how to get OS name from command line

swirve · 09-30-2010, 12:08 PM

Did anyone start a howto anywhere? I would find it helpful (if the answer is no, I'd be willing to start one).

Also, I use if [[ `uname` -eq "Darwin" ]] to see if I'm on my macbook.

rob.rice · 10-01-2010, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UK MAdMaN

I don't think there's a command that can identify distros. There has to be something unique to a distro for something to identify the distro, and as all distros use mostly the same code/programs there's nothing unique to be identified.

on slackware "cat /etc/slackware-version" returns "Slackware 13.1.0"
you may or may not have such a file in your /etc directory
ie /etc/<DistroName>-version

farslayer · 10-13-2010, 09:46 PM

lsb_release should work as well..

Quote:

:~$ lsb_release -d
Description: Debian GNU/Linux 5.0.4 (lenny)

archtoad6 · 10-14-2010, 06:27 AM

I just searched out my "comprehensive" answer from a later thread:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...2/#post3736674

There is also some code here which uses the contents of /etc/lsb-release. I would change the elifs to a case statement -- cleaner code.

As for making a HowTo, this is as good a place as any to shape it; & when it looks good, put it in the LQ Linux Tutorials. If shaping it here is too cumbersome for group editing, then maybe the LQ Wiki is a good place.

A search of each might be in order before we start. We don't want to duplicate effort.

catkin · 10-14-2010, 07:22 AM

A more detailed solution is given in this LQ post.

Hiphoptech · 10-07-2012, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickh

I have rather quickly come to appreciate infobash, but I'm not sure that it works on anything except Debian.

Code:

debian64:~$ infobash -v3
Host/Kernel/OS  "debian64" running Linux 2.6.21-1-amd64 x86_64 [ Debian lenny/sid ]
CPU Info        AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 512 KB cache flags( sse sse2 nx lm ) clocked at [ 1989.862 MHz ]
Videocard       ATI RS480 [Radeon Xpress 200G Series]  X.Org 1.3.0  [ 1280x1024 @75hz ]
Network cards   Realtek RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+, at port: de00 
Processes 93 | Uptime 7:29 | Memory 291.1/436.0MB | HDD MAXTOR 6L080J4,WDC WD800JB-00JJC0 Size 160GB (60%used) | Client Shell | Infobash v2.65

Just tried this on Centos 5.6 i686 and got this:

bash: infobash: command not found

Just throwing that out there and the guy that gave the cmd

cat /etc/*release <- SUPER WIN!! TY! The other cmd cat /etc/*version showed my asterisk pbx version instead of the OS on Centos 5.6

I know this is an old thread but VERY IMPORTANT TO ME!!!!!! I have been on the jump for this, it's already hitting the printer AS WE SPEAK!! Vital news...I got Centos stickers to label a network here and have to SSH threw a mess of machines. Thanks again!