btrfs-version

Display help

$ btrfs [[v|version]] --help

$ btrfs [[v|version]]

btrfs version

The btrfs version command is a crucial subcommand of the btrfs utility, which serves as the primary userspace tool for managing Btrfs filesystems. Its fundamental purpose is to display the version of the btrfs-progs package currently installed on the system. This package encompasses the btrfs command-line utility and other associated tools essential for operations such as creating, checking, and repairing Btrfs filesystems.

Understanding the btrfs-progs version is vital for various reasons, including effective troubleshooting, verifying compatibility with the underlying Linux kernel's Btrfs driver, and ensuring that specific features or bug fixes are available in the installed utilities. The output of this command typically provides the version number, a build date, and sometimes a Git commit hash, offering precise identification of the installed userspace tools. This command is straightforward, requiring no additional arguments or options, and is an indispensable utility for system administrators and users actively working with Btrfs filesystems.

The btrfs version command reports the version of the btrfs-progs userspace utilities, not the Btrfs filesystem driver version integrated into the Linux kernel. These two versions are independent, though newer btrfs-progs often anticipate or require newer kernel versions for complete functionality.

The output format is fixed and cannot be customized or easily parsed by other scripts without string manipulation.

It is crucial to differentiate between the btrfs-progs version (obtained via btrfs version) and the version of the Btrfs kernel module. The kernel module implements the fundamental filesystem logic and operations within the Linux kernel, while btrfs-progs provides the user-facing tools to interact with and manage Btrfs filesystems. For optimal compatibility, access to the latest features, and to avoid potential issues, it is generally recommended that the btrfs-progs version is equal to or newer than the Btrfs kernel module version. Mismatches can sometimes lead to unexpected behavior or the inability to utilize newly introduced features or bug fixes.

The typical output of btrfs version includes the program's identifier (usually `btrfs-progs`), the specific version number, and often supplementary details such as a build date or a Git commit hash. An example output might look like: `btrfs-progs vX.Y.Z [build_date_or_commit_hash]`. This comprehensive information is highly valuable for precise identification and troubleshooting of the installed Btrfs utilities.

The btrfs utility and its subcommands, including version, have evolved in parallel with the development of the Btrfs filesystem itself. As Btrfs gained stability and new features were introduced, the btrfs-progs package underwent continuous updates and improvements. The version subcommand has been a fundamental component of these utilities from their early stages, consistently providing a simple method to ascertain the age and capabilities of the installed toolset. Its core functionality of reporting the btrfs-progs build version has remained largely consistent throughout its history.

btrfs(8), uname(1), mount(8), lsb_release(1)