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Introduction
How do you check OS version in Linux which you are running? If you are an open-source operating system, knowing your Linux version is helpful. Through version information, you could troubleshoot issues, find compatibility information for software, and check if the software is up to date with the latest security patches to keep it secure.
In this article, we'll explore different methods to check the version of your Linux in your system so you know what you're running.
What is Linux?
Linux is a free open-source operating system and a popular choice among developers and programmers because everyone has access to its source code and can modify it. It was released by Linus Torvalds, a Finnish software engineer in 1991.
There are several variants of Linux, known as Linux distributions like Suse, OpenSUSE, Debian, Ubuntu and CentOS, to name a few. Each distribution comes with its own set of features and tools. Also, Linux provides the option to add on additional software and do customisation according to the needs. Many large organisations and governments use Linux as a very stable and secure operating system for their servers and infrastructure.
Linux Distribution's Version
Below are some steps you could follow to know your Linux OS version.
Open terminal: press Ctrl + Alt + T keys from the keyboard or search it.
Remote Server: user on a remote server should log in using the following command:
ssh user@server-name
Run the command: on the terminal type any one of the following commands:
cat /etc/os-release
lsb_release -a
cat /proc/version
OS Version in Linux using Graphical User Interface
Below are some steps you could follow in order to check OS version in Linux using GUI.
Open Settings: right click on your home screen and goto settings options from the menu.
About Section: Once settings open, go to the About section option and open it.
OS version: in the About section you'll get all the details like processor, graphics and memory, scroll down to check the OS version in linux.
Commands to check OS version in Linux
In this section, we will check some commands that will guide us on how to check os version in Linux and will display all its details.
1) Checking OS version on Linux Using cat /etc/os-release
We will use Linux’s /etc directory from where we will retrieve the Linux version using the above command.
Output:
2) Checking OS version on Linux Using lsb_release -a
Let’s use the above command to get all details of our Linux distribution.
Output:
3) Checking OS version on Linux Using cat /proc/version
We will use the above command for Linux’s proc directory and get the version file from there.
Output:
4) Checking OS version on Linux Using uname -a
We will use the above standard command to check the kernel or Linux version.
Output:
5) Checking OS version on Linux Using hostnamectl
We will use the above command, which will display the information of our system and use it to change the hostname of the system.
Output:
6) Checking OS version on Linux Using dmesg | grep Linux
We will use the above command, which will display the system log messages from the kernel’s ring buffer but also helps us to find os version in Linux.
Output:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the OS version on Linux?
To determine the operating system version on Linux, enter a terminal and type "lsb_release -a" or "cat /etc/os-release." It will display specific details about your Linux distribution and version.
What are the 3 types of files in Linux?
The three types of files in Linux are Regular Files (containing data), Directories (for organizing files), and Special Files (representing hardware devices or system resources).
How can we check OS version?
Select Start > Settings > System > About from the menu. You can see whether your device is running a 32bit or 64bit version of Windows under Device specifications > System type. You can see which edition and version of Windows your device is running under Windows specifications.
How do I find the OS version in Unix?
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.
Congratulations you did an amazing job!! This article has gone through a detailed introduction to Linux and discussed various commands on how to check os version in Linux in the system and illustrate it with the help of examples. At last, some frequently asked questions have been discussed.
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