3

What is the difference/relation between kernel name and OS name? Are they always the same thing?

For example, I am puzzled at the outputs:

-bash-4.1$ uname -s
Linux
-bash-4.1$ uname -o
GNU/Linux

What is difference between "GNU/Linux" and "Linux"?

Tim
  • 101,790

1 Answers1

3

If you take a look at the uname Wikipedia page titled: Uname there's a very nice table that shows the output of uname with all of its switches for just about every Unix I've ever heard of.

excerpt of table

    ss#1     ss#2     ss#3

If you look at the output it would imply that -s shows the name of the kernel, while -o shows the name of the operating system.

slm
  • 369,824
  • Thanks! I am wondering how uname distinguishes kernel name and OS name? – Tim Apr 13 '14 at 03:36
  • @Tim - do you mean technically how it does it or what's the difference? – slm Apr 13 '14 at 03:52
  • The latter, i.e. difference in concepts, but I believe it is also what the implementation of uname follows – Tim Apr 13 '14 at 03:57
  • @Tim - well the kernel's the kernel. Take a look at this Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel_(computing). The OS is a combination of a kernel + additional applications & libraries. – slm Apr 13 '14 at 04:14