{
    "mode": "man",
    "parameter": "vpddecode",
    "section": "8",
    "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/vpddecode/8/json",
    "generated": "2026-10-07T14:06:47Z",
    "synopsis": "vpddecode [OPTIONS]",
    "sections": {
        "NAME": {
            "content": "vpddecode - VPD structure decoder\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "SYNOPSIS": {
            "content": "vpddecode [OPTIONS]\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "DESCRIPTION": {
            "content": "vpddecode prints the \"vital product data\" information that can be found in almost all IBM and\nLenovo computers. Available items are:\n\n• BIOS Build ID\n\n• Box Serial Number\n\n• Motherboard Serial Number\n\n• Machine Type/Model\n\nSome systems have these additional items:\n\n• BIOS Release Date\n\n• Default Flash Image File Name\n\nNote  that  these  additional  items are not documented by IBM, so this is guess work, and as\nsuch should not be blindly trusted. Feedback about the accuracy of these labels is welcome.\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "OPTIONS": {
            "content": "",
            "subsections": [
                {
                    "name": "-d --dev-mem _",
                    "content": "Read memory from device FILE (default: /dev/mem)\n",
                    "flag": "-d",
                    "long": "--dev-mem"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-s --string _",
                    "content": "Only display the value of the VPD string identified by KEYWORD.  It must be a  keyword\nfrom  the following list: bios-build-id, box-serial-number, motherboard-serial-number,\nmachine-type-model, bios-release-date.  Each keyword corresponds to an  offset  and  a\nlength  within the VPD record.  Not all strings may be defined on all VPD-enabled sys‐\ntems.  If KEYWORD is not provided or not valid, a list of all valid keywords is print‐\ned and vpddecode exits with an error.  This option cannot be used more than once.  Mu‐\ntually exclusive with --dump.\n",
                    "flag": "-s",
                    "long": "--string"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-u --dump",
                    "content": "Do not decode the VPD records, dump their contents as hexadecimal instead.  Note  that\nthis  is still a text output, no binary data will be thrown upon you. ASCII equivalent\nis displayed when possible. This option is mainly useful for debugging.  Mutually  ex‐\nclusive with --string.\n",
                    "flag": "-u",
                    "long": "--dump"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-h --help",
                    "content": "Display usage information and exit\n",
                    "flag": "-h",
                    "long": "--help"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-V --version",
                    "content": "Display the version and exit\n",
                    "flag": "-V",
                    "long": "--version"
                }
            ]
        },
        "FILES": {
            "content": "/dev/mem\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "AUTHOR": {
            "content": "Jean Delvare\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "SEE ALSO": {
            "content": "biosdecode(8), dmidecode(8), mem(4), ownership(8)\n\ndmidecode                                   February 2007                               VPDDECODE(8)",
            "subsections": []
        }
    },
    "summary": "vpddecode - VPD structure decoder",
    "flags": [
        {
            "flag": "-d",
            "long": "--dev-mem",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "Read memory from device FILE (default: /dev/mem)"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-s",
            "long": "--string",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "Only display the value of the VPD string identified by KEYWORD. It must be a keyword from the following list: bios-build-id, box-serial-number, motherboard-serial-number, machine-type-model, bios-release-date. Each keyword corresponds to an offset and a length within the VPD record. Not all strings may be defined on all VPD-enabled sys‐ tems. If KEYWORD is not provided or not valid, a list of all valid keywords is print‐ ed and vpddecode exits with an error. This option cannot be used more than once. Mu‐ tually exclusive with --dump."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-u",
            "long": "--dump",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "Do not decode the VPD records, dump their contents as hexadecimal instead. Note that this is still a text output, no binary data will be thrown upon you. ASCII equivalent is displayed when possible. This option is mainly useful for debugging. Mutually ex‐ clusive with --string."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-h",
            "long": "--help",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "Display usage information and exit"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-V",
            "long": "--version",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "Display the version and exit"
        }
    ],
    "examples": [],
    "see_also": [
        {
            "name": "biosdecode",
            "section": "8",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/biosdecode/8/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "dmidecode",
            "section": "8",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/dmidecode/8/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "mem",
            "section": "4",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mem/4/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "ownership",
            "section": "8",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ownership/8/json"
        }
    ]
}