How to Know Your Linux and Kernel Version

To know the version of linux and the kernel, which is embedded in your computer can be done easily. We can use the CLI (Command Line Interface) with a terminal or console.

First open a terminal or console which is on your linux system.
You can execute the following commands to know the kernel version :

$ uname -a

result :

Linux komp21-desktop 2.6.31-20-generic #58-Ubuntu SMP Fri Mar 12 05:23:09 
UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux

or

$ cat /proc/version

result :

Linux version 2.6.31-20-generic (buildd@palmer) (gcc version 4.4.1 
(Ubuntu 4.4.1-4ubuntu8) ) #58-Ubuntu SMP Fri Mar 12 05:23:09 UTC 2010

You can execute the following commands to know the Linux version :

$ cat /etc/issue

result :

Ubuntu 9.10 \n \l

or

$ lsb_release -a

result :

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 9.10
Release: 9.10
Codename: karmic