Windows Device Manager tree equivalent in Linux
Summarizes hardware devices and classes.
Device Manager tree
lshw -short
lshw -short
lshw -short
Overview
What this command does
On Windows, "Device Manager tree" is used to show hardware tree. On Linux, the closest practical mapping shown here is "lshw -short". Summarizes hardware devices and classes. This reference is grouped under Hardware & Drivers → Inventory.
Windows → Linux context
What changes when you use this on Linux?
Equivalent task, different tool
Windows Device Manager tree maps to lshw -short for this task. Treat this as a workflow mapping rather than a character-for-character syntax translation.
Portable across the compared distros
The Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch rows use the same command in this mapping. Package availability or defaults can still vary, so check the installed tool version when an option behaves differently.
For the broader concept behind this mapping, read Linux hardware and drivers.
Practical tasks
Common use cases
Show hardware tree
Summarizes hardware devices and classes.
lshw -short
Show hardware tree
lshw --help
Show command help when supported
man lshw
Open the manual page when installed
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
lshw -short
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
# Windows equivalent: Device Manager tree
lshw -shortReference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
lshw -short | Show hardware tree |
lshw --help | Show command help when supported |
man lshw | Open the manual page when installed |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch all use "lshw -short" for this mapping. The command syntax shown here is portable across the three rows, although installed versions and system defaults can still vary.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | lshw -short |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | lshw -short |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | lshw -short |
Same command on this distribution. |
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