How to Check Your CPU’s Architecture on Linux

1. Using the uname Command

The uname command is one of the simplest and quickest ways to get basic information about your CPU architecture.

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
   uname -m

3. You’ll see an output like:
   • x86_64: 64-bit architecture
   • i686 or i386: 32-bit architecture
   • armv7l or aarch64: ARM architecture (32-bit or 64-bit, respectively)

This command provides the machine hardware name, which gives you a direct answer about your CPU architecture.

2. Using the lscpu Command for Detailed Information

The lscpu command offers more detailed information about the CPU, including architecture, model name, cores, and more.

1. Open the terminal.
2. Run the following command:
   lscpu

3. In the output, look for the Architecture line, which indicates the CPU’s architecture:
   • x86_64: 64-bit
   • i686 or i386: 32-bit
   • aarch64 or arm: ARM architecture

The lscpu command also provides additional details like the number of CPU cores, the CPU model, and the vendor, which can be helpful for understanding your system’s specifications in detail.

3. Checking CPU Architecture with the file Command

The file command can tell you the architecture of the binaries on your system, which indirectly indicates the system architecture.

1. Open a terminal.
2. Use the following command to check the architecture of the bash binary:
   file /bin/bash

3. You should see output similar to:
   • ELF 64-bit: 64-bit architecture
   • ELF 32-bit: 32-bit architecture

This command provides a quick way to confirm the CPU’s architecture based on the type of binaries your system is running.

4. Using /proc/cpuinfo for CPU Details

The /proc/cpuinfo file contains detailed information about your CPU. While it doesn’t explicitly state the CPU architecture, you can infer it by reviewing certain details.

1. In the terminal, enter:
   cat /proc/cpuinfo

2. Look through the output for the flags section:
   • If you see lm (long mode), it indicates 64-bit capability.
   • The flags section may also include other relevant information like vmx (Intel Virtualization) or svm (AMD Virtualization).

This method provides a lot of information, which can be useful if you’re also interested in other CPU specifications beyond architecture.

5. Using dpkg on Debian-Based Systems

On Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu, you can use the dpkg command to check your system’s architecture.

1. In the terminal, enter:
   dpkg --print-architecture

2. The output will indicate your system architecture:
   • amd64 for 64-bit
   • i386 for 32-bit
   • armhf or arm64 for ARM architecture

This command is specific to Debian-based systems and won’t work on other Linux distributions.

Summary of Commands

Conclusion

Each of these commands provides a way to check your CPU’s architecture on Linux, whether you want a quick overview or a detailed look. Using a combination of these commands can give you a comprehensive understanding of your system’s architecture and other specifications.