hw-probe vs NWinfo
hw-probe
github.comNWinfo
a1ive.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | hw-probe | NWinfo |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · System Information Software | 8.2 (#7) | 6.7 (#27) |
| License | The software is dual-licensed under LGPL 2.1 or later and BSD-4-Clause. | The project is licensed under the Unlicense. |
| Purpose | hw-probe snapshots computer hardware and logs, checks device operability, and returns a permanent URL for viewing the probe. | NWinfo is a Win32 program for collecting system and hardware information. |
Plans
In their own words
hw-probe
hw-probe is a free hardware probing tool for Linux and BSD systems, aimed at debugging computer problems and managing hardware inventory. It captures a snapshot of hardware state and logs, then provides a permanent URL to view the probe. If a device lacks a driver, it can suggest a Linux kernel version or third-party driver using LKDDb data. Users can create an inventory ID and mark probes to locate their computers on Linux-Hardware.org. Its monitoring command schedules a daily cron probe and emails alerts about operating-system failures, configuration changes, and hardware degradation. Optional tests check graphics, drive read speed, CPU performance, and RAM. Installation options include AppImage, Docker, Snap, Flatpak, Live CD/USB, and native packages. Uploads use HTTPS; selected logs can be disabled, and private details are decorated before upload, though edge-case failures are acknowledged. MAC addresses and serial numbers are represented by prefixes of salted SHA-512 hashes. The tool is dual-licensed under LGPL-2.1-or-later and BSD-4-Clause. The Snap package runs in a sandbox with limited functionality.