Unlike Microsoft Windows and macOS, Linux is not a single operating system. Linux is an open-source computer operating system kernel (found in most smartphones, as well as servers) that can be customized and configured to run on any hardware architecture. Because of its flexibility, it has become one of the most popular operating systems among programmers. If you’re new to Linux, then chances are you’ve encountered some version-related questions like “How do I know which version of Linux I’m running?” or “What’s the difference between [insert distro here]?” In this article we’ll cover some basic commands for checking your Linux version and other useful info about your OS:
What is the difference between Linux and other operating systems?
Linux is a free and open source operating system which is often used on servers. It’s also become increasingly popular on desktop computers lately, thanks in part to its speed, security, and flexibility.
The Linux kernel was originally created by Linus Torvalds in 1991, who released it under the GNU General Public License (GPL). The GPL allows anyone to use the software without paying for it; however they must distribute their own changes back to the community if they make any changes themselves. This ensures that everyone has access to any improvements made by other developers and helps keep bugs from creeping back into new releases of the kernel code itself over time because there are so many eyes watching over it each day
What are some popular Linux distributions?
Linux distributions are the different flavors of Linux that you can choose from. There are many different ones to choose from, but here are some popular ones:
- Ubuntu
- CentOS (Community Enterprise Operating System)
- Debian
- Red Hat
- Arch Linux
- Fedora * openSUSE * Gentoo * Mageia * Slackware * Tails * Solus
cat /etc/*release
To check the version of the Linux kernel, use cat /proc/version.
To check the version of the Linux kernel in /etc/issue, use cat /etc/*release.
lsb_release -a
lsb_release -a
This command will check the version of your Linux distribution. It also shows the name, release date and codename of your Linux distribution as well as some other useful information like kernel version, release number etc.
hostnamectl
The hostnamectl command allows you to get or set the system’s hostname and related settings.
The system’s hostname can be changed as follows:
hostnamectl set-hostname “my_ryzen_life”
uname -omrs
To check the version of the kernel, use uname -omrs.
Check Linux version with the help of 4 useful commands
You can check the Linux version with the help of 4 useful commands.
The first command is cat /etc/*release
The second command is lsb_release -a
The third command is hostnamectl
The fourth and final command is uname -omrs
Conclusion
Let’s wrap it up by looking at the different Linux versions available. If you want to know about the latest releases and versions, then head over to our Linux distribution page where you can find everything you need: https://www.linuxmint.com/download_view.php?linux=&os=&arch=&distro=