Listing All USB Devices on the Linux Terminal: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you looking for a way to list all connected USB devices on your Linux system? Look no further! In this article, we will walk you through the process of listing all USB devices on the Linux terminal. Whether you're using Ubuntu or any other Linux distribution, these steps will help you identify and manage your USB devices with ease.

Why List USB Devices?

Before we dive into the steps, let's quickly discuss why listing USB devices is important. Here are a few scenarios where you might need to list USB devices:

• Troubleshooting USB device issues: If you're experiencing problems with a USB device, listing all connected devices can help you identify the problematic device and take necessary actions.


• Managing USB devices: Listing all USB devices can help you keep track of connected devices, such as flash drives, keyboards, and mice.


• Identifying unknown devices: If you're unsure about a particular USB device, listing all connected devices can help you identify the device and its purpose.

Listing USB Devices on the Linux Terminal

To list all connected USB devices on the Linux terminal, you can use the following commands:

1. lsusb command: The lsusb command is a popular and easy-to-use command for listing USB devices. To use this command, simply type lsusb in the terminal and press Enter.

Example output:

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Bus 001 Device 003: ID 8087:0a2a Intel Corp. 

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 04f2:0939 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd 

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

This output will show you a list of all connected USB devices, including their bus number, device number, and device description.

2. usb-devices command: The usb-devices command provides a more detailed output than the lsusb command. To use this command, type usb-devices in the terminal and press Enter.

Example output:

T:  Bus=02 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#= 1 Spd=480 MxCh= 8

D:  Ver= 2.00 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1

P:  Vendor=1d6b ProdID=0002 Rev=04.15

S:  Manufacturer=Linux 4.15.0-72-generic

S:  Product=linux

S:  SerialNumber=0000:00:14.0

C:  #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr=0mA

I:  If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub

This output will show you detailed information about each USB device, including its bus number, device number, vendor ID, product ID, and serial number.

Tips and Variations

Here are a few tips and variations to help you get the most out of these commands:

• Use the -v option with the lsusb command to get verbose output, which includes more detailed information about each device.


• Use the -t option with the lsusb command to get a tree-like output, which shows the hierarchical structure of USB devices.


• Use the usb-devices command with the -v option to get verbose output, which includes more detailed information about each device.

Conclusion

Listing all USB devices on the Linux terminal is a straightforward process that can be achieved using the lsusb and usb-devices commands. Whether you're troubleshooting USB device issues, managing USB devices, or identifying unknown devices, these commands will help you get the job done. For more information on these commands and their options, be sure to check out the official documentation.

By following these steps and tips, you'll be able to list all connected USB devices on your Linux system and manage them with ease. Happy Linux-ing!