How to Use uname Command in Linux: Syntax and Examples

The uname command in Linux shows system information like the kernel name, version, and hardware details. Use uname -a to display all available system info in one line.

Syntax

The basic syntax of the uname command is:

• uname [OPTION]

Common options include:

• -a: Show all system information
• -s: Show kernel name
• -r: Show kernel release
• -m: Show machine hardware name

bash

uname [OPTION]

Example

This example shows how to use uname -a to display all system information in one line.

bash

uname -a

Output

Linux myhostname 5.15.0-70-generic #77-Ubuntu SMP Fri Mar 24 15:09:42 UTC 2023 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Common Pitfalls

One common mistake is running uname without options expecting detailed info; it only shows the kernel name by default. Another is confusing uname -m (machine hardware) with uname -r (kernel release).

bash

uname
uname -m
uname -r

Output

Linux
x86_64
5.15.0-70-generic

Quick Reference

Option	Description
-a	Show all system information
-s	Show kernel name
-n	Show network node hostname
-r	Show kernel release
-v	Show kernel version
-m	Show machine hardware name
-p	Show processor type
-i	Show hardware platform
-o	Show operating system

Key Takeaways

Use uname -a to get complete system information in one command.

Without options, uname shows only the kernel name.

Different options show specific system details like hardware or kernel version.

Remember uname -m is hardware info, not kernel version.

The command helps quickly identify your Linux system details for troubleshooting or scripting.