How to check Linux OS and kernel version using CLI

These notes are a personal reference on how to check Linux OS and kernel version using CLI. I reserve the right to be slightly inaccurate and will update this as it become functionally helpful to do so.

Kernel Version

If you want version information, use uname. For example:

$ uname -a

Or type the following command:

$ uname -mrs

Distribution Information

If you want distribution information, it will vary depending on your distribution and whether your system supports the Linux Standard Base. Some ways to check, and some example output, are immediately below.

$ lsb_release -a

Or type the following command to see Linux version info:

$ cat /proc/version

About Linux CLI

A command line interface (CLI) is a type of human-computer interface (i.e., a way for humans to interact with computers) that relies solely on textual input and output. That is, the entire display screen, or the currently active portion of it, shows only characters (and no images), and input is usually performed entirely with a keyboard.

The CLI gets its name from the fact that it is an interface which contains command lines. A command line is a space on the display screen in which commands (i.e., instructions telling a computer to do something) are typed in by the user. Pressing the ENTER key after typing in a command causes that command to be passed to the shell. A shell, also referred to as a command interpreter, is a program that provides the CLI as well as reads commands that are typed on a keyboard and then executes (i.e., runs) them. The results of executing many, but not all, commands are also shown on the command line.

CLIs stand in sharp contrast to graphical user interfaces (GUIs), the other main type of human-computer interface. GUIs feature the use of graphic images, including windows, icons and menus. These objects are manipulated by a mouse (and can usually be manipulated to a limited extent by a keyboard as well).

From: http://www.linfo.org/command_line_interface.html

How to check Linux OS and version using CLI