Linux dmidecode command

dmidecode is a command-line utility in Linux that allows users to retrieve detailed information about their hardware components such as BIOS, motherboard, RAM, and more. By parsing data from the DMI (Desktop Management Interface) tables stored in the system BIOS, dmidecode provides a comprehensive view of the system’s hardware configuration. This tool is especially useful for system administrators and users troubleshooting hardware-related issues or looking to gather detailed information about their system. With dmidecode, users can access vital details like manufacturer, model, serial number, version, and characteristics of various hardware components. Additionally, the output from dmidecode can be redirected to a text file for further analysis or documentation purposes.

dmidecode Syntax:

dmidecode [options] [parameter]

Options:

Option	Description
-s	Specify a keyword to search for in the SMBIOS data and print the result.
-t	Select a specific type to display the structure.
-u	Show full SMBIOS data dump in a human-readable format.
-q	Display the DMI (Desktop Management Interface) data in a brief format.
-V	Display the version of dmidecode.

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
bios	Print BIOS information.
system	Print system information.
baseboard	Print baseboard (or motherboard) information.
chassis	Print chassis information.
processor	Print processor information.
memory	Print memory information.
cache	Print cache information.
connector	Print connector information.
slot	Print slot information.
device	Print device information.
processor.po	Print processor power information.
memory.error	Print memory error information.
ra	Print remote access information.
oem	Print OEM-specific strings.
system.event	Print system event log.
bios.boot	Print boot-time configuration.
bios.acp	Print ACP tables.
bios.slate	Print SLIC table.
processor.c	Print CPU information using CPUID instruction.
memory.col	Print memory array MCA (Machine Check Architecture) information.
memory.dev	Print memory device MCA information.
memory.er	Print memory error information.
memory.ar	Print 32-bit failure information.
memory.15	Print 16-bit failure information.
memory.24	Print 24-bit failure information.
onverter	Print system power supply converter information.
utput	Print System Management BIOS (SMBIOS) information from FILE.

Caution

Exercise caution when using dmidecode, as it provides low-level information about hardware components and system configurations. Incorrect usage can lead to misinterpretation of data or unintentional changes to the system. It is recommended to have a good understanding of the command and its options before using it.

dmidecode Usage:

Display System Information

dmidecode

This command displays various system information by decoding the system DMI (Desktop Management Interface) data.

Output BIOS Information

dmidecode -t bios

Using the -t option with the argument “bios” displays detailed information about the system BIOS.

Show Processor Information

dmidecode -t processor

With the -t option and “processor” as the argument, this command shows detailed information about the system’s processors.

Retrieve Memory Details

dmidecode -t memory

By specifying the argument “memory” with the -t option, this command provides detailed information about the system’s memory modules.

Tip

When using the dmidecode command in Linux, make sure to run it with root privileges (using sudo) to ensure that you have full access to the system’s hardware information.

Common Questions on dmidecode Usage:

How can I display the system’s DMI table using dmidecode in Linux?

To display the system’s DMI (Desktop Management Interface) table in Linux using dmidecode, run the following command:

sudo dmidecode

How can I filter specific DMI type information with dmidecode in Linux?

To filter specific DMI type information using dmidecode in Linux, you can specify the DMI type number with the -t option. For example, to display information about the system’s baseboard, you can use:

sudo dmidecode -t 2

How can I save the output of dmidecode to a file in Linux?

To save the output of dmidecode to a file in Linux, you can use output redirection with the > symbol. For example, to save the DMI data to a file named “dmidecode_output.txt”, you can run:

sudo dmidecode > dmidecode_output.txt

How can I show hardware information in a human-readable format using dmidecode in Linux?

To view hardware information in a more human-readable format with dmidecode in Linux, use the -t option followed by the DMI type number. For instance, to display the processor information in a readable format, run:

sudo dmidecode -t 4

How can I get the BIOS information using dmidecode in Linux?

To retrieve BIOS information with dmidecode in Linux, you can use the -t option and specify the DMI type number for BIOS. To display BIOS information, run:

sudo dmidecode -t 0

How can I get the memory module details with dmidecode in Linux?

To get detailed information about memory modules installed on the system using dmidecode in Linux, you can specify the DMI type number for memory devices. Run the following command to display memory module details:

sudo dmidecode -t 17

How can I filter information based on keyword search in dmidecode output in Linux?

To filter information based on a keyword search in the dmidecode output in Linux, you can use tools like grep. For example, to search for information related to “Serial Number,” you can pipe the dmidecode output to grep:

sudo dmidecode | grep "Serial Number"

Applications of the dmidecode command

• Retrieve hardware information
• Check BIOS details
• View motherboard information
• Identify system’s serial number
• Obtain memory module details
• Determine CPU information
• Verify system manufacturer and product names
• Display system firmware information