Getting Linux System Information

From the Linux Magazine I found a wonderful article about getting the hardware system information.

Linux System Information Decoded

There are two commands that can be run using sudo (Ubuntu), dmidecode and biosdecode.

biosdecode

There is a good man page on the command.  I pulled the following info from the man page.

       * SMBIOS (System Management BIOS)
         Use dmidecode for a more detailed output.

       · DMI (Desktop Management Interface, a legacy version of SMBIOS)
         Use dmidecode for a more detailed output.

       · SYSID

       · PNP (Plug and Play)

       · ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface)

       · BIOS32 (BIOS32 Service Directory)

       · PIR (PCI IRQ Routing)

       · 32OS (BIOS32 Extension, Compaq-specific)
         See ownership for a Compaq ownership tag retrieval tool.

       · SNY (Sony-specific, not decoded)

       · VPD (Vital Product Data, IBM-specific)
         Use vpddecode for a more detailed output.

       · FJKEYINF (Application Panel, Fujitsu-specific)

The information for my HP laptop is as follows:
# biosdecode 2.9
ACPI 2.0 present.
    OEM Identifier: HP   
    RSD Table 32-bit Address: 0xBFED5AC7
    XSD Table 64-bit Address: 0x00000000BFED5B17
SMBIOS 2.4 present.
    Structure Table Length: 731 bytes
    Structure Table Address: 0x000DC010
    Number Of Structures: 19
    Maximum Structure Size: 121 bytes
BIOS32 Service Directory present.
    Revision: 0
    Calling Interface Address: 0x000FDC10
PNP BIOS 1.0 present.
    Event Notification: Not Supported
    Real Mode 16-bit Code Address: E73F:9F8D
    Real Mode 16-bit Data Address: 0040:0000
    16-bit Protected Mode Code Address: 0x000FC3E8
    16-bit Protected Mode Data Address: 0x00000400

dmidecode
There is a good man page on this one also.

The following information is for my HP laptop:

SMBIOS 2.4 present.
19 structures occupying 731 bytes.
Table at 0x000DC010.

Handle 0x0000, DMI type 0, 24 bytes
BIOS Information
    Vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    Version: F.52    
    Release Date: 03/24/2008
    Address: 0xE6F30
    Runtime Size: 102608 bytes
    ROM Size: 1024 kB
    Characteristics:
        ISA is supported
        PCI is supported
        PNP is supported
        BIOS is upgradeable
        BIOS shadowing is allowed
        ESCD support is available
        Boot from CD is supported
        Selectable boot is supported
        Print screen service is supported (int 5h)
        8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h)
        Serial services are supported (int 14h)
        Printer services are supported (int 17h)
        ACPI is supported
        USB legacy is supported
        AGP is supported
        Smart battery is supported
        BIOS boot specification is supported
        Targeted content distribution is supported

Handle 0x0001, DMI type 1, 27 bytes
System Information
    Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
    Product Name: HP Pavilion dv9700 Notebook PC   
    Version: Rev 1
    Serial Number: CNF8174BCW
    UUID: 434E4638-3137-3442-4357-001E685F55DF
    Wake-up Type: Power Switch
    SKU Number: GP236AV    
    Family: 103C_5335KV

Handle 0x0002, DMI type 2, 8 bytes
Base Board Information
    Manufacturer: Quanta
    Product Name: 30CB
    Version: 79.29
    Serial Number: None

Handle 0x0003, DMI type 3, 17 bytes
Chassis Information
    Manufacturer: Quanta
    Type: Notebook
    Lock: Not Present
    Version: N/A
    Serial Number: None
    Asset Tag:                    
    Boot-up State: Safe
    Power Supply State: Safe
    Thermal State: Safe
    Security Status: None
    OEM Information: 0x00000104

Handle 0x0004, DMI type 4, 35 bytes
Processor Information
    Socket Designation: U2E1
    Type: Central Processor
    Family: <OUT OF SPEC>
    Manufacturer: Intel
    ID: 76 06 01 00 FF FB EB BF
    Version: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T8300
    Voltage: 3.3 V
    External Clock: 800 MHz
    Max Speed: 2400 MHz
    Current Speed: 2400 MHz
    Status: Populated, Enabled
    Upgrade: Socket 478
    L1 Cache Handle: 0x0005
    L2 Cache Handle: 0x0006
    L3 Cache Handle: Not Provided
    Serial Number: Not Specified
    Asset Tag: Not Specified
    Part Number: Not Specified

Handle 0x0005, DMI type 7, 19 bytes
Cache Information
    Socket Designation: L1 Cache
    Configuration: Enabled, Socketed, Level 1
    Operational Mode: Write Back
    Location: Internal
    Installed Size: 64 KB
    Maximum Size: 64 KB
    Supported SRAM Types:
        Burst
        Pipeline Burst
        Asynchronous
    Installed SRAM Type: Asynchronous
    Speed: Unknown
    Error Correction Type: Unknown
    System Type: Unknown
    Associativity: Unknown

Handle 0x0006, DMI type 7, 19 bytes
Cache Information
    Socket Designation: L2 Cache
    Configuration: Enabled, Socketed, Level 2
    Operational Mode: Write Back
    Location: External
    Installed Size: 3072 KB
    Maximum Size: 3072 KB
    Supported SRAM Types:
        Burst
        Pipeline Burst
        Asynchronous
    Installed SRAM Type: Burst
    Speed: Unknown
    Error Correction Type: Unknown
    System Type: Unknown
    Associativity: Unknown

Handle 0x0007, DMI type 9, 13 bytes
System Slot Information
    Designation: PCI Express Slot 1
    Type: 64-bit PCI Express
    Current Usage: Available
    Length: Long
    ID: 0
    Characteristics:
        5.0 V is provided
        3.3 V is provided

Handle 0x0008, DMI type 9, 13 bytes
System Slot Information
    Designation: PCI Express Slot 2
    Type: 64-bit PCI Express
    Current Usage: Available
    Length: Long
    ID: 0
    Characteristics:
        5.0 V is provided
        3.3 V is provided
        PME signal is supported
        Hot-plug devices are supported

Handle 0x0009, DMI type 9, 13 bytes
System Slot Information
    Designation: PCI Express Slot 6
    Type: 64-bit PCI Express
    Current Usage: Available
    Length: Long
    ID: 0
    Characteristics:
        5.0 V is provided
        3.3 V is provided
        PME signal is supported

Handle 0x000A, DMI type 10, 6 bytes
On Board Device Information
    Type: Video
    Status: Enabled
    Description:   

Handle 0x000B, DMI type 11, 5 bytes
OEM Strings
    String 1: $HP$
    String 2: LOC#ABA
    String 3: ABS 70/71 79 7A 7B 7C

Handle 0x000C, DMI type 16, 15 bytes
Physical Memory Array
    Location: System Board Or Motherboard
    Use: System Memory
    Error Correction Type: None
    Maximum Capacity: 4 GB
    Error Information Handle: Not Provided
    Number Of Devices: 2

Handle 0x000D, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
    Array Handle: 0x000C
    Error Information Handle: No Error
    Total Width: 64 bits
    Data Width: 64 bits
    Size: 2048 MB
    Form Factor: DIMM
    Set: 1
    Locator: DIMM 1
    Bank Locator: Bank 0,1
    Type: DDR2
    Type Detail: Synchronous
    Speed: 667 MHz (1.5 ns)
    Manufacturer: Not Specified
    Serial Number: Not Specified
    Asset Tag: Not Specified
    Part Number: Not Specified

Handle 0x000E, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
    Array Handle: 0x000C
    Error Information Handle: No Error
    Total Width: 64 bits
    Data Width: 64 bits
    Size: 2048 MB
    Form Factor: DIMM
    Set: 1
    Locator: DIMM 2
    Bank Locator: Bank 2,3
    Type: DDR2
    Type Detail: Synchronous
    Speed: 667 MHz (1.5 ns)
    Manufacturer: Not Specified
    Serial Number: Not Specified
    Asset Tag: Not Specified
    Part Number: Not Specified

Handle 0x000F, DMI type 19, 15 bytes
Memory Array Mapped Address
    Starting Address: 0x00000000000
    Ending Address: 0x000FFFFFFFF
    Range Size: 4 GB
    Physical Array Handle: 0x000C
    Partition Width: 0

Handle 0x0010, DMI type 20, 19 bytes
Memory Device Mapped Address
    Starting Address: 0x00000000000
    Ending Address: 0x0007FFFFFFF
    Range Size: 2 GB
    Physical Device Handle: 0x000D
    Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x000F
    Partition Row Position: 2
    Interleave Position: 2
    Interleaved Data Depth: 2

Handle 0x0011, DMI type 32, 20 bytes
System Boot Information
    Status: <OUT OF SPEC>

Handle 0x0012, DMI type 127, 4 bytes
End Of Table

When Linux Locks Up

The following are some key combinations to get around a locked up Linux system:

• Shutdown X11: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace
• Switch from X11 to text login: Ctrl-Alt-F1, F2, F3 (don't do with a dual monitor setup in XP, you will lose one of your monitors :-()

If the above don't work try the following steps to shutdown:

1. Ctrl-Alt-Del and wait 30 seconds for init to shutdown your computer
   
2. If this fails use SAK(?). While holding down Alt-PrintScreen (SysRq key Combo) press the following keys
1. 'S' to sync drives
2. 'U' to unmount drives
3. 'B' to reboot
3. If all this fail, then take your life in yours hands and hit the power switch :-(

Note: You may see some activity when you press the 'S' key and 'U' key, but you may not. Don't give up. Continue to step 3 and hit the reboot key 'B' and wait. Even when I have saw nothing for the sync and unmount commands the boot command has worked.

This was gleaned from the following link: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=221174

Keywords: linux, hangs, hung, reboot, freezes, frozen

RPM Package Manager (Red Hat Package Manager) (RPM)

A Linux package manager developed by Red Hat.  Is a circular acronym.

(see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPM_Package_Manager)

Yellowdog Updater, Modifier (YUM)

An open source command line package management utility for RPM compatible Linux operating systems.

(see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowdog_Updater,_Modified)

Using find and tar to save selected files

Getting the ICO files.

1.    Use find to create a list of ICO files for the tar to use.
2.    Use the list with the tar command and create the archive.

$ find . -name "*.ico"  -print > ICOFiles.txt
$ tar -c -v -T ICOFiles.txt -f ICONs.tar

When Linux Locks Up

The following are some key combinations to get around a locked up Linux system:

• Shutdown X11: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace
• Switch from X11 to text login: Ctrl-Alt-F1, F2, F3 (don't do with a dual monitor setup in XP, you will lose one of your monitors :-()

If the above don't work try the following steps to shutdown:

1. Ctrl-Alt-Del and wait 30 seconds for init to shutdown your computer
   
2. If this fails use SAK(?). While holding down Alt-PrintScreen (SysRq key Combo) press the following keys
1. 'S' to sync drives
2. 'U' to unmount drives
3. 'B' to reboot
3. If all this fail, then take your life in yours hands and hit the power switch :-(

Note: You may see some activity when you press the 'S' key and 'U' key, but you may not. Don't give up. Continue to step 3 and hit the reboot key 'B' and wait. Even when I have saw nothing for the sync and unmount commands the boot command has worked.

This was gleaned from the following link: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=221174

Pulling PNGs from ICO files.

I created the following two Borne scripts for doing this.  This first only pulls the images with a palette of 24 or 32 bits.  The second pulls them all.

#!/bin/sh
# Run this in to top level of the directory set of the ICOs
# you want to extract.echo Creating folders to hold the PNGs pulled from the ICO files.
# Only PNGs with a color pallete of 24 or greater will be extracted.
echo Creating folders to hold the PNGs pulled from the ICO files.
find . -depth -name "*.ico" -exec mkdir {}.dir \;
echo Pulling the PNGs from the ICO files.
find . -depth -name "*.ico" -exec icotool -p 0 -o {}.dir  -x '{}' \;

#!/bin/sh
# Run this in to top level of the directory set of the ICOs
# you want to extract.
echo Creating folders to hold the PNGs pulled from the ICO files.
find . -depth -name "*.ico" -exec mkdir {}.dir \;
echo Pulling the PNGs from the ICO files.
find . -depth -name "*.ico" -exec icotool -o {}.dir  -x '{}' \;

The site for the icotool is here:  http://www.nongnu.org/icoutils/

There is no longer a doc folder for icotool.  Everything has been moved to the man page.  I learned this reading through the release notes here:  http://www.nongnu.org/icoutils/NEWS

The site for creating the shell is here:  http://steve-parker.org/sh/variables1.shtml

This is a discussion on using the icotool:  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=322702

This is a discussion of the ICO file format:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICO_%28file_format%29

This is also a discussion of the MAC icon files:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Icon_Image

This is a list of packages used with or on icons:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_icon_software

This is a nice discussion of the find command:  http://linux.about.com/od/commands/l/blcmdl1_find.htm