Introduction
In the world of Linux system administration, having tools that provide detailed information about hardware and software is essential for diagnosing problems, planning upgrades, or simply satisfying curiosity. Among the available options, inxi stands out for its ability to present a complete and readable summary of the machine in question, without requiring complex configurations. This script, written in bash, gathers data from multiple kernel and system service sources, and displays it in a format that can be adapted for both beginners and advanced users. In this article we will explore what inxi is, how to install it on the most common distributions, its basic syntax, the most useful options, and some practical examples to get the most out of it.
What is inxi?
Inxi is a command-line script that collects and displays information about the operating system, installed hardware, and relevant software components. Its name comes from «in X», referring to its origin as a tool to obtain data from the X Window environment, although today it works independently of any graphical environment. The output includes CPU details, RAM memory, disks, network cards, graphics, audio, as well as the kernel version, distribution, desktop environment, and loaded drivers. Thanks to its modular design, users can select which sections they want to view via specific options, allowing them to obtain anything from a brief summary to an exhaustive report tailored to particular diagnostic or documentation needs.
Installation of inxi
The installation of inxi is simple because it is found in the official repositories of most Linux distributions. On Debian and its derivatives, such as Ubuntu, it is enough to run sudo apt update followed by sudo apt install inxi. On Fedora, dnf install inxi is used, while on openSUSE, zypper install inxi is used. For distributions based on Arch Linux, the package is available in the official repositories and is installed with sudo pacman -S inxi. If the repository version is outdated, it is also possible to obtain the latest release directly from the project’s GitHub repository, cloning it and running the script from the downloaded directory, although normally the packaged version is sufficient for most users.
Basic Syntax
The simplest way to use inxi is to type the command without arguments, which produces a general system summary. For example, simply typing inxi in the terminal will show basic information such as the CPU, memory, disk, and kernel version. If more detail is desired, options that activate specific sections can be added. The syntax follows the pattern inxi [options] [detail level], where the detail level is indicated with numbers from 1 to 7, with 1 being the shortest summary and 7 the most complete. Additionally, multiple options can be combined to customize the output as needed, making inxi a very flexible tool for administrators and enthusiasts.
Most Used Options
- -F, –full: shows complete information of all available sections.
- -b, –basic: provides a brief summary ideal for quick reviews.
- -c 0-32: changes the color scheme of the output (0 disables colors).
- -N: focuses on network information, including interfaces, IP addresses, and speed.
- -G: shows details of the graphics subsystem, such as the GPU, driver, and resolution.
- -S: includes operating system data, distribution, desktop environment, and kernel version.
- -A: focused on audio, listing sound cards and associated drivers.
- -d: shows details of storage devices, such as models and disk sizes.
Practical Examples
To get a quick hardware summary, simply run inxi -b. If a full report is needed to share with a support team, the command inxi -F generates an extensive output covering from the processor to temperature sensors. When diagnosing a network problem, inxi -N shows all network interfaces, their status, MAC and IP addresses, as well as link speed. Gaming enthusiasts can verify the GPU and drivers with inxi -G, while those working with professional audio use inxi -A to confirm that the system correctly recognizes their sound interfaces. Additionally, several indicators can be combined, for example inxi -SGd to simultaneously obtain system, graphics, and disk information in a single view.
Interpreting the Output
The output of inxi is designed to be readable even without prior experience. Each section begins with a header indicating the type of information, followed by key‑value pairs or simple tables. For example, in the CPU section the model, number of cores, threads, base and turbo frequency, and architecture are shown. In the memory section the total capacity, used and free are indicated, often accompanied by swap memory details. Disks appear with their model, capacity, interface type (SATA, NVMe), and, if available, temperature. When observing colors (if enabled), values within normal ranges are usually shown in green, while warnings or critical values appear in red, facilitating quick detection of anomalies.
Tips and Best Practices
To get the most out of inxi, consider creating aliases in your shell configuration file that include your favorite options, such as alias sysinfo=’inxi -Fxxxz’ to obtain a full report without showing sensitive data like IP addresses or serial numbers. It is also useful to redirect the output to a text file for documentation or to attach it to error reports: inxi -F > informe.txt. Remember that, although inxi is very safe, some options may reveal information considered private; therefore review the output before sharing it publicly. In summary, inxi is a powerful, lightweight, and versatile tool that provides a clear view of the state of your Linux system, facilitating both routine maintenance and advanced troubleshooting.
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