Just like any other operating system, there are different versions of Linux and there are often updates to whatever distribution you are using. Certain programs will only run on certain versions of Linux (usually newer ones). So its helpful to know how to check what version of the Linux kernel you’re running. A kernel is the core operating system functionality.

The easiest way to check your Linux kernel version is by using the command line. In this walkthrough, we’ll be checking the kernel version on your server, so you’ll log into your server first.

Using the terminal program of your choice, log into your server as root. If you haven’t logged into your server using the command line before, see our article Logging into Your Server via Secure Shell (SSH).
To see the kernel version information, you’ll use the uname command, which will print system information on the screen. In the command line, type
```
uname -r
```
Then press Enter. The -r flag tells the system what information to print. In this case, it’s the Linux kernel version.
You’ll get output that looks like:
```
3.10.0-327.13.1.el7.x86_64
```
This output tells you:
- 3 is the kernel version.
- 10 is the last major revision.
- 0 is the last minor revision.
- 327.13.1.el7 is the last revision detail.

It’s not usually important to know what these numbers stand for. Usually, all you’ll need to do is look at the application you are trying to run and make sure it will run on your version of Linux. On Liquid Web managed dedicated servers and managed VPS hosting, we automatically update your kernel when possible to make sure your server is secure and can use the latest applications.

Was this article helpful?

Thank you for your input.

Thank you for your feedback.

Checking Your Linux Kernel Version