uname command

uname - print system information

The uname command in Linux is a simple utility that displays system information about the computer, such as the operating system name, kernel version, or hardware specifications. It’s useful for troubleshooting, scripting, or understanding the environment.

Usage: uname [OPTION]...

• OPTION: Flags that specify which system information to display.

Examples

• Basic usage and options

  Running uname without options prints the operating system name.

  $ uname
  Linux
  • Output: Linux (on a Linux system).
  • This is the default behavior, showing the kernel name.

  Use -a to get a full system summary.

  $ uname -a
  Linux hostname 5.15.0-73-generic #80-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 15 15:42:23 UTC 2023 x86_64 GNU/Linux
  • Output: Linux myhostname 5.15.0-73-generic #80-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 15 15:42:23 UTC 2023 x86_64 GNU/Linux
  • Breakdown:
    • Linux: Kernel name
    • myhostname: Hostname
    • 5.15.0-73-generic: Kernel release
    • #80-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 15..: Kernel version (build details)
    • x86_64: Machine hardware type
    • GNU/Linux: Operating system

  Combine flags to get multiple pieces of info.

  $ uname -sr
  Linux 5.15.0-73-generic
  • Output: Linux 5.15.0-73-generic (kernel name and release).

• Scripting with uname

  uname is often used in scripts to adapt behavior based on system details.

  #!/bin/bash
  ARCH=$(uname -m)
  echo "This system is running on $ARCH architecture."
  • Run it to see: This system is running on x86_64 architecture.

To get help related to the uname command use --help option

$ uname --help
Usage: uname [OPTION]...
Print certain system information.  With no OPTION, same as -s.

  -a, --all                print all information, in the following order,
                             except omit -p and -i if unknown:
  -s, --kernel-name        print the kernel name
  -n, --nodename           print the network node hostname
  -r, --kernel-release     print the kernel release
  -v, --kernel-version     print the kernel version
  -m, --machine            print the machine hardware name
  -p, --processor          print the processor type (non-portable)
  -i, --hardware-platform  print the hardware platform (non-portable)
  -o, --operating-system   print the operating system
      --help     display this help and exit
      --version  output version information and exit