Linux is a powerful and popular operating system used by many people worldwide. It is an open source operating system, which means that it is free to use and can be modified and distributed by anyone. The version of Linux you are using is important because the versions can have different features, performance, and security. It can also be important to know what version of Linux is running on your server in order to ensure compatibility with other software.
So, if you are curious to find out the version of Linux that you are running, there are a few methods you can try. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ways to identify the version of Linux that you are using.
1. Using the Command Line
If you are comfortable with the command line, this is the recommended way to check your Linux version. To do this, open up a terminal window and type the command “lsb_release -a”. This command will print out the version of Linux you are running, as well as other information such as the code name, release date, and version number.
For example, if you are running Ubuntu 18.04, the output of this command will look like this:
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
Release: 18.04
Codename: bionic
This is the most reliable way to find out the version of Linux you are running, as it is not dependent on any graphical user interface.
2. Using the /etc/os-release File
Another way to find out your Linux version is to look at the /etc/os-release file. This file contains information about the version of Linux you are running. To view the contents of this file, open up a terminal window and type the command “cat /etc/os-release”. This command will print out the contents of the file.
If you are running Ubuntu 18.04, the output of this command will look like this:
NAME=”Ubuntu”
VERSION=”18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver)”
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
PRETTY_NAME=”Ubuntu 18.04 LTS”
VERSION_ID=”18.04″
This method is useful if you want to get more detailed information about the version of Linux you are running.
3.Using the /etc/issue File
Another way to find out your Linux version is to look at the /etc/issue file. This file contains information about the version of Linux you are running, as well as a few other details. To view the contents of this file, open up a terminal window and type the command “cat /etc/issue”. This command will print out the contents of the file.
If you are running Ubuntu 18.04, the output of this command will look like this:
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS n l
This method is useful if you want to get a quick overview of the version of Linux you are running.
4. Using the /proc/version File
The final way to find out your Linux version is to look at the /proc/version file. This file contains information about the version of Linux you are running, as well as a few other details. To view the contents of this file, open up a terminal window and type the command “cat /proc/version”. This command will print out the contents of the file.
If you are running Ubuntu 18.04, the output of this command will look like this:
Linux version 4.15.0-43-generic (buildd@lcy01-amd64-024) (gcc version 7.3.0 (Ubuntu 7.3.0-16ubuntu3)) #46-Ubuntu SMP Thu Dec 6 14:45:28 UTC 2018
This method is useful if you want to get detailed information about the version of Linux you are running.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you want to find out the version of Linux you are running, there are a few different methods you can try. The most reliable method is to use the command line, but you can also use the /etc/os-release, /etc/issue, and /proc/version files to get more detailed information. No matter which method you use, you should be able to find out the version of Linux you are running in no time.
