Update:

Thanks to Jayen, there is a better way:

$ lsb_release -a<br /> No LSB modules are available.<br /> Distributor ID: Ubuntu<br /> Description: Ubuntu 9.10<br /> Release: 9.10<br /> Codename: karmic<br />

—

$ cat /etc/issue<br /> Debian GNU/Linux squeeze/sid n l<br />

Or

<br /> $ cat /proc/version<br /> Linux version 2.6.32-trunk-686 (Debian 2.6.32-5) (ben@decadent.org.uk) (gcc version 4.3.4 (Debian 4.3.4-6) ) #1 SMP Sun Jan 10 06:32:16 UTC 2010<br />

Source: Which Linux Distro are you using??