Today's article appears a bit advanced, but it's pretty simple.

KGIII

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Today, we use 'dmidecode' to get hardware information by querying the BIOS for information.

This is actually a great tool and one that you can stick into your toolbox to pull out when needed.


Feedback is always appreciated. It makes the articles so much better when there are more eyes on it. Sorta like Linus's Law, paraphrased as, "given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow".
 


how about :

Code:
[andrew@darkstar:~]$ sudo  dmidecode 3.0 | grep "64"                      (10-14 20:53)
	Runtime Size: 64 kB
		64-bit capable

you need to mention , eg Mint they will have to install dmidecode
and for the full monty :

Code:
[andrew@darkstar:~]$ sudo  dmidecode 3.0                                  (10-14 20:53)
# dmidecode 3.3
Getting SMBIOS data from sysfs.
SMBIOS 3.0.0 present.
Table at 0x000EA910.

Handle 0x0000, DMI type 0, 24 bytes
BIOS Information
	Vendor: AMI
	Version: F.41
	Release Date: 05/29/2019
	Address: 0xF0000
	Runtime Size: 64 kB
	ROM Size: 8 MB
	Characteristics:
		PCI is supported
		BIOS is upgradeable
		BIOS shadowing is allowed
		Boot from CD is supported
		Selectable boot is supported
		EDD is supported
		5.25"/1.2 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
		3.5"/720 kB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
		3.5"/2.88 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
		Print screen service is supported (int 5h)
		8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h)
		Serial services are supported (int 14h)
		Printer services are supported (int 17h)
		ACPI is supported
		USB legacy is supported
		Smart battery is supported
		BIOS boot specification is supported
		Function key-initiated network boot is supported
		Targeted content distribution is supported
		UEFI is supported
	BIOS Revision: 15.41
	Firmware Revision: 83.40

Handle 0x0001, DMI type 1, 27 bytes
System Information
	Manufacturer: HP
	Product Name: HP Laptop 14-cm0xxx
	Version:
	Serial Number: 5CG9325GD1
	UUID: 7bbfee26-73d6-441d-b142-ab458ccca669
	Wake-up Type: Power Switch
	SKU Number: 6ZJ47EA#ABU
	Family: 103C_5335KV HP Notebook

Handle 0x0002, DMI type 2, 15 bytes
Base Board Information
	Manufacturer: HP
	Product Name: 84A0
	Version: 83.40
	Serial Number: PHDKN00WBCM3JC
	Asset Tag: Base Board Asset Tag
	Features:
		Board is a hosting board
		Board is replaceable
	Location In Chassis: Base Board Chassis Location
	Chassis Handle: 0x0003
	Type: Motherboard
	Contained Object Handles: 0

Handle 0x0003, DMI type 3, 22 bytes
Chassis Information
	Manufacturer: HP
	Type: Notebook
	Lock: Not Present
	Version: Chassis Version
	Serial Number: 5CG9325GD1
	Asset Tag: Not Specified
	Boot-up State: Safe
	Power Supply State: Safe
	Thermal State: Safe
	Security Status: None
	OEM Information: 0x00000000
	Height: Unspecified
	Number Of Power Cords: 1
	Contained Elements: 0
	SKU Number: Not Specified

Handle 0x0004, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
	Internal Reference Designator: J1A1
	Internal Connector Type: None
	External Reference Designator: PS2Mouse
	External Connector Type: PS/2
	Port Type: Mouse Port

Handle 0x0005, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
	Internal Reference Designator: J1A1
	Internal Connector Type: None
	External Reference Designator: Keyboard
	External Connector Type: PS/2
	Port Type: Keyboard Port

Handle 0x0006, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
	Internal Reference Designator: J2A1
	Internal Connector Type: None
	External Reference Designator: TV Out
	External Connector Type: Mini Centronics Type-14
	Port Type: Other

Handle 0x0007, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
	Internal Reference Designator: J2A2A
	Internal Connector Type: None
	External Reference Designator: COM A
	External Connector Type: DB-9 male
	Port Type: Serial Port 16550A Compatible

Handle 0x0008, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
	Internal Reference Designator: J2A2B
	Internal Connector Type: None
	External Reference Designator: Video
	External Connector Type: DB-15 female
	Port Type: Video Port

Handle 0x0009, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
	Internal Reference Designator: J3A1
	Internal Connector Type: None
	External Reference Designator: USB1
	External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB)
	Port Type: USB

Handle 0x000A, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
	Internal Reference Designator: J3A1
	Internal Connector Type: None
	External Reference Designator: USB2
	External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB)
	Port Type: USB

Handle 0x000B, DMI type 9, 17 bytes
System Slot Information
	Designation: J6B2
	Type: x16 PCI Express
	Current Usage: In Use
	Length: Long
	ID: 0
	Characteristics:
		3.3 V is provided
		Opening is shared
		PME signal is supported
	Bus Address: 0000:00:01.0

Handle 0x000C, DMI type 11, 5 bytes
OEM Strings
	String 1: $HP$
	String 2: ABS 70/71 79 7A 7B 7C
	String 3: BCU_Y
	String 4: HP_Mute_LED_0_C
	String 5: FBYTE#3K696b7B7K7P7WaBapaqasawb6bCbhcbd8dTdUdYdqfPhYkSkT.5a;BUIL
	String 6: DID#19WW6HRX601#SABU#DABU;
	String 7:
	String 8:
	String 9:
	String 10:
	String 11:
	String 12:
	String 13:

Handle 0x000D, DMI type 7, 19 bytes
Cache Information
	Socket Designation: L1 CACHE
	Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 1
	Operational Mode: Write Back
	Location: Internal
	Installed Size: 160 kB
	Maximum Size: 160 kB
	Supported SRAM Types:
		Pipeline Burst
	Installed SRAM Type: Pipeline Burst
	Speed: 1 ns
	Error Correction Type: Multi-bit ECC
	System Type: Unified
	Associativity: 2-way Set-associative

Handle 0x000E, DMI type 7, 19 bytes
Cache Information
	Socket Designation: L2 CACHE
	Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 2
	Operational Mode: Write Back
	Location: Internal
	Installed Size: 1 MB
	Maximum Size: 1 MB
	Supported SRAM Types:
		Pipeline Burst
	Installed SRAM Type: Pipeline Burst
	Speed: 1 ns
	Error Correction Type: Multi-bit ECC
	System Type: Unified
	Associativity: 16-way Set-associative

Handle 0x0013, DMI type 22, 26 bytes
Portable Battery
	Location: Primary
	Manufacturer: 333-54-5D-A
	Manufacture Date: 06/20/2019
	Serial Number: 01223 06/20/2019
	Name: HT03041X
	Chemistry: Lithium Ion
	Design Capacity: 41750 mWh
	Design Voltage: 11550 mV
	SBDS Version: Not Specified
	Maximum Error: Unknown
	OEM-specific Information: 0x000A070C

Handle 0x0014, DMI type 32, 20 bytes
System Boot Information
	Status: No errors detected

Handle 0x0015, DMI type 41, 11 bytes
Onboard Device
	Reference Designation:  Onboard IGD
	Type: Video
	Status: Enabled
	Type Instance: 1
	Bus Address: 0000:00:02.0

Handle 0x0016, DMI type 16, 23 bytes
Physical Memory Array
	Location: System Board Or Motherboard
	Use: System Memory
	Error Correction Type: None
	Maximum Capacity: 32 GB
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Number Of Devices: 2

Handle 0x0017, DMI type 19, 31 bytes
Memory Array Mapped Address
	Starting Address: 0x00000000000
	Ending Address: 0x000FFFFFFFF
	Range Size: 4 GB
	Physical Array Handle: 0x0016
	Partition Width: 1

Handle 0x0018, DMI type 17, 40 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x0016
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: Unknown
	Data Width: Unknown
	Size: No Module Installed
	Form Factor: SODIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: Bottom - Slot 1 (left)
	Bank Locator: CHANNEL A
	Type: DDR4
	Type Detail: None
	Speed: Unknown
	Manufacturer: A1_Manufacturer0
	Serial Number: A1_SerialNum0
	Asset Tag: A1_AssetTagNum0
	Part Number: A1_PartNum0
	Rank: Unknown
	Configured Memory Speed: Unknown
	Minimum Voltage: Unknown
	Maximum Voltage: Unknown
	Configured Voltage: Unknown

Handle 0x0019, DMI type 17, 40 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x0016
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: Unknown
	Data Width: Unknown
	Size: 4 GB
	Form Factor: SODIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: Bottom - Slot 2 (right)
	Bank Locator: CHANNEL A
	Type: DDR4
	Type Detail: Synchronous Unbuffered (Unregistered)
	Speed: 2400 MT/s
	Manufacturer: Hynix/Hyundai
	Serial Number: 82CA289C
	Asset Tag: A1_AssetTagNum1
	Part Number: HMA851S6JJR6N-VK
	Rank: 1
	Configured Memory Speed: 1866 MT/s
	Minimum Voltage: 1.5 V
	Maximum Voltage: 1.5 V
	Configured Voltage: 1.5 V

Handle 0x001A, DMI type 20, 35 bytes
Memory Device Mapped Address
	Starting Address: 0x00000000000
	Ending Address: 0x000FFFFFFFF
	Range Size: 4 GB
	Physical Device Handle: 0x0019
	Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x0017
	Partition Row Position: 1

Handle 0x001B, DMI type 13, 22 bytes
BIOS Language Information
	Language Description Format: Long
	Installable Languages: 5
		en|US|iso8859-1
		fr|FR|iso8859-1
		es|ES|iso8859-1
		zh|TW|unicode
		zh|CN|unicode
	Currently Installed Language: en|US|iso8859-1

Handle 0x001E, DMI type 41, 11 bytes
Onboard Device
	Reference Designation: Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller
	Type: Ethernet
	Status: Enabled
	Type Instance: 1
	Bus Address: 0000:02:00.0

Handle 0x0021, DMI type 4, 48 bytes
Processor Information
	Socket Designation: P0
	Type: Central Processor
	Family: A-Series
	Manufacturer: AuthenticAMD
	ID: FF FB 8B 17 00 0F 67 00
	Signature: Family 11, Model 15, Stepping 15
	Flags:
		CX8 (CMPXCHG8 instruction supported)
		APIC (On-chip APIC hardware supported)
		SEP (Fast system call)
		PAT (Page attribute table)
		PSE-36 (36-bit page size extension)
		PSN (Processor serial number present and enabled)
		DS (Debug store)
		ACPI (ACPI supported)
	Version: AMD A4-9125 RADEON R3, 4 COMPUTE CORES 2C+2G
	Voltage: 1.1 V
	External Clock: 100 MHz
	Max Speed: 2300 MHz
	Current Speed: 2300 MHz
	Status: Populated, Enabled
	Upgrade: None
	L1 Cache Handle: 0x000D
	L2 Cache Handle: 0x000E
	L3 Cache Handle: Not Provided
	Serial Number: Not Specified
	Asset Tag: Not Specified
	Part Number: Not Specified
	Core Count: 2
	Core Enabled: 2
	Thread Count: 2
	Characteristics:
		64-bit capable

Handle 0x0022, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
	Internal Reference Designator: Ctrl0Port1
	Internal Connector Type: SAS/SATA Plug Receptacle
	External Reference Designator: Primary HDD Bay*
	External Connector Type: SAS/SATA Plug Receptacle
	Port Type: SATA

Handle 0x0023, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
	Internal Reference Designator: Ctrl0Port0
	Internal Connector Type: SAS/SATA Plug Receptacle
	External Reference Designator: Secondary HDD Bay*
	External Connector Type: SAS/SATA Plug Receptacle
	Port Type: SATA

Handle 0x0024, DMI type 127, 4 bytes
End Of Table

[andrew@darkstar:~]$
 
[andrew@darkstar:~][1]$ sudo pacman -Ss dmidecode (10-14 21:11)
extra/dmidecode 3.3-1 [installed]
Desktop Management Interface table related utilities
[andrew@darkstar:~]$ (10-14 21:11)

maybe just Arch that you need to install
 
maybe just Arch that you need to install

Hmm... You're the closest thing I've got to an Arch guru. I just kinda assumed all the distros had it by default. I checked in a few VMs beforehand. Notably, I did not check Arch. I did not test Gentoo, nor Slackware.

I'll toss in a quick edit.

And edited. Thanks! Good looking out!
 
no i'm pretty much an amateur, @f33dm3bits might be the guru ?

Hmm... You know, I forgot which OS he uses as his main desktop OS. I'm a pretty firm Lubuntu fan, though I'm actually using LMDE on this device.
 

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