How to retrieve Linux distribution version details

Numerous Linux distributions exist, such as Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE. Each distribution varies in many aspects, and you may need to identify the name and version of your Linux system, often for programmatic purposes.

The Linux Foundation provides the lsb_release specification and command to display distribution-specific information easily. However, not all Linux distributions include lsb_release by default. Most store this information in the /etc directory, but with slightly different file names. Additionally, the hostnamectl and uname commands can reveal some information about the Linux distribution name and version.

To find details like the Linux distribution name and version, try each of the following methods, as one might work for one distribution but not another.

1. Open the terminal.
2. Execute the lsb_release command.

   $ lsb_release -a
   LSB Version:  core-11.1.0ubuntu4-noarch:security-11.1.0ubuntu4-noarch
   Distributor ID: Ubuntu
   Description:  Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS
   Release:  22.04
   Codename: jammy

   Install lsb_core package if you get the No LSB modules are available warning.

   $ sudo apt install lsb-core

3. Examine the contents of the /etc/<distribution>-release file.

   $ cat /etc/centos-release
   CentOS Linux release 8.3.2011

4. Examine the contents of the /etc/system-release file.

   $ cat /etc/system-release
   CentOS Linux release 8.3.2011

   The file is normally just a symbolic link to /etc/<distribution>-release file.

   $ ls -l /etc/system-release
   lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 14 Nov 10 10:49 /etc/system-release -> centos-release

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

   $ cat /etc/os-release 
   NAME="CentOS Stream"
   VERSION="9"
   ID="centos"
   ID_LIKE="rhel fedora"
   VERSION_ID="9"
   PLATFORM_ID="platform:el9"
   PRETTY_NAME="CentOS Stream 9"
   ANSI_COLOR="0;31"
   LOGO="fedora-logo-icon"
   CPE_NAME="cpe:/o:centos:centos:9"
   HOME_URL="https://centos.org/"
   BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugzilla.redhat.com/"
   REDHAT_SUPPORT_PRODUCT="Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9"
   REDHAT_SUPPORT_PRODUCT_VERSION="CentOS Stream"
6. Examine the contents of the /etc/lsb-release file.

   $ cat /etc/lsb-release 
   DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
   DISTRIB_RELEASE=20.10
   DISTRIB_CODENAME=groovy
   DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 20.10"

7. Retrieve OS and distribution information using the hostnamectl command.

   $ hostnamectl 
    Static hostname: host
          Icon name: computer-vm
            Chassis: vm
         Machine ID: 421dd0de69664dc49728efbdd7ef476d
            Boot ID: a881d479f0364cb387a972597dce5ee4
     Virtualization: parallels
   Operating System: CentOS Stream 9                 
        CPE OS Name: cpe:/o:centos:centos:9
             Kernel: Linux 5.14.0-165.el9.aarch64
       Architecture: arm64
    Hardware Vendor: Parallels International GmbH.
     Hardware Model: Parallels ARM Virtual Machine

8. Obtain Linux system information using the uname command..

   $ uname -a
   Linux host 5.8.0-34-generic #37-Ubuntu SMP Thu Dec 10 18:01:14 UTC 2020 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

   Some information can be inferred such as kernel version 5.8 for this system is what Ubuntu 20.10 ships with.