hw-probe vs System Information Viewer
hw-probe
github.comSystem Information Viewer
rh-software.comSide by side
| Figure | hw-probe | System Information Viewer |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · System Information Software | 8.2 (#7) | 6.8 (#26) |
| Maker | Linux Hardware Project is a project that anonymously collects hardware details from Linux/BSD computers and helps people collaboratively debug hardware problems. | The site identifies Ray Hinchliffe as the author and copyright holder. |
| Operating systems | The project supports Linux distributions and BSD systems including FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, DragonFly, MidnightBSD, GhostBSD, NomadBSD, FreeNAS and pfSense. | The page lists support for Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, older Windows Server versions, and legacy Windows versions. |
| Purpose | hw-probe snapshots computer hardware and logs, checks device operability, and returns a permanent URL for viewing the probe. | SIV is a general Windows utility for displaying Windows, network, and hardware information. |
Plans
System Information Viewer
- Home useFree
- Commercial usePriced on request
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.
System Information Viewer
System Information Viewer has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.