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dmidecode

system managementLinux/Unix

The dmidecode command is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux/Unix-like operating systems. dmidecode Display hardware information from the BIOS/UEFI DMI tables

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Quick Reference

Command Name:

dmidecode

Category:

system management

Platform:

Linux/Unix

Basic Usage:

dmidecode [options] [arguments]

Common Use Cases

Syntax

dmidecode [options]

Options

Option	Description
`-d, --dev-mem FILE`	Read memory from device FILE (default: /dev/mem)
`-h, --help`	Display help information and exit
`-s, --string KEYWORD`	Only display the value of the specified DMI string
`-t, --type TYPE`	Only display entries of given type
`-u, --dump`	Do not decode the entries
`--dump-bin FILE`	Dump the DMI data to a binary file
`--from-dump FILE`	Read the DMI data from a binary file
`-V, --version`	Display the version and exit

Examples

How to Use These Examples

The examples below show common ways to use the dmidecode command. Try them in your terminal to see the results. You can copy any example by clicking on the code block.

# Basic Examples Basic

dmidecode

Display all DMI (SMBIOS) information.

dmidecode -t bios

Show only BIOS information.

dmidecode -t memory

Display memory device information. # Advanced Examples Advanced dmidecode -t processor Show processor information. dmidecode -t system Display system information including manufacturer and model. dmidecode -s system-product-name Show only the system product name. dmidecode -t 17 Display information about memory devices (type 17). dmidecode | grep -A5 "Memory Device" Find memory device entries and show 5 lines after each match.

Try It Yourself

Practice makes perfect! The best way to learn is by trying these examples on your own system with real files.

Understanding Syntax

Pay attention to the syntax coloring: commands, options, and file paths are highlighted differently.

Notes

Dmidecode Command Overview: Dmidecode (Desktop Management Interface table decoder) is a tool that reads computer hardware information directly from the SMBIOS (System Management BIOS) data structure, also known as DMI tables. These tables contain detailed information about the system's hardware components as reported by the BIOS/UEFI. Key Information Types: - BIOS information (version, vendor, release date) - System information (manufacturer, product name, serial number) - Processor details (speed, cache size, capabilities) - Memory configuration (size, speed, location) - Cache memory information - Port connector information - System slots - On-board devices Common DMI Types: - Type 0: BIOS Information - Type 1: System Information - Type 2: Baseboard Information - Type 3: Chassis Information - Type 4: Processor Information - Type 7: Cache Information - Type 8: Port Connector Information - Type 9: System Slots - Type 16: Physical Memory Array - Type 17: Memory Device Practical Uses: - Hardware inventory and asset management - System troubleshooting - Verifying hardware specifications - Checking memory configuration - Identifying system model and manufacturer - Scripting for automated hardware reporting Note: Dmidecode requires root privileges to access system hardware information.

Related Commands

These commands are frequently used alongside dmidecode or serve similar purposes:

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Use Cases

Learn By Doing

The best way to learn Linux commands is by practicing. Try out these examples in your terminal to build muscle memory and understand how the dmidecode command works in different scenarios.

See Examples Try Lab Exercises

$ dmidecode

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