decode-dimms
Decode and display RAM module information
TLDR
Display DIMM information
Display help
SYNOPSIS
decode-dimms [options] [dmidecode-output-files ...]
PARAMETERS
--slot[=N]
Display only information for memory slot N (1-based)
--human
Use human-readable format for sizes and speeds (default)
--raw
Show raw SMBIOS strings without decoding
--color[=WHEN]
Colorize output (auto, always, never)
-v, --verbose
Increase verbosity level
-h, --help
Display help and exit
--version
Output version information and exit
DESCRIPTION
decode-dimms is a Linux utility that analyzes and decodes Memory Device records (SMBIOS Type 17) from the system's DMI/SMBIOS tables. It provides detailed information about installed DIMMs, including size, type, speed, timings, manufacturer, part number, serial number, and asset tag. The tool interprets vendor-specific strings and formats output for easy reading, helping users identify exact memory specifications without physical inspection.
Typically invoked directly, it accesses firmware data via /sys/firmware/dmi/tables/DMI or processes dmidecode output files. This makes it invaluable for server admins, hardware troubleshooting, and memory upgrades. Output groups modules by socket or slot, showing human-readable values like 'DDR4-3200' or '16 GiB'.
Unlike basic tools, it handles complex encodings and lists errors if data is incomplete or corrupted, aiding diagnostics in enterprise environments.
CAVEATS
Requires read access to DMI tables (often needs root); incomplete SMBIOS data may yield partial output. Not all systems populate full details.
COMMON USAGE
sudo dmidecode --type 17 | decode-dimms
Pipe dmidecode output for non-root decoding.
OUTPUT EXAMPLE
Time: Wed Oct 25 10:00:00 2023
#1-5: 16384 MB DDR4-3200 CL22
Handle 0x003B, DMI type 17, 84 bytes
Manufacturer: Samsung
Part Number: M393A2K43BB1-CTD
HISTORY
Developed by Douglas Gilbert since 2004 as part of the open-source decode-dimms project. Evolved to support modern DDR4/5 modules and SMBIOS 3.x; widely used in Linux distros via packages like smbios-utils.
