Windows Linux System & Storage Expanded guide System Info

Windows `devmgmt.msc (Device Manager)` equivalent in Linux

Lists hardware devices, their drivers, and status — the Linux equivalent of Device Manager.

Reference maintained by Win-Linux.com · How mappings are evaluated

Windows devmgmt.msc (Device Manager)

→

Linux equivalents

Debian/Ubuntu apt

sudo apt install pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb

Fedora dnf

sudo dnf install pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb

Arch pacman

sudo pacman -S pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb

Overview

What this command does

On Windows, "devmgmt.msc (Device Manager)" is used to view hardware devices and drivers. On Linux, the closest practical mapping shown here is "lspci / lsusb / lshw". Lists hardware devices, their drivers, and status — the Linux equivalent of Device Manager. This reference is grouped under System & Storage → System Info.

Migration tip: <code>dmesg</code> shows the kernel's hardware detection log — look here when a device isn't working. <code>lspci</code> shows PCI devices (GPU, NIC), <code>lsusb</code> shows USB devices.

Windows → Linux context

What changes when you use this on Linux?

Equivalent task, different tool

Windows devmgmt.msc (Device Manager) maps to lspci / lsusb / dmesg for this task. Treat this as a workflow mapping rather than a character-for-character syntax translation.

Distribution details matter

The Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch rows are not identical. Use the row for your distribution instead of changing only the package-manager name in an example.

Elevated privilege appears in this workflow

At least one example uses sudo. Confirm the target path, device, service or package before running the elevated form; do not add sudo simply to bypass an unexplained permission error.

For the broader concept behind this mapping, read Linux disks, storage and mounts.

Practical tasks

Common use cases

View hardware devices and drivers

Lists hardware devices, their drivers, and status — the Linux equivalent of Device Manager.

lspci

List PCI devices (GPU, network card, sound)

lspci -v

Verbose device details including driver

lsusb

List all connected USB devices

Ready to run

Copyable Linux commands

Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.

lspci

lsusb

dmesg | grep -i 'error\|fail'

Walkthrough

Examples with explanations

# Windows: devmgmt.msc  (GUI only)

lspci
00:02.0 VGA: Intel HD Graphics
01:00.0 Network: Realtek RTL8111

lsusb   # list USB devices

# Check for hardware errors:
dmesg | grep -i 'error\|fail'

Reference

Common options and variations

Command or option	Use
`lspci`	List PCI devices (GPU, network card, sound)
`lspci -v`	Verbose device details including driver
`lsusb`	List all connected USB devices
`dmesg \| grep -i error`	Check kernel hardware error messages
`sudo lshw -short`	Compact full hardware inventory

Distro differences

Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch

The equivalent is distribution-specific for this task: Debian/Ubuntu uses "sudo apt install pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb"; Fedora uses "sudo dnf install pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb"; Arch uses "sudo pacman -S pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb".

Distribution	Package manager / base	Equivalent command	Difference to notice
Debian/Ubuntu	apt	`sudo apt install pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb`	Hardware listing tools may be split across packages.
Fedora	dnf	`sudo dnf install pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb`	Same command names after package install.
Arch	pacman	`sudo pacman -S pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb`	Minimal installs often need these packages added.

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