Linux Pocket Guide, 2nd Edition

Name

uname — stdin  stdout  - file  -- opt  --help  --version

Synopsis

uname [options]

The uname command prints fundamental information about your computer:

$ uname -a
Linux server.example.com 2.6.32-35-generic-pae #78-Ubuntu
 SMP Tue Oct 11 17:01:12 UTC 2011 i686 GNU/Linux

This includes the kernel name (Linux), hostname (server.example.com), kernel release (2.6.32-35-generic-pae), kernel version (#78-Ubuntu SMP Tue Oct 11 17:01:12 UTC 2011), hardware name (i686), processor type (i686), and operating system name (GNU/Linux). Each of these values can be printed individually using options.

Useful options

-a	All information.
-s	Only the kernel name (the default).
-n	Only the hostname, as with the hostname command.
-r	Only the kernel release.
-v	Only the kernel version.
-m	Only the hardware name.
-p	Only the processor type.
-i	Only the hardware platform.
-o	Only the operating system name.