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 detected
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