How can i verify from a command prompt, if a linux host is real or virtual

Question

How would know at command line that the Linux host i logged in to is real machine, with linux installed, or is a virtual machine Thanks, -Kamal.

possible duplicate of VMware Linux Server -- how can you tell if you are a vm or real hardware?

Paul McMillan · Accepted Answer · 2010-10-10 23:12:45Z

up vote 0 down vote accepted

Often uname -a will display information that gives you a hint - references to Xen will tell you that you are in that type of virtual machine.

edited Oct 10 '10 at 23:12

answered Oct 10 '10 at 5:50

Paul McMillan
938412

virtual:Linux dhcp11-167.sfeng.home.com 2.6.32.11sf.p4-4 #1 SMP Fri Sep 17 20:22:25 UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux – kamal Oct 10 '10 at 6:05

real: Linux bamboo.sd.home.com 2.6.32.11sf.pentM-4 #1 PREEMPT Fri Sep 17 19:50:44 UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux – kamal Oct 10 '10 at 6:06

4

uname -a certainly won't give you any help if it's running on a VMware server. – EEAA Oct 10 '10 at 14:54

the clue with a vmsserver , is that it will be down ;-) – The Unix Janitor Oct 14 '10 at 8:37

janneb · Answer 2 · 2010-10-10 10:02:21Z

up vote 6 down vote

Try the 'lspci' command; on a virtual machine you'll typically see a bunch of devices that are obviously virtual (e.g. vendor is VMWare or such).

answered Oct 10 '10 at 10:02

janneb
2,734412

Cakemox · Answer 3 · 2010-10-11 07:37:00Z

up vote 3 down vote

I usually use

dmidecode --type 1

For scripting you might try

dmidecode -s system-manufacturer

answered Oct 11 '10 at 7:37

Cakemox
7,92421238

ptman · Answer 4 · 2010-10-14 07:11:06Z

up vote 3 down vote

edited Oct 14 '10 at 7:11

answered Oct 10 '10 at 15:09

ptman
5,5271822

4 Answers