Linux - How to know the version of the distribution (Operating system)

This article regroups all the way that you have to determine the version your distribution from a Linux software.

To determine the version of the kernel, the section has moved in an article: Linux - How to determine the version of the kernel ?

The distribution is also known as operating system.

[root@ebs121 ~]# echo /etc/*release
/etc/enterprise-release /etc/redhat-release
[root@ebs121 ~]# cat /etc/enterprise-release
Enterprise Linux Enterprise Linux Server release 5.3 (Carthage)
[root@ebs121 ~]# cat /etc/redhat-release
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 5.3 (Tikanga)

For other distribution release:

• /etc/SuSE-release
• /etc/redhat-release
• /etc/debian_version
• /etc/slackware-version

[root@oel11g local]# lsb_release -id
Distributor ID: EnterpriseEnterpriseServer
Description:    Enterprise Linux Enterprise Linux Server release 5.3 (Carthage)

[root@ebs121 ~]# cat /etc/issue
Enterprise Linux Enterprise Linux Server release 5.3 (Carthage)
Kernel \r on an \m

The /etc/issue file should not be trusted, the file is intended as a text message to be displayed before login for telnet, or after the username has been entered with SSH. The issue file was never intended for storing a distribution version, the fact most distros put something there is merely coincidental branding (coz it's nice to have something in there)

A better indicator of the distribution is to 'echo /etc/*release'

login as: root
root@192.168.2.225's password:
Last login: Sat Mar  6 22:39:34 2010 from 192.168.2.2
[root@ebs121 ~]# dmesg | head -1
Linux version 2.6.18-128.el5 (mockbuild@ca-build10.us.oracle.com) (gcc version 4.1.2 20080704 (Red Hat 4.1.2-44)) 
#1 SMP Wed Jan 21 07:58:05 EST 2009
[root@ebs121 ~]# cat /proc/version
Linux version 2.6.18-128.el5 (mockbuild@ca-build10.us.oracle.com) (gcc version 4.1.2 20080704 (Red Hat 4.1.2-44))
 #1 SMP Wed Jan 21 07:58:05 EST 2009

• How To Know Which Linux Distribution You Are Using?