how do I know which version of Linux is installed on computer?

[vasa1]

Also,

env | grep XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP

[Beautymist]

Because it is basically Ubuntu, with only the "Desktop Environment" being a different one (XFCE).

Right, yes, I knew that. Thanks for reminding me of that fact!

I nickname XFCE "the cute & fat little mouse" -

[Beautymist]

Saw your intro in the intro thread, quite interesting, and even more interesting seems the task you are going to handle.

Thanks, varunendra!

Actually I *enjoy* learning new stuff, I'm a "curiosity killed the cat" type.

[oldfred]

Some more:

fred@fred-Precise:~$ env | grep XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=GNOME
fred@fred-Precise:~$ cat /etc/X11/default-display-manager
/usr/sbin/lightdm
fred@fred-Precise:~$ echo $DESKTOP_SESSION
gnome-fallback
fred@fred-Precise:~$ gnome-shell --version
GNOME Shell 3.4.1

You can also dump lots of internal data.

If using sudo, run any sudo command like ls first. Sometimes sudo & redirect have issues.
sudo ls
Files saved in your home folder
To save it as a file use
sudo lshw > hw.txt

HTML version of info
sudo lshw -html > ~/hardware_info.html && firefox ~/hardware_info.html

udevadm info --export-db > file.txt
udevinfo -a -p $(udevinfo -q path -n /dev/sdd)

Similarly, if you run
sudo dmidecode > bios.txt
The last one (dmidecode) lists the machine's DMI or SMBIOS table contents in a friendly format. This DMI or SMBIOS contains a description of the system's hardware components and other useful information such as serial numbers and BIOS revision. This is a really powerful command.

Internal efi details
ls /sys/firmware/efi/vars

[varunendra]

I nickname XFCE "the cute & fat little mouse"

Actually I *enjoy* learning new stuff, I'm a "curiosity killed the cat" type.

Hope you've realized by now that there are a lot of friendly people here to save you from being killed

Just ask whatever questions you have.

As a side note, if one of your systems have enough RAM (2GB or more is recommended), you may find Virtual Machines (using virtualbox, vmware etc. platforms) a very good option for safely testing and even productively running multiple operating systems at once. Although I suspect, by the hint of your experience so far, that you know about them as well !

[Beautymist]

Similarly, if you run
sudo dmidecode > bios.txt
The last one (dmidecode) lists the machine's DMI or SMBIOS table contents in a friendly format. This DMI or SMBIOS contains a description of the system's hardware components and other useful information such as serial numbers and BIOS revision. This is a really powerful command.

Thank you, oldfred!

That dmidecode thingy seems like a very interesting command. will definitely try & tell you about it.

-BM

[Beautymist]

Thank you all for the invaluable information and friendly advice!

-BM

[Beautymist]

OK, did the dmidecode command with sudo and got my bios.txt - what a neat file!
Definitely a keeper!

Thank you, oldfred!

Btw, what does DMI mean?


-BM

[oldfred]

I had not idea.

But
man dmidecode

SMBIOS stands for System Management BIOS, while DMI stands for Desktop
Management Interface. Both standards are tightly related and developed
by the DMTF (Desktop Management Task Force).

[Beautymist]

I had no idea.

But
man dmidecode

Aaaah! the infamous "man" command! I *always* forget that one! Silly me.

Thanks again, oldfred!

-BM