HOWTO: Find Out What Linux Kernel Version I am Running?

In a terminal window, type:

echo `uname -r`

and press the ENTER key.

NOTE: Those little ticks are the backticks usually located on the key to the left of the ’1′ (on the same key as the tilde ~ character) on a US layout keyboard. They are NOT the single quote usually located beside the enter key on a US layout keyboard.

Your terminal should respond with a single line telling you the name and version of the running kernel.

Here’s what happens when I do it:

jon@jonzbox:~$ echo `uname -r`
2.6.11-kanotix-11
jon@jonzbox:~$

This will only show you the kernel you are running right now. Even if you have multiple kernels installed, you can only be running one at a time.

Easy, huh?

Comments

By Matthias

You can just use uname -r. The echo and backticks don’t add anything.

By kj

u can also use
cat /proc/version

By J

No need to type echo….just use: uname -r

Trackback
2330 days ago

New Linux User » HOWTO: Get Even More System Information!
[...] I’ve already written about using the uname -r command to get kernel version information, but there’s a few other neato little commands that you can use at the terminal window. [...]