hardinfo
Display system hardware and software information
TLDR
Start hardinfo
Print report to stdout
Save report to HTML file
SYNOPSIS
hardinfo [options]
hardinfo -r [-f <format>] [filename]
hardinfo --help
hardinfo --version
hardinfo --about
PARAMETERS
--report, -r
Generate a system report without launching the GUI. This option is typically used for automated reporting.
--format <format>, -f <format>
Specifies the output format for the generated report. Supported formats include html, text, json, and xml. This option requires the -r or --report flag.
--no-gui, -x
Prevents the graphical user interface from starting. This is useful when generating reports from the command line, ensuring the command exits after report generation.
--help, -h
Displays a brief help message with available command-line options and exits.
--version, -v
Shows the version information of hardinfo and exits.
--about, -a
Displays the "About" dialog box for hardinfo and exits.
DESCRIPTION
hardinfo is a comprehensive system information and benchmarking tool for Linux and FreeBSD. It provides detailed insights into a system's hardware components (CPU, memory, storage, network, display) and software environment (operating system, kernel, running processes). hardinfo offers both a user-friendly graphical interface for interactive exploration and a command-line interface for generating various types of system reports (HTML, plain text, JSON, XML). Its benchmarking capabilities allow users to compare their system's performance against reference data, making it valuable for troubleshooting, upgrading, or simply understanding a system's configuration.
CAVEATS
hardinfo might require elevated privileges (e.g., sudo) to access some hardware information, especially for detailed sensor readings or certain kernel modules. Its benchmarks are basic and may not reflect real-world performance accurately for complex workloads. The GUI might not be available in headless environments.
GUI USAGE
When run without any arguments, hardinfo launches its graphical user interface. This GUI provides an organized tree-view of system components, allowing users to browse various hardware and software categories interactively, and also execute benchmarks.
REPORT GENERATION
The primary command-line utility of hardinfo is its ability to generate detailed system reports. These reports can be saved in various formats (HTML, text, JSON, XML), making it easy to share system configurations or archive them for later reference.
HISTORY
hardinfo has been a popular tool for system information on Linux for many years. Initially developed by Louis Bouchard, it gained recognition for its user-friendly graphical interface and comprehensive reporting capabilities. Its consistent presence in various Linux distributions highlights its utility as a go-to utility for users needing to quickly assess system hardware and software details without deep command-line expertise.