Determining linux distribution

[David J Patrick]

Lennart Sorensen wrote:

> ls /etc/*release /etc/*version could be better, and if you cat any file
>
>found, you would have an idea of the version number (but only any idea
>as it may be wrong.  Debian unstable will still say 3.1 even though it
>isn't 3.1).
>
>cat /etc/issue may help too on some distributions.
>
>But there certainly isn't a universal solution.
>  
>
I had the same question trying to urpmi a friends old Mandrake box, but
was unsure what version he was at.

Is there a LSB mechanism that is not being implemented ?
Surely access to the accurate distro and version info is vital and a
common requirement ?

djp
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