How to get Linux distribution name and version

Accurate knowledge of the Linux distribution name and version keeps documentation, packages, and support resources aligned with the running system. Package repositories, security advisories, and vendor lifecycles are tied to specific releases, so misidentifying a system can result in incompatible instructions or failed upgrades.

On most systems, distribution metadata is exposed through text files under /etc and helper utilities such as lsb_release and hostnamectl. These sources provide fields like NAME, VERSION, PRETTY_NAME, and ID_LIKE, backed by files including /etc/os-release, /etc/lsb-release, and distribution-specific /etc/<distribution>-release and /etc/system-release.

Tool availability varies between distribution families and minimal installations, so relying on a single command can fail on stripped-down images or containers. Combining several methods, and including kernel and architecture information from uname, yields a complete view of the running environment without depending on one particular package.

Steps to check Linux distribution name and version:

Open the terminal.
Use lsb_release to check the distribution details.
```
$ lsb_release -a
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS
Release: 24.04
Codename: noble
```
Install lsb-release package if the command is missing or prints the No LSB modules are available warning.
```
$ sudo apt install lsb-release
```

View additional details about the Linux distribution by examining the contents of the /etc/os-release file.

$ cat /etc/os-release 
PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS"
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION_ID="24.04"
VERSION="24.04.1 LTS (Noble Numbat)"
VERSION_CODENAME=noble
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/"
SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy"
UBUNTU_CODENAME=noble
LOGO=ubuntu-logo

Examine the contents of the /etc/lsb-release file.

$ cat /etc/lsb-release 
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=24.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=noble
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS"

Check the /etc/issue file for basic information.
```
$ cat /etc/issue
Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS \n \l
```
Retrieve OS and distribution information using the hostnamectl command.
```
$ hostnamectl 
 Static hostname: host
       Icon name: computer-vm
         Chassis: vm
  Virtualization: vmware
Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS
          Kernel: Linux 6.8.0-48-generic
    Architecture: x86-64
```
Other distributions may expose release data in files such as /etc/system-release or /etc/<distribution>-release; use the available files on the system you are checking.
Use the uname command to see kernel version and architecture.
```
$ uname -a
Linux host 6.8.0-48-generic #48-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Fri Sep 27 14:04:52 UTC 2024 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
```
Kernel and architecture details can be matched with release notes or documentation to refine identification.

Author: Mohd Shakir Zakaria
Mohd Shakir Zakaria is a cloud architect with deep roots in software development and open-source advocacy. Certified in AWS, Red Hat, VMware, ITIL, and Linux, he specializes in designing and managing robust cloud and on-premises infrastructures.