How to Fix lsb_release command not found

As a Linux user, you may have encountered the “lsb_release command not found” error when using the lsb_release command on your terminal. This error can be frustrating and make it seem like you can’t access important information about your Linux distribution. However, there is a simple fix for this issue.

What is lsb_release?

First, it’s important to understand what the lsb_release command does. The Linux Standard Base (LSB) is a set of standards that define how different Linux distributions should behave. The lsb_release command displays information about your Linux distribution, such as the version number and the release code name.

This information can be helpful when troubleshooting issues or determining compatibility with certain software.

What are the Causes of “lsb_release command not found” error?

So, why might you get the “lsb_release command not found” error? There are a few reasons this could happen:

• The lsb-release package is not installed on your system
• The lsb-release package is installed, but the lsb_release executable is not in your PATH
• There is a problem with the lsb-release package or the lsb_release executable

Let’s go through these potential issues and discuss how to fix them.

The lsb-release package is not installed on your system

If the lsb-release package is not installed on your system, the lsb_release command will not be available. To fix this, you will need to install the lsb-release package. The steps for doing this will vary depending on your Linux distribution.

Installing lsb-release on Debian and Ubuntu

Using a Debian-based distribution such as Debian or Ubuntu, you can install the lsb-release package using the apt package manager. First, update your package list by running the following command:

sudo apt update

Next, install the lsb-release package by running the following command:

sudo apt install lsb-release

Related: How to Fix “-bash: ng: command not found”

Installing lsb-release on CentOS and Red Hat

Using a Red Hat-based distribution such as CentOS or Red Hat, you can install the lsb-release package using the yum package manager. First, update your package list by running the following command:

sudo yum update

Next, install the lsb-release package by running the following command:

sudo yum install redhat-lsb-core

Installing lsb-release on Fedora

Using Fedora, you can install the lsb-release package using the dnf package manager. First, update your package list by running the following command:

sudo dnf update 

Next, install the lsb-release package by running the following command:

sudo dnf install redhat-lsb-core

The lsb-release package is installed, but the lsb_release executable is not in your PATH

If the lsb-release package is installed, but the lsb_release executable is not in your PATH, the terminal will not be able to find the lsb_release command. Your PATH is a list of directories that the terminal searches for executables. To fix this issue, you will need to add the directory containing the lsb_release executable to your PATH.

The location of the lsb_release executable may vary depending on your Linux distribution. Most systems are located in /usr/bin or /usr/sbin. You will need to edit your shell configuration file to add one of these directories to your PATH.

Editing the bash configuration file

You will need to edit the .bashrc file in your home directory using the Bash shell. To do this, open the .bashrc file in a text editor using the following command:

nano ~/.bashrc 

This will open the .bashrc file in the nano text editor. You can also use a different text editor, such as vim or emacs.

At the bottom of the .bashrc file, add the following line:

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/bin

This will add the /usr/bin directory to your PATH. If the lsb_release executable is located in a different directory, such as /usr/sbin, you will need to use that directory instead.

Save the .bashrc file and exit the text editor. To apply the changes you made to the .bashrc file, run the following command:

source ~/.bashrc 

This will reload the .bashrc file and update your PATH. You should now be able to use the lsb_release command without getting the “lsb_release command not found” error.

Editing the zsh configuration file

Using the Zsh shell, you will need to edit the .zshrc file in your home directory. To do this, open the .zshrc file in a text editor using the following command:

nano ~/.zshrc 

This will open the .zshrc file in the nano text editor. You can also use a different text editor, such as vim or emacs.

At the bottom of the .zshrc file, add the following line:

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/bin 

This will add the /usr/bin directory to your PATH. If the lsb_release executable is located in a different directory, such as /usr/sbin, you will need to use that directory instead.

Save the .zshrc file and exit the text editor. To apply the changes you made to the .zshrc file, run the following command:

source ~/.zshrc

This will reload the .zshrc file and update your PATH. You should now be able to use the lsb_release command without getting the “lsb_release command not found” error.

There is a problem with the lsb-release package or the lsb_release executable

In rare cases, you may get the “lsb_release command not found” error even if the lsb-release package is installed and the lsb_release executable is in your PATH. This could be due to a problem with the lsb-release package or the lsb_release executable itself.

To fix this issue, you may need to reinstall the lsb-release package. To do this, follow the steps outlined in the “The lsb-release package is not installed on your system” section above. This will overwrite any damaged or corrupted files and should fix the issue.

If reinstalling the lsb-release package does not fix the issue, you may need to file a bug report or seek help from the community. You can search online forums or ask for help on the Linux distribution’s support channel.

Provide as much information as possible about the issue you are experiencing, including the exact error message you are getting, your Linux distribution and version, and other relevant details.

If you cannot fix the issue, you may need to consider using an alternative method to obtain the information that the lsb_release command provides. Some options include:

• Checking the /etc/os-release file: This file contains information about your Linux distribution and is often used by the lsb_release command. You can view the contents of this file by running the following command:

cat /etc/os-release

This will display the contents of the /etc/os-release file, including the DISTRIB_ID, DISTRIB_RELEASE, and DISTRIB_CODENAME fields, which correspond to the version number, release number, and code name of your Linux distribution.

• Checking the /etc/issue file: This contains the login banner displayed when you open a terminal. The /etc/issue file may contain information about your Linux distribution and version. You can view the contents of this file by running the following command:

cat /etc/issue

This will display the contents of the /etc/issue file. Look for any lines that contain information about your Linux distribution and version.

• Using the uname command: The uname command displays information about the system you are running, including the kernel version and the hostname. You can use the uname command to determine the kernel version, giving you an idea of which Linux distribution you are using. To display the kernel version, run the following command:

uname -r

This will display the kernel version, which may include the version number and code name of your Linux distribution.

Conclusion

The “lsb_release command not found” error can be caused by several issues, including a missing lsb-release package, a missing lsb_release executable, or a problem with the lsb-release package or executable.

To fix this error, you will need to install the lsb-release package, add the lsb_release executable to your PATH, or reinstall the lsb-release package if necessary. If you cannot fix the issue, you can use alternative methods to obtain information about your Linux distribution.