Last modified: Feb. 13, 2012

Contents
1 - Summary
2 - Dmidecode installation
3 - Commands


1 - Summary

This guide shows how to get the system serial number and BIOS information
in Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It will show how to install the dmidecode package.
This has been tested in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4, 5 and 6.


2 - Dmidecode installation

In Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 the dmidecode package isn't included, but the
dmidecode binary is included. In Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 you can install
the dmidecode package from Red Hat.
# sudo yum install dmidecode
Password:


3 - Commands

You can display the system information including serial number by typing the
following. In Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 type the following.
# sudo /usr/sbin/dmidecode | grep -e 'Manufacturer' -e 'Product Name' \
-e 'Serial Number' | head -n 3
Password:
        Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
        Product Name: PowerEdge 1800
        Serial Number: XXXXXXX

In Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6 type the following to display the system
information.
# sudo /usr/sbin/dmidecode -t 1 | grep -e 'Manufacturer' -e 'Product Name' \
-e 'Serial Number' | cut -f 2
Password:
Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Product Name: PowerEdge 1900
Serial Number: XXXXXXX

You can display the BIOS information by typing the following. In Red Hat
Enterprise Linux 4 type the following.
# sudo /usr/sbin/dmidecode | grep -e 'Vendor' -e 'Version' -e 'Release Date' \
| head -n 3
Password:
        Vendor: Dell Computer Corporation
        Version: XXX
        Release Date: XX/XX/XXXX

In Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6 type the following to display the BIOS
information.
# sudo /usr/sbin/dmidecode -t 0 | grep -e 'Vendor' -e 'Version' \
-e 'Release Date' | cut -f 2
Password:
Vendor: Dell Inc.
Version: X.X.X
Release Date: XX/XX/XXXX