Determine Redhat Linux Version

Question

How do I determine which RedHat Linux version I am running?

Here's what I've read:

• /etc/redhat-release file contains the version, but anybody can tamper with that file.
• people say uname command, but you can install any kernel on Redhat.

If I am running redhat 5.1 and someone upgrade it with 5.2 or 5.x, what determines the version of RedHat?

even lsb_release -a read /etc/redhat-release file.

Answer 1

Try this command:

rpm -qa | grep release

for instance on my machine I get this

redhat-release-workstation-6Workstation-6.4.0.4.el6.x86_64

Answer 2

If "anybody" has root access to your machine to either change /etc/redhat-release or install an alternate kernel you're most probably in bigger trouble than determining the redhat version of your system.

Just use the value pointed out by /etc/redhat-release or even better in terms of portability use the output of lsb_release as this is exactly the purpose they were made for.

With "anybody" being able to do anything with your system there is no other chance at all.