How Can You Tell?

How Can You Tell?

When you log in to your UNIX system, a variety of copyright notices usually flash by, with an identification of the type of UNIX you are accessing. Carefully scrutinize the information on-screen, and you may be able to tell which version you have.

�Linux��Another approach is to type the command uname and press Enter. Sometimes this command displays the name of your computer (such as aardvark or acctg3). Sometimes, however, the command displays the version of UNIX you are running. On Linux systems, it says Linux.

If you can’t tell which UNIX version you have, break down, grovel, and ask your local UNIX expert. When you figure out which type of UNIX you are running, write it down on the Cheat Sheet in the front of this book. You never know when you may need to know this stuff.

�Tip��If you’re connected to your UNIX system over a network from a PC or an X terminal, the type of UNIX you’re using depends on the maker of the main computer you’re attached to — not on the maker of the PC or terminal. You generally see the identification of the main computer in a message it sends to the terminal just before or just after you log in.