How to display the Linux version

This article describes how to display the latest version of your Linux distribution as well as in the console and on a Graphical User Interface (GUI).

These steps are applicable on all distributions with Linux-Kernel as Debian or Fedora.

Console

There are three ways to display the version on the command line:

1. The information is taken from the release file
2. The tool lsb_release can be used
3. The code hostnamectl can be used

All these ways are presented in the following.

Release file

The file is located in the folder /etc/ and can be called up with the command cat. This file has a different name depending on the distribution.

This way is recommended if the name of the release file is known. There are a few examples in the following:

Fedora

user@fedora:~$ cat /etc/fedora-release

Debian

user@debian:~$ cat /etc/debian_version

Ubuntu

user@ubuntu:~$ cat /etc/lsb-release

lsb_release

Installation and usage of lsb_release

The Linux Standard Base (LSB) version reporting service programm functions the same with every distribution.

Installation

If the programm is not available on your system, you can install it with the help of your package manager.

Debian-Kernel

user@linux:~$ sudo apt install lsb_release

Fedora-Kernel

user@linux:~$ sudo yum install lsb_release

Usage

The application of the programm fuctions the same with all distributions:

user@linux:~$ lsb_release -d

An exemplary issue could look like this:

description: Fedora Linux 40 (Workstation Edition)

hostnamectl

The programm hostnamectl controls the name of the computer name and displays system information. To display the Linux version, use the following command:

user@linux:~$ hostnamectl

An issue could look, for example, like this:

 Static hostname: issos
       Icon name: computer-vm
         Chassis: vm
      Machine ID: 5455b099eaa24bb19941a4d5f645ff0c
         Boot ID: dbf5bf495429416ea15d1fe161b6c634
  Virtualization: kvm
   Operating System: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
          Kernel: Linux 6.1.0-22-amd64
    Architecture: x86-64
 Hardware Vendor: QEMU
  Hardware Model: Standard PC _i440FX + PIIX, 1996_
Firmware Version: rel-1.16.3-0-ga6ed6b701f0a-prebuilt.qemu.org

GUI

Finding out distribution versions with hardinfo

If you want to find out the version on your desktop, you need the package hardinfo.

This can be installed via console with the following command:

Fedora

user@linux:~$ sudo yum install hardinfo2

Debian/Ubuntu

user@linux:~$ sudo apt install hardinfo

Author: Stefan Bohn Stefan Bohn has been employed at Thomas-Krenn.AG since 2020. Originally based in PreSales as a consultant for IT solutions, he moved to Product Management in 2022. There he dedicates himself to knowledge transfer and also drives the Thomas-Krenn Wiki.

Translator: Alina Ranzinger Alina has been working at Thomas-Krenn.AG since 2024. After her training as multilingual business assistant, she got her job as assistant of the Product Management and is responsible for the translation of texts and for the organisation of the department.