How to Check Your Linux Version?

No matter your level of Linux knowledge, knowing your version number is an absolute must. It helps you obtain the appropriate packages, report bugs quickly, and much more.

There are several ways to determine the version of your Linux OS from the command line, including cat /etc/os-release and lsb_release.

How do I find my current LINUX OS version?

There are countless Linux distributions, each offering its own set of features and capabilities. Knowing which version your computer runs can help you install new software, determine which package manager to use for specific applications, and check if updates are available.

A file in /etc named os-release contains operating system identification data, including information about the distribution. This file is part of the systemd package and should be present on all modern Linux distributions.

To inspect the contents of this file, open a terminal and run uname -a. This will display both the Linux kernel version as well as any other version-related data.

Alternatively, you can use the lsb_release command to check the Linux Standard Base information for a distribution. This will display its name, version, ID and other useful details such as its corresponding build number.

Mac users have the advantage of running uname -a to determine their operating system version. This will display a list of current 64-bit OS versions and which ones are supported by your hardware.

How do I know what version of RHEL I have?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is a widely-used Linux operating system that was first released in the mid-1990s and quickly earned itself an excellent reputation for stability, dependability, and regular updates. It’s used by both businesses and developers alike due to its reliability and regular updates.

If you’re curious to know the version of RHEL on your system, there are a few ways to check. First is the hostnamectl command which is an essential Linux tool that helps monitor your system’s appearance on a network. This command also contains details about the operating system itself – including its release version.

Another way to determine what version of RHEL you have installed is the lsb_release command. This utility provides LSB (Linux Standard Base) information about your distribution, making it useful when looking up key system details quickly.

One of the most intriguing features of this command is that it can tell you whether your system runs a 32 or 64-bit version of the kernel, which can be beneficial when selecting software packages tailored towards your requirements. This information is especially crucial if you’re running an older kernel and must upgrade hardware in order to get running smoothly.

Another interesting way to determine your system’s RHEL version is by checking out the os-release file, a small document that displays what version of Linux your computer runs. While not as precise as hostnamectl, this feature still provides useful insights into what capabilities your Linux machine is capable of.

How do I find my CentOS version on linux?

CentOS is a widely-used Linux distribution with several features that make it attractive to administrators, DevOps engineers and even general computer users. This open-source operating system is free to download and install, offering many useful applications that can assist in the construction of better systems.

One of the most popular ways to verify your CentOS version is using a command-line tool. There are various commands available for getting this info, which can be beneficial for various reasons.

Another way to verify your CentOS version is by using a package manager such as RPM (Red Hat Package Manager). This software will quickly provide the release version and other essential details about your Linux system, as shown in the image below.

The uname command can also be used to check your Linux kernel version and architecture. This is a useful method for identifying what type of kernel you have installed, making it invaluable when installing or updating the kernel on CentOS.

Furthermore, you can use the lsb_release command to obtain your CentOS version. This command is useful for troubleshooting issues and keeping your system up-to-date with security updates.

CentOS 7 and later provide the hostnamectl command, which allows you to query and modify your system hostname. It also displays /etc/centOS-release, uname -, as well as other system files.

How do I find my Linux Mint version?

Linux is an expansive operating system, providing many choices for those interested in open-source software. Its free and straightforward nature has made it the go-to choice of many people.

Each Linux distribution has multiple versions available, and it is essential to know which one you have if you wish to upgrade your installation. Unfortunately, for some users it may prove difficult to determine the exact version number.

Thankfully, there are multiple ways to check which Linux Mint version you have. Depending on your preferences, you can pick from one of four methods: either CLI (command-line) or GUI (Graphical User Interface) based.

Method 1: The most straightforward and popular way to check your Linux Mint version is via the graphical user interface. To do so, open up the desktop environment, select “System Info,” then view both “Operating System” and “Kernel” version information.”

Another way to determine your version is by checking the contents of your /etc/issue file. This text file, present on all Debian-based GNU/Linux distros including Linux Mint, contains all pertinent details about your current system configuration.

You can also use the cat command to display the contents of a file on your Linux Mint installation called /etc/lsb-release. This file contains both the Release Number and Codename for your current Ubuntu release.

How do I find my Oracle Linux version?

When running Oracle database on a Linux system, it may be necessary to verify the version of Oracle software installed. This could be due to various reasons such as being given an unfamiliar server by someone else and needing to figure out how it’s installed.

Checking the version of an Oracle Linux system can be done through both visual tools and command line methods. Here are six popular methods for determining your Oracle Linux database version:

a) One of the simplest and most intuitive ways to connect to an Oracle server is using its SQL Developer utility, which is available on all versions of Oracle. To do this, log in as the database user and run a query – this will give you information such as the Oracle Linux version, edition, release or quarterly update (in this case 14.2).

To determine Oracle Linux version, run a PL/SQL script from the command line (available on Oracle documentation website). This will display the database’s Oracle Linux version; however, access to it requires both a username and password.

To check Oracle Linux version, utilize v$version and v$instance views in system performance tables. Both views can be used to identify the Oracle database version; however, using v$instance requires special permissions in order to view this information.

How do I find my Windows Subsystem for Linux version?

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a compatibility layer that enables native Linux binaries to run on Windows without the need to set up a virtual machine. Compatible with both Windows 10 and 11, WSL enables you to install and run various Linux distributions directly from your PC.

To check your version of WSL, open a command prompt or Powershell window and type wsl -list into it. You will be presented with an array of all installed Linux distributions along with their name, state, and WSL version. Additionally, you can identify which default distro was set for your system.

To install a new Linux distribution, use either the Microsoft Store app or search bar in Windows Start menu to find one suitable for your requirements. After selecting your chosen distribution, follow installation instructions provided with each package.

WSL is an ideal way to run Linux on Windows. It eliminates the need for a virtual machine and offers full system call support. Unfortunately, some things won’t function correctly with WSL since it lacks a complete Linux kernel built-in.

os-release

While researching an old install for an upgrade system requirement compliance, I discovered that I need to validate which Linux version was installed. So, here is a quick note on the command I used to validate which version of Linux was installed.