How to identify the version of Linux running on a computer
Updated: 01/24/2018 by Computer Hope
Determining Kernel, Machine, and OS Type
To find out what version of the Linux kernel you are running, use the uname command.
uname -a
Running uname -a prints all the pertinent information with output similar to:
Linux computer 3.16.0-4-686-pae #1 SMP Debian 3.16.7-ckt20-1+deb8u3 (2016-01-17) i686 GNU/Linux
What does all this information mean?
| Info | What it describes |
|---|---|
Linux |
The name of the kernel and the output of uname -s. |
computer |
The system hostname and the output of uname -n. |
3.16.0-4-686-pae |
The kernel release and the output of uname -r. |
#1 SMP Debian 3.16.7-ckt20-1+deb8u3 (2016-01-17) |
The kernel version and the output of uname -v. |
i686 |
The machine type or architecture name and the output of uname -m. |
GNU/Linux |
The operating system type and the output of uname -o. |
Distribution-Specific Information
For information specific to your Linux distribution, use the command:
lsb_release -a
Output resembles the following:
Distributor ID: Debian Description: Debian GNU/Linux 8.3 (jessie) Release: 8.3 Codename: jessie