LinuxTutorial2 min read

How to Check Linux Uptime and System Info

Q: uptime — How Long Has It Been Running?

uptime Output: 14:32:05 up 42 days, 3:18, 2 users, load average: 0.15, 0.10, 0.09 Current time How long the system has been up Number of logged-in users CPU load averages for the past 1, 5, and 15 minutes A load average above 1.0 per CPU core suggests the system is under heavy load.

Q: w — Who Is Logged In and What Are They Doing?

w Shows current users, their terminal, login time, and what command they're running.

Get a quick picture of your Linux system — uptime, kernel version, hostname, CPU, and OS details — using uptime, uname, and hostnamectl.

June 25, 2026

Developer terminal on a laptop in low light

Why Check System Info?

Knowing your kernel version, uptime, and hardware at a glance helps when troubleshooting, filing bug reports, or documenting a server. These commands give you the facts in seconds.

uptime — How Long Has It Been Running?

uptime

Output: 14:32:05 up 42 days, 3:18, 2 users, load average: 0.15, 0.10, 0.09

Current time
How long the system has been up
Number of logged-in users
CPU load averages for the past 1, 5, and 15 minutes

A load average above 1.0 per CPU core suggests the system is under heavy load.

uname — Kernel and OS Information

uname -a          # all info: kernel name, version, architecture
uname -r          # just the kernel version
uname -m          # machine architecture (x86_64, arm64, etc.)

Example output: Linux myserver 6.8.0-45-generic #45-Ubuntu SMP x86_64 GNU/Linux

hostnamectl — Detailed System Identity

hostnamectl shows a clean summary of the machine's identity including OS, kernel, and hardware:

hostnamectl

 Static hostname: webserver-01
       Icon name: computer-server
         Chassis: server
      Machine ID: a1b2c3d4e5f6...
         Boot ID: ...
Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
          Kernel: Linux 6.8.0-45-generic
    Architecture: x86-64

Change the hostname

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname new-hostname

lsb_release — OS Version Details

lsb_release -a

Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Release:        24.04
Codename:       noble

Or just read the file: cat /etc/os-release

w — Who Is Logged In and What Are They Doing?

Shows current users, their terminal, login time, and what command they're running.

last — Recent Login History

last              # login history
last reboot       # reboot history (great for checking unexpected restarts)

Quick Reference

uptime — uptime + load averages
uname -a — full kernel info
hostnamectl — OS and hardware summary
lsb_release -a — Linux distro version
last reboot — when did the server last restart?