#Blog #Linux #Pop!_OS #Terminal Usage #How to

Just open the os-release file

It is nice to know to see the OS version installed in one’s linux machine. This might come in handy to check the version installed in a running docker container or other virtual machines.

To check the OS version and configs, just run the following command:

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$ cat /etc/os-release

This should output something like:

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NAME="Pop!_OS"
VERSION="18.10"
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
PRETTY_NAME="Pop!_OS 18.10"
VERSION_ID="18.10"
HOME_URL="https://system76.com/pop"
SUPPORT_URL="http://support.system76.com"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://github.com/pop-os/pop/issues"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://system76.com/privacy"
VERSION_CODENAME=cosmic
UBUNTU_CODENAME=cosmic

Since I have a System76 Galago Pro, I see the above configuration.

The information you see always depends on your machine’s manufacturer. However, the properties are same across linux distributions.

Others:

1. lsb_release command

The lsb_release command gives LSB (Linux Standard Base) and distribution-specific information on the CLI. The usage is:

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$ lsb_release -a

outputs something like:

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No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID:	Ubuntu
Description:	Pop!_OS 18.10
Release:	18.10
Codename:	cosmic

As I chose the Ubuntu flavoured System76 Pop!_OS, I do not have any LSB modules to be shown.

2. hostnamectl command

Use hostnamectl command to query and change the system hostname and related settings. Just type the following command to check OS name and Linux kernel version:

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$ hostnamectl status

or just

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$ hostnamectl

outputs something like:

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 Static hostname: pop-os
       Icon name: computer-laptop
         Chassis: laptop
      Machine ID: 828e0ab12c145d632919eeed5c6ae1a7
         Boot ID: f4b0a67a325a4aa8b1dfceee0a4aadcc
Operating System: Pop!_OS 18.10
          Kernel: Linux 4.18.0-16-generic
    Architecture: x86-64

3. uname command

Just print Linux kernel version, run:

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$ uname -r

4.18.0-16-generic

to see all available options:

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$ uname -a

Linux
pop-os
4.18.0-16-generic
#17pop0-Ubuntu
SMP
Fri Mar 8 17:52:57 UTC 2019 (last updated timestamp)
x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
#Blog #Linux #Pop!_OS #Terminal Usage #How to