EVERYTHING XIAOMI
Get listed

hwinfo

hwinfo is free, open-source Linux software for probing hardware installed in a system and creating an overview log that can support troubleshooting.

Place
#24 of 34
Score
5.6
hwinfo's website

What hwinfo is

hwinfo is free, open-source Linux software for probing hardware installed in a system and creating an overview log that can support troubleshooting. The project includes the libhd.so hardware-probing library and the hwinfo command-line tool. Detailed output can identify a graphics card’s hardware identifiers, model, vendor, driver information, memory ranges, I/O ports, and IRQ. An abbreviated mode offers shorter listings, including disks and CD-ROM devices. Probing can be adjusted with the hwprobe environment variable or a kernel boot option, enabling or disabling modules and adding some devices to a limited degree. This configuration cannot usefully describe hardware when its entry lacks needed information, with disks and floppies noted as examples. YaST is identified as a major libhd user. The documentation references SMBIOS, VESA BIOS Extensions, PCI, SDIO, USB, and SCSI. The README uses make and make install for building and installation. The repository lists GPL-2.0 licensing.

Good

  • Free and open-source GPL-2.0 project
  • Detailed graphics-card hardware reporting
  • Abbreviated listings for disks and CD-ROMs
  • Configurable probing modules
  • Includes library and command-line tool

Watch out

  • Linux-only platform
  • Probe configuration cannot fully add some hardware
  • Requires command-line build and installation steps

Who it suits

hwinfo suits Linux users and support workflows that need command-line hardware detection, detailed device information, or concise inventory output.

Verdict

hwinfo combines a reusable probing library with a command-line utility for Linux hardware inventories. Its detailed and abbreviated output, configurable probing, and documented standards make it useful when hardware information is needed for support.

Plans and prices

From hwinfo's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
hwinfoFreeHardware probing library and command-line tool

The facts

Each one read from hwinfo's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Build and install
The README says to build the library with make and install it with make install.checked 4 Oct 2026
Components
The project provides the libhd.so hardware probing library and the hwinfo command-line tool.checked 4 Oct 2026
Concise output
The command supports abbreviated output, with an example listing disks and CD-ROM devices.checked 4 Oct 2026
Distribution
The project README says commits to master are automatically submitted to current SUSE products through the openSUSE Build Service workflow.checked 4 Oct 2026
Hardware details
The example graphics-card output includes hardware identifiers, model and vendor, driver information, memory ranges, I/O ports, and IRQ.checked 4 Oct 2026
Integration
YaST, the SUSE installation tool, is identified as a major project using libhd.checked 4 Oct 2026
License
The repository identifies its license as GPL-2.0.checked 4 Oct 2026
Probe control
The hwprobe environment variable or kernel boot option can enable or disable probing modules and add hardware devices to some degree.checked 4 Oct 2026
Probe limitations
The hwprobe configuration cannot usefully add hardware that requires more information than its entry provides; disks and floppies are cited as examples.checked 4 Oct 2026
Purpose
hwinfo/libhd probe hardware present in a system and can generate an overview log for support.checked 4 Oct 2026
Technical standards
The project documentation links hardware-detection references for SMBIOS, VESA BIOS Extensions, PCI, SDIO, USB, and SCSI.checked 4 Oct 2026

Alternatives to hwinfo

All alternatives
  1. 1Fastfetch logo

    Fastfetch

    Free planOpen sourceAndroidLinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
    7.5Free plan
    Visit
  2. 2

    Facter

    Free planOpen sourceAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
    7.4Free plan
    Visit
  3. 3

    AIDA64

    AndroidiOSWindows
    7.0€59.95 one-time
    Visit
  4. 4

    Btrfsmaintenance

    Free planOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hosted
    6.9Free plan
    Visit
  5. 5

    SIW

    Free planWindows
    6.6From $39.99 a year
    Visit
  6. 6Speccy logo

    Speccy

    Free planWindows
    6.6$19.95 one-time
    Visit