Accessing OS Information

The most straightforward method to check your OS details is by using the cat command on the /etc/os-release file. This file contains identification data of the Linux distribution and looks something like this:

$ cat /etc/os-release

You’ll receive output similar to:

NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION="20.04.1 LTS (Focal Fossa)"
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS"
VERSION_ID="20.04"

This file is present in most modern Linux distributions and provides a standardized way to access OS information.

Using the lsb_release Command

Another method is to use the lsb_release command, which displays Linux Standard Base (LSB) and distribution-specific information:

$ lsb_release -a

The output will provide detailed information about the distribution:

Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS
Release: 20.04
Codename: focal

However, it’s worth noting that lsb_release might not be installed by default on some systems.

The hostnamectl Command

For systemd-based systems, hostnamectl can also be used to query and change the system hostname and related settings, including the OS information:

$ hostnamectl

It will display a comprehensive view, including the OS details:

Operating System: Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS
Kernel: Linux 5.4.0-42-generic
Architecture: x86-64