wish to be technically correct, refer to it as GNU/Linux or simply as Lignux.
In this tutorial you will learn:
- Basic introduction to Linux package
- How to check system architecture and Linux kernel version
- How to check CPU architecture
- How to check CentOS, Redhat, Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, Arch, Fedora Linux system version
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