How to Check Debian System Information on Debian 12 Bookworm

Debian 12 (Bookworm) is a stable and powerful Linux distribution that provides users with various tools and commands to check system information. Whether you are a system administrator, developer, or just a Linux enthusiast, knowing how to retrieve system details is essential for monitoring performance, troubleshooting issues, or ensuring compatibility with software packages.

In this article, we will explore different methods to check system information on Debian 12, including system details, CPU, memory, disk usage, network configurations, and more.

1. Checking Basic System Information

To get a quick overview of your Debian 12 system, you can use the following commands:

1.1 Using the uname Command

The uname command provides essential system information such as the kernel version and system architecture.

uname -a

Output Example:

Linux debian12 6.1.0-10-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 6.1.37-1 (2023-09-02) x86_64 GNU/Linux

For more specific details:

• uname -r – Shows the kernel version.
• uname -m – Displays the system architecture.
• uname -n – Outputs the hostname.

1.2 Using the lsb_release Command

To check the Debian version and release information, use:

lsb_release -a

Output Example:

Distributor ID: Debian
Description:    Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
Release:        12
Codename:       bookworm

2. Checking CPU Information

To gather details about your CPU, such as the model, speed, and cores, use the following methods:

2.1 Using the /proc/cpuinfo File

cat /proc/cpuinfo

This outputs detailed information for each CPU core. To extract only essential details, use:

grep -m 1 'model name' /proc/cpuinfo

Output Example:

model name : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10750H CPU @ 2.60GHz

2.2 Using the lscpu Command

For a well-structured summary of CPU details, use:

lscpu

Output Example:

Architecture:                    x86_64
CPU op-mode(s):                  32-bit, 64-bit
CPU(s):                          12
Thread(s) per core:              2
Vendor ID:                       GenuineIntel
Model name:                      Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10750H CPU @ 2.60GHz

3. Checking Memory (RAM) Information

3.1 Using the free Command

The free command provides an overview of memory usage.

free -h

Output Example:

              total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:           16Gi        4Gi         8Gi       512Mi        4Gi         12Gi
Swap:          4Gi        1Gi         3Gi

3.2 Using /proc/meminfo

For a more detailed view:

cat /proc/meminfo | head -10

4. Checking Disk Usage

4.1 Using the df Command

The df command displays disk usage information for mounted filesystems.

df -h

4.2 Using the lsblk Command

For a hierarchical view of storage devices:

lsblk

4.3 Using the du Command

To check the size of a specific directory:

du -sh /home

5. Checking Network Information

5.1 Using the ip Command

To view IP address information:

ip a

To check active network connections:

ip route

5.2 Using the ss Command

For detailed socket statistics:

ss -tulnp

6. Checking System Uptime and Load

6.1 Using the uptime Command

To see how long the system has been running:

uptime

Output Example:

12:34:56 up 3 days, 4:23,  2 users,  load average: 0.42, 0.35, 0.30

6.2 Using the top or htop Command

To monitor live system performance, use:

top

or, if htop is installed:

htop

7. Checking Hardware Information

7.1 Using the lshw Command

The lshw tool provides detailed hardware information.

sudo lshw -short

7.2 Using the dmidecode Command

For BIOS and motherboard details:

sudo dmidecode -t system

Conclusion

Debian 12 provides several commands to retrieve system information, from basic OS details to CPU, memory, disk, and network configurations. Mastering these commands will help you monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and optimize your Linux experience.