How to check Linux distribution and version?

• Start your terminal and just simply enter the command below to show your the linux distribution info.

   $ cat /etc/*-release                    

• Here’s my result in one of my Linux boxes.

   $ cat /etc/*-release                    

  DISTRIB_ID=LinuxMint                     
  DISTRIB_RELEASE=14                       
  DISTRIB_CODENAME=nadia                   
  DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Linux Mint 14 Nadia"
  NAME="Ubuntu"                            
  VERSION="12.10, Quantal Quetzal"         
  ID=ubuntu                                
  ID_LIKE=debian                           
  PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu quantal (12.10)"     
  VERSION_ID="12.10"