Finding the kernel version (release)

To find out the kernel version or the release that we are currently running we can make use of the command "uname".

uname prints various system related information and to get the kernel version specifically we need to pass the options "-r".

$ uname -r 2.6.32-5-686

If we pass the option "-a" the command gives the following inmformations Kernel name,Node name on network,kernel release,kernel version,machine,processorand operating system.

$ uname -a Linux nitin 2.6.32-5-686 #1 SMP Tue Mar 8 21:36:00 UTC 2011 i686 GNU/Linux

Each of these can also be obtaned individually just like the kernel-release by passing the correct options, which are listed in the man pages.