If you’re using Ubuntu with a Dell computer (from factory or else), there is a handy command to get your service tag number. This is handy in support situations (if you’re getting support or providing it) when the service tag number can’t be read because it’s inaccessible, too small, or simply gone – some older desktops’ stickers eventually come off.
Open the terminal window in the Accessories > Applications menu and type:
sudo dmidecode -s system-serial-number
dmidecode will work on any system, not just Dell systems. A similar, Dell-specific command is getSystemId, part of the libsmbios-bin package, I will probably exlore that one in another post.
From dmidecode‘s man page:
dmidecode is a tool for dumping a computers DMI (some say SMBIOS) table contents in a human-readable format. This table contains a description of the systems hardware components, as well as other useful pieces of information such as serial numbers and BIOS revision. Thanks to this table, you can retrieve this information without having to probe for the actual hardware. While this is a good point in terms of report speed and safeness, this also makes the presented information possibly unreliable.
The DMI table doesnt only describe what the system is currently made of, it also can report the possible evolutions (such as the fastest supported CPU or the maximal amount of memory supported).
SMBIOS stands for System Management BIOS, while DMI stands for Desktop Management Interface. Both standards are tightly related and developed by the DMTF (Desktop Management Task Force).
sudo dmidecode by itself will give all the information in your BIOS, other arguments bring back specific data or formats it for readability. Here is the output of sudo dmidecode -q on a system I have access to (service tag and serial intentionally obfuscated):
BIOS Information Vendor: Dell Computer Corporation Version: A08 Release Date: 09/27/2004 Address: 0xF0000 Runtime Size: 64 kB ROM Size: 512 kB Characteristics: PCI is supported PNP is supported APM is supported BIOS is upgradeable BIOS shadowing is allowed ESCD support is available Boot from CD is supported Selectable boot is supported EDD is supported Japanese floppy for Toshiba 1.2 MB is supported (int 13h) 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 LS-120 boot is supported BIOS boot specification is supported Function key-initiated network boot is supported System Information Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation Product Name: Precision WorkStation XXX Version: Not Specified Serial Number: X9XX999 UUID: 99999X9X-9999-9999-9999-X9X99X999999 Wake-up Type: Power Switch Base Board Information Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corp. Product Name: 9X9999 Version: Serial Number: ..XX999999X99XX. Chassis Information Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation Type: Mini Tower Lock: Not Present Version: Not Specified Serial Number: X9XX999 Asset Tag: Boot-up State: Safe Power Supply State: Safe Thermal State: Safe Security Status: None Processor Information Socket Designation: Microprocessor Type: Central Processor Family: Pentium 4 Manufacturer: Intel ID: FF FF FF FF FF FF FB EB BF Signature: Type 0, Family 15, Model 2, Stepping 9 Flags: FPU (Floating-point unit on-chip) VME (Virtual mode extension) DE (Debugging extension) PSE (Page size extension) TSC (Time stamp counter) MSR (Model specific registers) PAE (Physical address extension) MCE (Machine check exception) CX8 (CMPXCHG8 instruction supported) APIC (On-chip APIC hardware supported) SEP (Fast system call) MTRR (Memory type range registers) PGE (Page global enable) MCA (Machine check architecture) CMOV (Conditional move instruction supported) PAT (Page attribute table) PSE-36 (36-bit page size extension) CLFSH (CLFLUSH instruction supported) DS (Debug store) ACPI (ACPI supported) MMX (MMX technology supported) FXSR (Fast floating-point save and restore) SSE (Streaming SIMD extensions) SSE2 (Streaming SIMD extensions 2) SS (Self-snoop) HTT (Hyper-threading technology) TM (Thermal monitor supported) PBE (Pending break enabled) Version: Not Specified Voltage: 1.5 V External Clock: 800 MHz Max Speed: 3600 MHz Current Speed: 2400 MHz Status: Populated, Enabled Upgrade: ZIF Socket Cache Information Socket Designation: Not Specified Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 1 Operational Mode: Write Back Location: Internal Installed Size: 8 KB Maximum Size: 16 KB Supported SRAM Types: Other Installed SRAM Type: Other Speed: Unknown Error Correction Type: None System Type: Data Associativity: 4-way Set-associative Cache Information Socket Designation: Not Specified Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 2 Operational Mode: Varies With Memory Address Location: Internal Installed Size: 512 KB Maximum Size: 512 KB Supported SRAM Types: Other Installed SRAM Type: Other Speed: Unknown Error Correction Type: Single-bit ECC System Type: Unified Associativity: Other Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: PARALLEL Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: DB-25 female Port Type: Parallel Port PS/2 Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: SERIAL1 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: DB-9 male Port Type: Serial Port 16550A Compatible Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: SERIAL2 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: DB-9 male Port Type: Serial Port 16550A Compatible Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: KYBD Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: PS/2 Port Type: Keyboard Port Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: MOUSE Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: PS/2 Port Type: Mouse Port Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB1 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB2 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB3 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB4 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB5 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB6 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB7 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB8 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: ENET Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: RJ-45 Port Type: Network Port Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: MIC Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Mini Jack (headphones) Port Type: Audio Port Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: LINE-OUT Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Mini Jack (headphones) Port Type: Audio Port Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: LINE-IN Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Mini Jack (headphones) Port Type: Audio Port Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: HP-OUT Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Mini Jack (headphones) Port Type: Audio Port System Slot Information Designation: PCI1 Type: 32-bit PCI Current Usage: Available Length: Long ID: 1 Characteristics: 5.0 V is provided 3.3 V is provided PME signal is supported System Slot Information Designation: PCI2 Type: 32-bit PCI Current Usage: Available Length: Long ID: 2 Characteristics: 5.0 V is provided 3.3 V is provided PME signal is supported System Slot Information Designation: PCI3 Type: 32-bit PCI Current Usage: Available Length: Long ID: 3 Characteristics: 5.0 V is provided 3.3 V is provided PME signal is supported System Slot Information Designation: PCI4 Type: 32-bit PCI Current Usage: Available Length: Long ID: 4 Characteristics: 5.0 V is provided 3.3 V is provided PME signal is supported System Slot Information Designation: AGP1 Type: 32-bit AGP 8x Current Usage: In Use Length: Long ID: 0 Characteristics: 3.3 V is provided PME signal is supported On Board Device Information Type: Ethernet Status: Enabled Description: Intel Pro 1000 MT Network Connection On Board Device Information Type: Sound Status: Enabled Description: AC'97 Audio Controller OEM Strings String 1: www.dell.com BIOS Language Information Installable Languages: 1 en|US|iso8859-1 Currently Installed Language: en|US|iso8859-1 System Event Log Area Length: 2049 bytes Header Start Offset: 0x0000 Header Length: 16 bytes Data Start Offset: 0x0010 Access Method: Memory-mapped physical 32-bit address Access Address: 0xFFF82000 Status: Valid, Not Full Change Token: 0x0000003F Header Format: Type 1 Supported Log Type Descriptors: 4 Descriptor 1: POST error Data Format 1: POST results bitmap Descriptor 2: System limit exceeded Data Format 2: System management Descriptor 3: Log area reset/cleared Data Format 3: None Descriptor 4: Multi-bit ECC memory error Data Format 4: Handle Physical Memory Array Location: System Board Or Motherboard Use: System Memory Error Correction Type: Single-bit ECC Maximum Capacity: 4 GB Number Of Devices: 4 Memory Device Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: 512 MB Form Factor: DIMM Set: None Locator: CHANNEL A DIMM 0 Bank Locator: Not Specified Type: SDRAM Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: 333 MHz (3.0 ns) Memory Device Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: 512 MB Form Factor: DIMM Set: None Locator: CHANNEL B DIMM 0 Bank Locator: Not Specified Type: SDRAM Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: 333 MHz (3.0 ns) Memory Device Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: No Module Installed Form Factor: DIMM Set: None Locator: CHANNEL A DIMM 1 Bank Locator: Not Specified Type: SDRAM Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: 333 MHz (3.0 ns) Memory Device Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: No Module Installed Form Factor: DIMM Set: None Locator: CHANNEL B DIMM 1 Bank Locator: Not Specified Type: SDRAM Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: 333 MHz (3.0 ns) Memory Array Mapped Address Starting Address: 0x00000000000 Ending Address: 0x0003FFFFFFF Range Size: 1 GB Partition Width: 0 Memory Device Mapped Address Starting Address: 0x00000000000 Ending Address: 0x0001FFFFFFF Range Size: 512 MB Partition Row Position: 1 Memory Device Mapped Address Starting Address: 0x00020000000 Ending Address: 0x0003FFFFFFF Range Size: 512 MB Partition Row Position: 1 Hardware Security Power-On Password Status: Enabled Keyboard Password Status: Not Implemented Administrator Password Status: Enabled Front Panel Reset Status: Not Implemented System Power Controls Next Scheduled Power-on: *-* 00:00:00 Voltage Probe Description: +1.5V Location: Motherboard Status: OK Maximum Value: 3.327 V Minimum Value: 0.003 V Resolution: 12.9 mV Tolerance: Unknown Accuracy: 2.00% OEM-specific Information: 0x0000DC00 Voltage Probe Description: CPU Voltage Location: Motherboard Status: OK Maximum Value: 2.997 V Minimum Value: 0.003 V Resolution: 11.4 mV Tolerance: Unknown Accuracy: 2.00% OEM-specific Information: 0x0000DC01 Voltage Probe Description: +3.3V Aux Location: Motherboard Status: OK Maximum Value: 4.396 V Minimum Value: 0.004 V Resolution: 17.1 mV Tolerance: Unknown Accuracy: 2.00% OEM-specific Information: 0x0000DC02 Voltage Probe Description: +5V Location: Motherboard Status: OK Maximum Value: 6.663 V Minimum Value: 0.007 V Resolution: 26.0 mV Tolerance: Unknown Accuracy: 2.00% OEM-specific Information: 0x0000DC03 Voltage Probe Description: +12V Location: Motherboard Status: OK Maximum Value: 15.984 V Minimum Value: 0.016 V Resolution: 60.0 mV Tolerance: Unknown Accuracy: 2.00% OEM-specific Information: 0x0000DC04 Cooling Device Type: Fan Status: OK OEM-specific Information: 0x0000DD05 Temperature Probe Description: CPU0 Location: Processor Status: OK Maximum Value: 127.0 deg C Minimum Value -127.0 deg C Resolution: 1.000 deg C Tolerance: Unknown Accuracy: Unknown OEM-specific Information: 0x0000DC11 Temperature Probe Description: System Board Location: Motherboard Status: OK Maximum Value: 127.0 deg C Minimum Value -127.0 deg C Resolution: 1.000 deg C Tolerance: Unknown Accuracy: Unknown OEM-specific Information: 0x0000DC15 Boot Integrity Services Entry Point System Boot Information Status: No errors detected1