Python Module To Detect Linux Distro Version

Question

Is there an existing python module that can be used to detect which distro of Linux and which version of the distro is currently installed.

For example:

• RedHat Enterprise 5
• Fedora 11
• Suse Enterprise 11
• etc....

I can make my own module by parsing various files like /etc/redhat-release but I was wondering if a module already exists?

Cheers, Ivan

Answer 1

Look up the docs for the platform module: http://docs.python.org/library/platform.html

Example:

>>> platform.uname()
('Linux', 'localhost', '2.6.31.5-desktop-1mnb', '#1 SMP Fri Oct 23 00:05:22 EDT 2009', 'x86_64', 'AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3600+')
>>> platform.linux_distribution()
('Mandriva Linux', '2010.0', 'Official')