Linux - How to know the version of the distribution (Operating system) About

This article regroups all the way that you have to determine the version your distribution from a Linux software. To determine the version of the kernel, the section has moved in an article: Linux - How to determine the version of the kernel ?

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Distribution version
The distribution is also known as operating system.

/etc/*release
[root@ebs121 ~]# echo /etc/*release /etc/enterprise-release /etc/redhat-release [root@ebs121 ~]# cat /etc/enterprise-release Enterprise Linux Enterprise Linux Server release 5.3 (Carthage) [root@ebs121 ~]# cat /etc/redhat-release Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 5.3 (Tikanga)

For other distribution release:

/etc/SuSE-release /etc/redhat-release /etc/debian_version /etc/slackware-version

lsb_release
[root@oel11g local]# lsb_release -id Distributor ID: EnterpriseEnterpriseServer Description: Enterprise Linux Enterprise Linux Server release 5.3 (Carthage)

/etc/issue
[root@ebs121 ~]# cat /etc/issue Enterprise Linux Enterprise Linux Server release 5.3 (Carthage) Kernel \r on an \m

The /etc/issue file should not be trusted, the file is intended as a text message to be displayed before login for telnet, or after the username has been entered with SSH. The issue file was never intended for storing a distribution version, the fact most distros put something there is merely coincidental branding (coz it's nice to have something in there) A better indicator of the distribution is to 'echo /etc/*release'

Others
login as: root root@192.168.2.225's password: Last login: Sat Mar 6 22:39:34 2010 from 192.168.2.2

[root@ebs121 ~]# dmesg | head -1 Linux version 2.6.18-128.el5 (mockbuild@ca-build10.us.oracle.com) (gcc version 4.1.2 20080704 (Red Hat 4.1.2-44)) #1 SMP Wed Jan 21 07:58:05 EST 2009 [root@ebs121 ~]# cat /proc/version Linux version 2.6.18-128.el5 (mockbuild@ca-build10.us.oracle.com) (gcc version 4.1.2 20080704 (Red Hat 4.1.2-44)) #1 SMP Wed Jan 21 07:58:05 EST 2009

Documentation / Reference

How To Know Which Linux Distribution You Are Using?