Linux: How to see the installed OS version from terminal

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:

$ cat /etc/os-release

This should output something like:

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:

$ lsb_release -a

outputs something like:

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:

$ hostnamectl status

or just

$ hostnamectl

outputs something like:

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:

$ uname -r

4.18.0-16-generic

to see all available options:

$ 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