source: CMT/v1r14p20031120/mgr/cmt_linux_version.sh @ 1

# Determine the Linux distribution and version that is being run.
#

# Check for GNU/Linux distributions
if [ -f /etc/SuSE-release ]; then
  DISTRIBUTION="suse"
elif [ -f /etc/UnitedLinux-release ]; then
  DISTRIBUTION="united"
elif [ -f /etc/debian_version ]; then
  DISTRIBUTION="debian"
elif [ -f /etc/redhat-release ]; then
  DISTRIBUTION="rh"
else
  DISTRIBUTION="unknown"
fi

###    VERSION=`rpm -q redhat-release | sed -e 's#redhat[-]release[-]##'`

case ${DISTRIBUTION} in
rh)
    VERSION=`cat /etc/redhat-release | sed -e 's#[^0-9]##g' -e 's#7[0-2]#73#'`
    ;;
debian)
    VERSION=`cat /etc/debian_version`
    if [ ${VERSION} = "testing/unstable" ]; then
        # The debian testing/unstable version must be translated into
        # a numeric version number, but no number makes sense so just
        # remove the version all together.
        VERSION=""
    fi
    ;;
suse)
    VERSION=`cat /etc/SuSE-release | grep 'VERSION' | sed  -e 's#[^0-9]##g'`
    ;;
united)
    VERSION=`cat /etc/UnitedLinux-release`
    ;;
*)
    VERSION='00'
    ;;
esac;

echo ${DISTRIBUTION}${VERSION}