hw-probe

hw-probe is a free hardware diagnostic and inventory tool for Linux and BSD systems. It is best suited to developers troubleshooting devices and organizations tracking machines. Its strongest case is combining driver suggestions with recurring monitoring, but uploaded probe data and limited Snap functionality are meaningful trade-offs.

Overview

Each probe captures hardware state and logs and returns a permanent URL for viewing the snapshot. If a device lacks a driver, hw-probe draws on Linux hardware database data to suggest a kernel version or third-party driver. That gives Linux troubleshooters a useful lead, though the tool does not provide report export.

Users can generate an inventory ID and mark probes to find computers on Linux-Hardware.org. LHWM can monitor operating-system failures, configuration changes and hardware degradation. Its monitoring command adds a daily cron job to probe a server and email notifications about failures or important changes, a practical option for administrators who want a recurring check without manually repeating probes.

Key features

• Snapshots and driver guidance: Permanent URLs make probe results easy to revisit, while driver suggestions can help narrow down why hardware is not working.
• Inventory and monitoring: Inventory IDs help locate marked computers, and daily scheduled probes with email alerts provide continuing visibility into server changes and failures.
• Optional runtime tests: Tests cover graphics with glxgears, drive read speed with hdparm, CPU performance with dd and md5sum, and RAM with memtester. These checks broaden a probe beyond inventory, but are targeted sanity tests rather than a general performance-reporting suite.
• Privacy controls: Uploads use HTTPS; usernames, hostnames, IP addresses, MAC addresses, UUIDs and serial numbers are decorated before upload. MAC addresses and serial numbers are represented by 32-byte prefixes of salted SHA-512 hashes, and selected logs can be disabled with the -disable option. The project acknowledges possible edge-case failures, so users handling sensitive systems should weigh the upload model rather than assume all identifying data is removed in every case.

Pricing

hw-probe is free: its plan is free and the software is dual-licensed under LGPL-2.1-or-later or BSD-4-Clause. There are no paid tiers to unlock; the cost is instead the need to accept uploaded probe data and work within the deployment format's limits.

Platforms

The project supports Linux distributions and BSD systems including FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, DragonFly, MidnightBSD, GhostBSD, NomadBSD, FreeNAS and pfSense. Installation formats include AppImage, Docker, Snap, Flatpak, Live CD/USB and native distribution packages. The Snap package runs in a sandbox with limited functionality, and checking drive SMART attributes requires disk block device access.

It has a command-line interface, firmware details, installed-software information and a portable version. Linux support details vary by package; BSD users are directed to separate installation instructions and bsd-hardware.info.

Who it's for

Linux and BSD developers debugging computer problems get the clearest fit: a probe pairs a hardware snapshot with database-backed driver suggestions. Organizations simplifying hardware inventory can use IDs and marked probes, while administrators may value the daily cron-based checks and email alerts. It is a weaker fit for users who require reports as downloadable exports or want to avoid uploading probe data.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Permanent snapshot URLs combine hardware state and logs in a form that is easy to revisit.
• Pro: Driver suggestions and optional hardware tests give troubleshooters concrete ways to investigate devices.
• Pro: Daily probes and email notifications extend the tool from one-time inventory to basic ongoing oversight.
• Con: Probe data is uploaded, and the project acknowledges that privacy decoration can have edge-case failures.
• Con: There is no report export, which limits workflows that need portable reports.
• Con: Snap's sandbox restricts functionality; SMART checks also require disk block device access.

Alternatives

Browse System Information Software for the broader category. Choose Fastfetch instead for a free, MIT-licensed command-line system-information tool with 75+ modules across Android, Linux, macOS and Windows. Facter is another free option across Linux, macOS, self-hosted and Windows; its free Puppet Core Developer plan is for fewer than 25 nodes, while commercial pricing applies at 25 or more nodes.

For Windows-only system information, ASTRA32 has a free non-commercial plan. HWMonitor is a Windows and Android alternative focused on PC hardware sensors, with a free plan and a $19.95, paid once Pro Standard plan for unlimited use and one year of unlimited use. SIW offers a free viewer and a 14-day trial version for supported 64-bit Windows versions.

Mac users may prefer EtreCheckPro, whose free download includes unlimited use, basic reports and diagnostics, and command-line use. htop is a free Linux and macOS option distributed as source code and binaries. For Windows home use, Speccy has a free edition for advanced PC insights and a $19.95, paid once Professional plan with automatic updates and premium support.

Verdict

Choose hw-probe if you debug Linux or BSD hardware, need shareable snapshots or inventory, and value driver suggestions and scheduled email alerts. Its combination of probing and lightweight monitoring is the main reason to pick it; look elsewhere if you need downloadable reports, strictly local data handling or unrestricted Snap operation.