Best way to get machine id on Linux?

gnu, linux, unique, uniqueidentifier

Solution

Depending on your kernel, the DMI information may be available via sysfs. Try those:

# cat /sys/class/dmi/id/board_serial
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
# cat /sys/class/dmi/id/product_uuid
xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx

or using a tool

# dmidecode -s baseboard-serial-number
...
# dmidecode -s system-uuid
...

Problem

What is the best-practiced way to get an unique machine ID in `GNU/Linux` for `i386` architecture? Are there any good ways except the `mac` address?

Original source