Check the OS version in Linux.
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.
Check os version in Linux
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
/etc/os-release file
Type the following cat command:
$ cat /etc/os-release
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
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
uname command
Just print Linux kernel version, run:
$ uname -r
Another option is to type the following command:
$ cat /proc/version
/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
Original article is https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/how-to-check-os-version-in-linux-command-line/