System Report

By Alexis Rios-Negron · Voltkit 0.13.1

System Report answers "what is in this computer, and is it healthy?" It is not just a list of specifications: it checks each piece of hardware and tells you what the result means, with the command to fix a problem where one is safe. It also remembers how your computer looked on earlier days, so you can see exactly what changed after an update.

System Report page with checks, recent changes and the computer's hardware

The report loads when the page opens (Checking this computer…). Click Check Again to read everything again.

Overview: This Computer#

A table of what the computer is, one row per kind of hardware that applies: Computer (the model, for example a Lenovo ThinkPad), System (the distribution), Kernel, Desktop, Processor (cores, threads and top speed), Memory (how much is usable), Graphics, Storage (each drive with its size), Network, Audio, Bluetooth, Camera and the BIOS version. Rows the computer does not have are left out.

Checks#

Each check has a level and a plain-language explanation:

Level	Meaning
OK	Fine. For example Intel UHD Graphics works with its driver and version
Info	Worth knowing, nothing is wrong. For example Restart to finish installing updates or A newer Linux kernel is installed
Warning	Something to plan for. For example a drive that is N % worn
Problem	Needs fixing. For example has no driver or a drive reporting failure

What it checks#

Graphics, network and audio drivers. Is each device on a working driver, a basic fallback, or no driver at all? For a missing or fallback driver, Voltkit shows the fix: on Ubuntu-like systems the command sudo ubuntu-drivers install, and on Fedora and Arch with NVIDIA a link to the right guide. Other devices without a driver are flagged too.
Drive health. Using the drive's own self-assessment (through UDisks2, no password): failing drives, damaged sectors, SSD wear and the hours it has run.
Disk space. The system drive and Your home folder are flagged getting full and almost full, because apps and updates can fail on a full disk.
Temperatures. Sensors that run hot get a warning with advice to check the air vents. The page also shows Temperatures with each sensor labelled normal, warm or hot, the fans, and how many times the processor slowed down because of heat since the computer started.
Updates waiting for a restart and a newer kernel installed.
Firmware updates from the makers (see below).

For each check with a command, Copy the command, to paste in a terminal puts it on your clipboard (Command copied: paste it in a terminal). For problems with no single safe command, Open Guide opens the distribution's guide. Voltkit never runs fixes for you.

Firmware Updates#

Updates for the BIOS, drives, docks and other devices, from the makers through the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (fwupd). They often fix battery, sleep and stability problems.

Up to date as of the last check. Check Online downloads the latest list (this is the only network use on the page, and only when you click it).
When updates exist, each shows the device, the current and the available version and a summary. Install… opens your desktop's software updates (GNOME Software), where firmware updates are installed. If that is not available it copies fwupdmgr update for you to run in a terminal.
If fwupd is not installed: Firmware updates aren't available. Install fwupd to get firmware updates from the makers of your hardware.

Memory and Upgrades#

Memory slots, what is in them and how much the computer can take. Reading them needs the administrator password, so the page has a Show… button: it asks once through polkit and reads the SMBIOS tables. You see:

Installed: total memory, type and speed.
Slots: how many exist and how many are used. It says if memory is soldered to the board and cannot be upgraded.
Each slot: size and type, soldered, or empty.
Maximum: Up to N GB (as the computer reports it), with plain advice about upgrading.

From the terminal: voltkit report --memory.

What Changed#

Voltkit saves a snapshot of your hardware, drivers, kernel and firmware each day it runs and keeps the last 90. What Changed compares consecutive days and lists the differences, newest first, each with the date it was first seen. It is handy when something stops working after an update: Hardware, drivers, kernel and firmware, compared day by day.

On the first day the page says Nothing to compare yet: changes show up from tomorrow on.

Copy Report#

Copy Report shows exactly what will be copied before you copy it (Copy System Report), then puts a tidy summary on the clipboard to paste into a forum post or bug report. The report has no serial numbers, user or computer names, or network addresses. Only the notable checks (warnings and problems) are listed, so the report stays short.

From the terminal#

voltkit report            # the report as text, and saves today's snapshot
voltkit report --memory   # also memory slots and upgrade options (asks for the administrator password)

Troubleshooting#

No drive health. The drive may not report it (some USB enclosures). Voltkit shows what it can read.
Firmware updates are not available. Install fwupd for your distribution.
What Changed is empty. It needs at least two days of snapshots.