How Do I Check My Linux Operating System?

You can easily check your Linux operating system by using the uname command in your terminal.

Using the uname Command

The uname command provides information about your system's kernel. To see the operating system name, use the following command:

uname -s

This will output the name of your Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, or CentOS.

Other Useful uname Options

The uname command has several other options that can provide you with more detailed information about your system:

• uname -r: Displays the kernel release version.
• uname -v: Shows the kernel version.
• uname -m: Prints the machine hardware name.
• uname -i: Displays the processor architecture.
• uname -o: Shows the operating system name.

Example Output

Here's an example of what the output might look like:

$ uname -s
Linux
$ uname -r
5.15.0-52-generic

This indicates that the system is running a Linux kernel with a release version of 5.15.0-52-generic.

Alternative Methods

While the uname command is the most common way to check your Linux operating system, you can also use other methods:

• cat /etc/os-release: This command displays information about your distribution, including the name, version, and ID.
• lsb_release -a: This command provides detailed information about your Linux distribution, including the name, version, and description.

By using these methods, you can easily determine the specific Linux operating system you are running.