getting to know your linux installation from years ago:
uname -a
Linux krycke 2.4.4-4GB #1 Wed May 16 00:37:55 GMT 2001 i586 unknown
less /etc/SuSE-release
SuSE Linux 7.3 (i386)
VERSION = 7.3
(latter also works with redhat-release and debian_version).