hw-probe

hw-probe is a free command-line hardware inventory and diagnostic tool for Linux and BSD systems. It suits developers tracking down device and driver problems and organizations that need a searchable record of machines. Its combination of permanent probe pages, driver suggestions, and scheduled checks is compelling, provided uploading decorated hardware data and Snap’s restrictions fit your policy.

Overview

Each probe records a snapshot of hardware state and logs, then returns a permanent URL for reviewing it. When a device is missing a working driver, the tool uses LKDDb data to suggest a Linux kernel version or a third-party driver. That makes it particularly useful during Linux troubleshooting, where a concrete next step is more valuable than a bare component list.

You can generate an inventory ID and mark probes so computers can be found on Linux-Hardware.org. LHWM extends the one-off snapshot into operational monitoring: its monitoring command installs a daily cron job, probes the server, and emails alerts about operating-system failures, configuration changes, or hardware degradation. This is a practical lightweight check for administrators, although it is narrower than a full infrastructure-monitoring system.

Key features

• Hardware inventory: Firmware details and installed software are included in the probe, helping teams identify machines and compare their configurations.
• Driver guidance: Suggested kernel versions or third-party drivers turn a missing-driver report into an actionable troubleshooting path.
• Optional sanity tests: You can run graphics checks with glxgears, drive read-speed checks with hdparm, CPU checks using dd and md5sum, and memory checks with memtester. These are useful spot checks, not a replacement for a complete benchmarking suite.
• Recurring monitoring: Daily cron-based probes and email notifications surface important failures or changes without repeated manual commands.
• Command-line deployment: AppImage, Docker, Snap, Flatpak, Live CD/USB, and native distribution packages accommodate servers, portable media, and standard Linux installations.
• Privacy controls: Usernames, hostnames, IP addresses, MAC addresses, UUIDs, and serial numbers are decorated before upload. MAC and serial identifiers are sent as 32-byte prefixes of salted SHA-512 hashes, uploads use HTTPS, and selected logs can be disabled with -disable. The project acknowledges that edge cases can still defeat privacy decoration, so highly sensitive environments should assess that risk.

Pricing

The sole hw-probe plan costs free. It is an open-source tool under LGPL-2.1-or-later and BSD-4-Clause, with no paid tier or seat charge described. That makes it suitable for individual troubleshooters and organizations that want to deploy probing across their own Linux or BSD machines without a software subscription. The trade-off is that there is no hosted premium layer or report-export option; probe results are viewed through their permanent web URLs.

Platforms

hw-probe targets Linux and self-hosted use, and the project supports Linux distributions plus BSD systems including FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, DragonFly, MidnightBSD, GhostBSD, NomadBSD, FreeNAS, and pfSense. Installation choices include AppImage, Docker, Snap, Flatpak, Live CD/USB, and native Linux packages. BSD users are directed to separate installation instructions and bsd-hardware.info.

Choose the Snap package carefully: its sandbox limits functionality and it needs disk block-device access to inspect drive SMART attributes. A different package format is the safer choice when complete disk diagnostics matter.

Who it's for

Linux and BSD developers get a focused way to capture reproducible hardware states and investigate driver failures. IT teams and system administrators can use inventory IDs and daily alerts to keep track of servers and detect configuration or hardware changes. It is less suitable for users who need a polished graphical dashboard, downloadable reports, or strictly local data retention.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Permanent probe URLs make snapshots easy to revisit and share during troubleshooting.
• LKDDb-backed kernel and third-party-driver suggestions provide practical remediation guidance.
• Inventory IDs, optional tests, and cron-based email monitoring extend the tool beyond a one-time hardware listing.
• Broad Linux/BSD coverage and many deployment formats support servers and portable environments.
• Free, dual-licensed open-source software avoids per-machine licensing costs.

Cons

• Probe information is uploaded, even with decoration and hashed identifiers, which may conflict with strict data-residency rules.
• There is no report export, limiting offline documentation and integration with teams that require portable files.
• Snap’s sandbox can restrict functionality and SMART inspection unless block-device access is granted.
• The optional tests are targeted sanity checks rather than a complete performance-testing platform.

Alternatives

Browse System Information Software if you want a wider field of system-information tools. Fastfetch is the better pick for a free, MIT-licensed command-line summary across Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with 75-plus modules but no hw-probe-style driver guidance or monitoring described.

Choose Facter when cross-platform inventory for Puppet environments is the priority; its free Puppet Core Developer plan covers fewer than 25 nodes, while larger commercial deployments use custom pricing. ASTRA32 is a Windows-only freemium option, including free non-commercial use.

EtreCheckPro fits macOS users seeking basic reports and diagnostics, with a free download and a 19.99 USD one-time Power User upgrade. htop is a free Linux/macOS process viewer rather than a hardware inventory and driver tool. HWMonitor targets Windows and Android sensor monitoring, with a free edition and a 19.95 USD one-time PRO Standard option.

Network Activity Indicator is a Windows freeware utility, while SIW serves Windows users with a free viewer and a 14-day trial version. Neither is a direct substitute for hw-probe’s Linux/BSD probing workflow.

Verdict

Choose hw-probe if you administer Linux or BSD systems and want free, repeatable hardware snapshots paired with driver advice, inventory, and lightweight email monitoring. Look elsewhere if probe data must stay entirely local, if you require exported reports, or if your installation depends on unrestricted Snap functionality.