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Linux · System Tools

hwinfo

hwinfo is a command-line system information tool that provides detailed hardware details, including CPU, memory, and storage.

Open sourceFree
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License
GPL-2.0+
Latest version
26.0
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What is hwinfo?

hwinfo is a long-standing utility in the Linux ecosystem, often found in most major distributions. It predates many modern GUI tools and relies on reading directly from the kernel's sysfs and procfs interfaces. Its maturity is evident in its stability and consistent availability across Arch, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, and Ubuntu, making it a reliable choice for system diagnostics without needing to install proprietary agents.

This tool is primarily aimed at system administrators, developers, and power users who prefer the terminal. If you are comfortable with command-line output and want to script hardware queries, hwinfo is a natural fit. It is not designed for casual users who expect a graphical interface, so if you are looking for a visual dashboard, you might find the raw text output overwhelming without some parsing.

Compared to CPU-Z, which is a lightweight Windows GUI application, hwinfo offers deeper integration with the Linux kernel but lacks the immediate visual clarity of a windowed interface. While CPU-Z gives you a quick snapshot of CPU and RAM specs, hwinfo can provide exhaustive details on every connected device, including USB, PCI, and network interfaces, often requiring more interpretation to extract the specific data you need.

Best for: System administrators who need detailed, scriptable hardware information via the terminal.

Key features of hwinfo

  • Displays detailed CPU architecture and flags
  • Lists memory modules and sizes
  • Provides PCI and USB device information
  • Shows network interface details
  • Reports storage device and partition info
  • Outputs data in various formats for scripting

Pros

  • Available in all major Linux repositories
  • No external dependencies or daemons required
  • Highly detailed hardware enumeration
  • Scriptable output for automation

Cons

  • Command-line only, no graphical interface
  • Output can be verbose and hard to parse manually
  • Less intuitive for beginners compared to GUI tools

Windows programs hwinfo replaces

CPU-Z

How to install hwinfo on Linux

Ubuntu / Mintsudo apt install hwinfo
Debiansudo apt install hwinfo
Fedorasudo dnf install hwinfo
Arch / Manjarosudo pacman -S hwinfo
openSUSEsudo zypper install hwinfo

Tips for Windows users

If you are coming from CPU-Z, expect to run hwinfo --short for a quick overview or hwinfo --cpu for specific details. There are no file formats to migrate, but you will need to get comfortable reading plain text output. For a more GUI-like experience, consider using lshw or inxi as alternatives, though hwinfo remains the most comprehensive for raw data.

hwinfo: frequently asked questions

How do I see only CPU information in hwinfo?

Run hwinfo --cpu to filter the output to just the central processing unit details.

Is hwinfo safe to run on a production server?

Yes, it is a read-only tool that does not modify system configuration or hardware states.

Can I use hwinfo to check for GPU details?

Yes, run hwinfo --graphics to see details about installed graphics cards.

What is the difference between hwinfo and lshw?

Both provide similar data, but hwinfo is often more concise and faster, while lshw offers a tree-like structure that some users find easier to read.

Updated