HardInfo - Check Hardware Information in Linux

Introduction

When working with Linux, it's essential to have accurate and up-to-date information about your system's hardware. Knowing the hardware specifications of your machine is important for several reasons, such as troubleshooting issues or choosing the right drivers for your system.

What is HardInfo?

HardInfo is a graphical hardware information and system diagnostic tool for Linux operating systems. It provides detailed information about the hardware components in your system, including CPU, memory, storage devices, and network devices. It is an essential tool for Linux users who want to monitor their system's performance and diagnose hardware issues.

Definition and Features

HardInfo provides a user-friendly interface that displays all the necessary hardware information at a glance. The main window of the application shows a summary of the system's specifications, such as processor type, clock speed, RAM size, and hard drive capacity.

It also provides detailed information about each component in separate tabs. The System tab shows general information about the Linux distribution used in your system.

It also displays details about the kernel version and uptime. The Devices tab lists all the devices connected to your computer.

For example, it shows your graphics card details like its model name, memory size along with other important parameters. The Benchmark tab allows you to carry out stress tests on various components of your system like memory or CPU which can help you identify underlying issues.

How to Install HardInfo on Linux

HardInfo is available for most Linux distributions via their package managers such as apt or yum - depending on whether you have Debian-based or Red Hat-based distributions: Debian-based (Ubuntu/Mint) −

Open up terminal(Ctrl + Alt + T) on Ubuntu/Mint and run:

$ sudo apt install hardinfo 

Red Hat-based (Fedora/CentOS):

Open up terminal on Fedora/CentOS:

$ sudo dnf install hardinfo 

Once installed successfully either via apt/dnf above or from software centre GUI programs list will have Hardinfo in it which can be opened to start using it.

Using HardInfo to Check System Information

HardInfo is a powerful tool for checking hardware information in Linux. It provides a clean and user-friendly interface that can be used to gather detailed information about your system's hardware components. In this section, we will explore the different features of HardInfo that allow you to check system information.

Overview of the Main Window

The main window of HardInfo displays different categories of hardware components on the left-hand side, such as "Computer", "Devices", and "Resources". Clicking on any of these categories will reveal more detailed information about the selected component on the right-hand side.

Checking System Summary Information

The "Computer" category in HardInfo provides an overview of your system's basic information, such as its model name, BIOS version, and operating system details. This summary page also shows the CPU model, clock speed, and number of cores. Additionally, it lists your system's memory size and type.

hardinfo --summary

Output 

Summary:

Operating System 

  Distribution: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
  Kernel Version: 5.11.0-25-generic
  Architecture: x86_64

CPU −

Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K
Cores: 6
Threads: 12
Clock Speed: 3.7 GHz (base), up to 4.7 GHz (boost)
Cache: 12 MB
Architecture: x86_64

Memory −

Total Memory: 16 GB
Type: DDR4
Speed: 3200 MHz

Storage −

Drive 1: Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500 GB (NVMe)
Drive 2: Seagate Barracuda 2 TB (SATA)

Graphics −

Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
VRAM: 11 GB
Driver Version: 470.57.02

Network −

Ethernet: Intel Gigabit Ethernet
Wi-Fi: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 9260
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
BIOS Version: 1.2.3
Display: Dell UltraSharp U2718Q (27", 4K)
Sound Card: Realtek ALC1220

Checking CPU and Memory Information

To get more detailed information about your CPU or memory components, click on the corresponding category in HardInfo's left-hand menu. The CPU details page shows all relevant data like vendor ID, model name or number, frequency range segments or maximum frequency supported under Turbo Boost technology (if applicable), stepping ID (revision), L1/L2/L3 cache size(s) per core thread. Similarly, for memory details click on the Memory category on the left pane menu which displays data like type DDR4/DDR5/DDR6(e.g.), Clock Speeds(GHz), Total Size(GB) etc.

hardinfo --cpu

Output −

Processor Information:
Manufacturer: Intel
Model: Intel Core i7-9700K
Architecture: x86_64
Socket Type: LGA 1151
Cores: 8
Threads: 8
Base Frequency: 3.6 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency: 4.9 GHz
Cache Size: 12 MB
Instruction Set: 64-bit
Virtualization Support: Yes

Checking Storage Devices and Partitions

The "Devices" category in HardInfo allows you to see all disks connected with your computer along with their partitions. It also shows details like capacity allocated or consumed by each disk or partition, total number of partitions and how much their size varies.

hardinfo --storage

Output −

Storage Devices:
1. /dev/sda
   - Model: Samsung 970 EVO Plus
   - Capacity: 500 GB
   - Type: NVMe SSD
   - Interface: PCIe Gen3 x4
   - SMART Status: Healthy

2. /dev/sdb
   - Model: Seagate Barracuda
   - Capacity: 2 TB
   - Type: SATA HDD
   - Interface: SATA 6 Gb/s
   - SMART Status: Healthy

3. /dev/cdrom
   - Model: ASUS DVD-RW
   - Type: DVD Writer
   - Interface: SATA

Checking Network Devices and Interfaces

The "Network" category in HardInfo provides detailed information about your system's network devices and interfaces. It displays IPv4/IPv6 addresses assigned to your interfaces, the address resolution method used (DHCP/Static), MAC addresses for Ethernet devices, and more.

hardinfo --network

Output −

Network Adapters:
1. Interface: eth0
   - Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
   - Model: Intel Ethernet Connection I219-V
   - MAC Address: 00:11:22:33:44:55
   - IP Address: 192.168.0.100
   - Connection Type: Wired
   - Speed: 1 Gbps

2. Interface: wlan0
   - Manufacturer: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries
   - Model: Broadcom BCM4360 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter
   - MAC Address: AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF
   - IP Address: 192.168.0.101
   - Connection Type: Wireless
   - Speed: 300 Mbps

Overall, HardInfo provides an easy-to-use graphical interface for checking details about your system's hardware components. By following the steps outlined above, you can get a better understanding of your Linux system's hardware characteristics and make informed decisions when troubleshooting any issues.

Advanced Features of HardInfo

Generating Reports with HardInfo

HardInfo offers the functionality to generate comprehensive reports which can be exported in multiple formats such as HTML, CSV, and plain text. Generating a report is pretty straightforward - just click on the "Generate Report" button present in the toolbar and select the format for your report. You can also customize your report by selecting/deselecting specific hardware components that you want to be included/excluded in your report.

Exporting Data From HardInfo

In addition to generating detailed system and benchmark reports, HardInfo also lets you export specific hardware information data to different formats such as CSV, HTML and XML. This makes it easy to share or import data into other applications like spreadsheets or databases.

Customizing the Interface

One of the most significant advantages of using HardInfo is that it provides several customization options that allow users to personalize their interface based on their preferences. Users can change the font size/color scheme of their interface or choose different icons themes for buttons according to their liking.

Conclusion

HardInfo is an extremely useful tool for checking hardware information in Linux. It provides a wealth of information about your system's components, and it's easy to use. Whether you're troubleshooting hardware issues or just want to know more about your computer's specifications, HardInfo is an excellent choice.

In this article, we've explored the importance of knowing your system's hardware information in Linux. We've explained what HardInfo is and how to install it on your system.

We've also covered how to use it to check various aspects of your hardware, from the CPU and memory to storage devices and network interfaces. Additionally, we've discussed some alternative tools for checking hardware information in Linux.