[ale] Universal way to determine distro?

Geoffrey esoteric at 3times25.net
Thu Jul 20 09:36:13 EDT 2006


Jeffrey B. Layton wrote:
> Good morning,
> 
>    I guess this shows my lack of knowledge but is there a
> universal way to determine what distro a particular machine
> is running? I'd like to do this from bash or python, but I
> can't think of nor google anything useful. Any ideas?

Generally you'll find distro info in the /etc/*release file(s), although 
that's easily changed.

Slackware uses a different file, but I can't recall the name.  It's in 
the /etc directory as well, I think it has the word 'version' in it.

> 
> TIA!
> 
> Jeff
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> 


-- 
Until later, Geoffrey

Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little
security will deserve neither and lose both.  - Benjamin Franklin



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