Finding Your Linux Version with uname and lsb_release

The uname command is used to print system information, including the kernel name, release, version, and hardware platform. You can use various command line arguments to specify which information you want to see. For example, uname -s will print the kernel name, uname -r will print the kernel release, and uname -v will print the kernel version. (If you're wanting distribution information, jump down to lsb_release).

List of useful command line arguments and examples:

• -a or --all: Prints all information (essentially uses all other flags)

  $ uname -a
  Linux deathcamel57 5.15.2-76051502-generic #202111121041~1636734399~21.10~1c02b32~dev-Ubuntu SMP Mon Nov 15 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

• -s or --kernel-name: Prints the kernel name

  $ uname -s
  Linux

• -n or --nodename: Prints the network node hostname

  $ uname -n
  deathcamel57

• -r or --kernel-release: Prints the kernel release

  $ uname -r
  5.15.2-76051502-generic

• -v or --kernel-version: Prints the kernel version

  $ uname -v
  #202111121041~1636734399~21.10~1c02b32~dev-Ubuntu SMP Mon Nov 15

• -m or --machine: Prints the machine hardware name

  $ uname -m
  x86_64

• -p or --processor: Prints the processor type (architecture)

  $ uname -p
  x86_64

• -i or --hardware-platform: Prints the hardware platform

  $ uname -i
  x86_64

• -o or --operating-system: Prints the operating system

  $ uname -o
  GNU/Linux

• --version: Prints the version of uname

  $ uname --version
  uname (GNU coreutils) 8.32
  Copyright (C) 2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
  License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
  This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
  There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
  
  Written by David MacKenzie.

The lsb_release command is used to print distribution-specific information, such as the distributor ID, release, and codename. You can use various command line arguments to specify which information you want to see. For example, lsb_release -i will print the distributor ID, lsb_release -r will print the release, and lsb_release -c will print the codename.

List of useful command line arguments and examples:

• -v or --version: Prints the version of LSB which your installation is compliant to

  $ lsb_release -v
  No LSB modules are available.

• -i or --id: Prints the distributor's ID

  $ lsb_release -i
  Distributor ID: Ubuntu

• -d or --description: Prints the description of the distribution currently running

  $ lsb_release -d
  Description: Ubuntu 21.10

• -r or --release: Prints the release of distribution

  $ lsb_release -r
  Release: 21.10

• -c or --codename: Prints the codename of the distribution

  $ lsb_release -c
  Codename: impish

• -a or --all: Prints all information (essentially uses all other flags)

  $ lsb_release -a
  No LSB modules are available.
  Distributor ID: Ubuntu
  Description: Ubuntu 21.10
  Release: 21.10
  Codename: impish

• -s or --short: Prints the short output format for any information displayed (omits outputting leading headers)

  $ lsb_release -as
  No LSB modules are available.
  Ubuntu
  Ubuntu 21.10
  21.10
  impish