There are many built-in and plenty of external GUI tools available to determine the hardware specifications in your system. But, none of them won’t help if you’re managing systems those are only having Command line mode.
In this tutorial, let us explore the following two useful tools that can be used to display the comprehensive details of your system specifications via Terminal.
- Facter
- Dmidecode
These tools will display the complete system’s details such as,
- Kernel version;
- Operating system name;
- Hostname;
- Network interface card details;
- Processor details;
- File systems details;
- Architecture;
- Bios version and Manufacturer;
- Vendor Family;
- CPU MHz;
- Number of Processors;
- Hdd size;
- RAM size;
- Swap memory details;
- IP addresses;
- MAC addresses;
- SSH keys;
- Timezone;
- Uptime;
- System serial number;
- Whether your system is Virtual(VPS) or Physical;
- and many.
1. Facter
As you may know, Facter is a lightweight, command line utility, used to display the system specification from Terminal. This tool is developed by Luke Kanies, and is licensed under Apache 2.0. Facter was originally created for Puppet automation tool, but it is also available as independent command in almost all modern Linux operating systems.
Installation
To install Facter, enter the following command from your Terminal.
On Deb based systems:
sudo apt-get install facter
On RPM based systems:
On RHEL based systems, enable EPEL repository first.
Then, install it as shown below.
yum install facter
Usage
Facter usage is pretty simple and straight forward. Just, run the following command from your Terminal to display the complete hardware details of your system.
sudo facter
Sample Output:
architecture => amd64 bios_release_date => 05/23/2008 bios_vendor => Hewlett-Packard bios_version => 68MVU Ver. F.00 blockdevice_sda_model => Hitachi HTS54323 blockdevice_sda_size => 320072933376 blockdevice_sda_vendor => ATA blockdevice_sr0_model => DVDRAM GSA-T40L blockdevice_sr0_size => 1073741312 blockdevice_sr0_vendor => HL-DT-ST blockdevices => sda,sr0 boardmanufacturer => Hewlett-Packard boardproductname => 3618 boardserialnumber => Not Specified facterversion => 1.7.5 filesystems => ext2,ext3,ext4,vfat hardwareisa => x86_64 hardwaremodel => x86_64 hostname => sk id => root interfaces => eth0,lo,wlan0 ipaddress => 192.168.1.200 ipaddress_lo => 127.0.0.1 ipaddress_wlan0 => 192.168.1.200 is_virtual => false kernel => Linux kernelmajversion => 3.13 kernelrelease => 3.13.0-37-generic kernelversion => 3.13.0 lsbdistcodename => trusty lsbdistdescription => Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS lsbdistid => Ubuntu lsbdistrelease => 14.04 lsbmajdistrelease => 14 macaddress => 00:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx macaddress_eth0 => 00:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx macaddress_wlan0 => 00:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx1 manufacturer => Hewlett-Packard memoryfree => 2.70 GB memoryfree_mb => 2764.18 memorysize => 3.85 GB memorysize_mb => 3945.11 memorytotal => 3.85 GB mtu_eth0 => 1500 mtu_lo => 65536 mtu_wlan0 => 1500 netmask => 255.255.255.0 netmask_lo => 255.0.0.0 netmask_wlan0 => 255.255.255.0 network_lo => 127.0.0.0 network_wlan0 => 192.168.1.0 operatingsystem => Ubuntu operatingsystemrelease => 14.04 osfamily => Debian path => /usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin physicalprocessorcount => 1 processor0 => Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5470 @ 1.60GHz processor1 => Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5470 @ 1.60GHz processorcount => 2 productname => HP 550 ps => ps -ef rubysitedir => /usr/local/lib/site_ruby/1.9.1 rubyversion => 1.9.3 selinux => false serialnumber => CNUXXXXXXX sshdsakey => AAAAB3NzaC1kb+HX9tmzpHagXHAbq5o0V/4dPhoop06zZ31Iy9m3yXp6unGIct6bguP+vD21BxEdt1HzEzMSKM1zBchZAAAAFQCSGJBo2fYjKP28qUAEPCq9EMImeQAAAIArpZNiYTvW2bgx6ttUp552uUqqXMPiTRt8+KyTaqcAReJljeN5YnTAmNx/QGZGt5pgxboBdqaOMzrdOLwa3TguZ8l6FNelPcXb0REHScxd/5/Afs2mtWquShrCNJfeH22VS24CHgmJ83VpNs/3DQwpm1Cq2NLvEQNbxvYy1H1eEwAAAIAbdXJa8ktPbKM9eDaXuIIUQ9ODK+myGsUB6ygR+PHxi6g3BkB79XlPNDpJcz2ngUCvV/bJn3n4RjHEXcxSL0MeHDYqVdWw1KzdDNwJHO2YTmBpkulB6boLOqudlmBL4t6RXqEz2LDwGJQ5Msdn1TZQ8ccmsOfBlXLti5QmhGXyoA== sshecdsakey => AAAAE2VjZHxkJs6GnCwEd901dWzZe/kmvOK+pC4pFJvNCNwdYMvBCSrk7bnLEX5DQ= sshfp_dsa => SSHFP 2 1 b612213a1efe1d62bb9e5 SSHFP 2 2 0677a4140a65b0d2f8c97fb1 sshfp_ecdsa => SSHFP 3 1 3ef1afc0b3bbb70b SSHFP 3 2 39dd2bde0989cb8b88e68466061dcf37d sshfp_rsa => SSHFP 1 1 9a0686541717d SSHFP 1 2 8ade121c606de6601d7706c603491 sshrsakey => AAAAB3NzaC1yTp0Kl2TXbQLnfS8gMn3LgfJ6+03ELxWw7sPxmLXz1cSrsurFRoRx1RzQ9DdzCg3iP+rv0VKkFlIZP2mabwnZWEoS6Ln3ykixq5Y488s+EwLLwEk8ROiOHTwPATiQx53r9nDgWeSeD2hDV/mN02Zep4Ci3GwkxK2Lf+iFHABMnEqvgSzLspkJTXhtIuNLEoczrz7GbJpy1PgxzIDYYJIfTMJ swapfree => 3.99 GB swapfree_mb => 4086.00 swapsize => 3.99 GB swapsize_mb => 4086.00 timezone => IST type => Notebook uniqueid => 00XXXXXX uptime => 5:29 hours uptime_days => 0 uptime_hours => 5 uptime_seconds => 19770 uuid => E3XXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXXX virtual => physical
As you see in the above result, Facter displays the complete details of my Ubuntu system such as Operating name, IP address, Mac Address, Kernel version, Hdd size, RAM size, SSH keys etc. What else do you need? Just get rid of the daunting GUI tools, and use this very sleek and lightweight tool.
2. Dmidecode
Dmidecode is yet another command line tool to display the comprehensive details of your system specification. Unlike Facter, this tool comes with preinstalled by default on most Linux operating system.
In case if it not installed, the following command will install it.
On DEB based systems;
sudo apt-get install dmidecode
On RPM based systems:
yum install dmidecode
Usage
Dmidecode usage is as same as Facter tool. Enter the following command to retrieve your complete hardware specifications.
sudo dmidecode
Sample Output:
# dmidecode 2.12 SMBIOS 2.4 present. 25 structures occupying 1236 bytes. Table at 0x000F25F6. Handle 0x0000, DMI type 0, 24 bytes BIOS Information Vendor: Hewlett-Packard Version: 68MVU Ver. F.00 Release Date: 05/23/2008 Address: 0xE0000 Runtime Size: 128 kB ROM Size: 1024 kB Characteristics: PCI is supported PC Card (PCMCIA) is supported PNP is supported BIOS is upgradeable BIOS shadowing is allowed Boot from CD is supported Selectable boot is supported EDD is supported 3.5"/720 kB floppy services are supported (int 13h) Print screen service is supported (int 5h) 8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h) Serial services are supported (int 14h) Printer services are supported (int 17h) ACPI is supported USB legacy is supported LS-120 boot is supported Smart battery is supported BIOS boot specification is supported Function key-initiated network boot is supported Targeted content distribution is supported BIOS Revision: 15.0 Firmware Revision: 18.0 Handle 0x0001, DMI type 1, 27 bytes System Information Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard Product Name: HP 550 . . . . Handle 0x0085, DMI type 133, 34 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: 85 22 85 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Strings: No battery Handle 0x0086, DMI type 134, 34 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: 86 22 86 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Strings: Handle 0x0013, DMI type 144, 26 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: 90 1A 13 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 00 Handle 0x0014, DMI type 127, 4 bytes End Of Table
Also, you can narrow down your results only for particular category.
View System details only:
sudo dmidecode -t system
Sample Output:
# dmidecode 2.12 SMBIOS 2.4 present. Handle 0x0001, DMI type 1, 27 bytes System Information Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard Product Name: HP 550 Version: F.00 Serial Number: CXXXXXX UUID: EXXXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXX Wake-up Type: Power Switch SKU Number: FXXXXXXXXXXX#ACJ Family: 103C_5336AN Handle 0x0012, DMI type 32, 11 bytes System Boot Information Status: No errors detected
View Memory Details only:
sudo dmidecode -t memory
Sample Output:
# dmidecode 2.12 SMBIOS 2.4 present. Handle 0x000A, DMI type 16, 15 bytes Physical Memory Array Location: System Board Or Motherboard Use: System Memory Error Correction Type: None Maximum Capacity: 4 GB Error Information Handle: No Error Number Of Devices: 2 Handle 0x000B, DMI type 17, 27 bytes Memory Device Array Handle: 0x000A Error Information Handle: No Error Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: 2048 MB Form Factor: SODIMM Set: None Locator: DIMM #1 Bank Locator: Not Specified Type: DDR2 Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: 975 MHz Manufacturer: Elpida Serial Number: 1XXXXXXXXX Asset Tag: Not Specified Part Number: EXXXXXXXXXXX Handle 0x000C, DMI type 17, 27 bytes Memory Device Array Handle: 0x000A Error Information Handle: No Error Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: 2048 MB Form Factor: SODIMM Set: None Locator: DIMM #2 Bank Locator: Not Specified Type: DDR2 Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: 667 MHz Manufacturer: Nanya Technology Serial Number: EXXXXXXXX Asset Tag: Not Specified Part Number: NXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
View BIOS Details only:
sudo dmidecode -t bios
Sample Output:
# dmidecode 2.12 SMBIOS 2.4 present. Handle 0x0000, DMI type 0, 24 bytes BIOS Information Vendor: Hewlett-Packard Version: 68MVU Ver. F.00 Release Date: 05/23/2008 Address: 0xE0000 Runtime Size: 128 kB ROM Size: 1024 kB Characteristics: PCI is supported PC Card (PCMCIA) is supported PNP is supported BIOS is upgradeable BIOS shadowing is allowed Boot from CD is supported Selectable boot is supported EDD is supported 3.5"/720 kB floppy services are supported (int 13h) Print screen service is supported (int 5h) 8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h) Serial services are supported (int 14h) Printer services are supported (int 17h) ACPI is supported USB legacy is supported LS-120 boot is supported Smart battery is supported BIOS boot specification is supported Function key-initiated network boot is supported Targeted content distribution is supported BIOS Revision: 15.0 Firmware Revision: 18.0
For more details, refer the man pages.
man dmidecode
That’s all for now. Hope these tools will useful to you.