How to obtain patch level from Linux machine?

Hi all,
I'm currently writing codes to detect if the linux platform has the
correct patch level. For example,


1) Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Update 4 - where '4' is the patch level


2) SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 SP2 - where '2' is the patch level


3) SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 SP1 - where '1' is the patch level


For Red Hat, I can at least parse the content of /etc/issue file for
the patch level, which is displayed as "Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS
release 3 (Taroon Update 4)".


However, I have no idea where the patch level is stored in SuSE
SLES. Also, I'm looking for a better way to get the patch level on Red
Hat as well (instead of parsing /etc/issue file).


Does anyone know how to obtain the patch level that I mentioned from
the Linux platforms?
- Any rpm that I check for?
- Any command that I can use to return the patch level?
- Anything?


I will really appreciate if any experts can help me out on this. Thanks
in advance!!

On Fri, 17 Jun 2005 07:53:46 -0400, Ching wrote:[color=blue]
> Hi all,
> I'm currently writing codes to detect if the linux platform has the
> correct patch level.[/color]



cat /proc/version gives *kernel* information, but watchout if it
is a custom compile.

Redhat/Mandrake/Mandriva cat /etc/*release*
Slackware/Slackintosh cat etc/*version*

for the rest go here
[url]http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search[/url]
and in the first box, put
echo Caldera Base Version - /var/lib/LST/BASEVERSION:
*linux* in Newsgroup box. You need to use the two
asterisks around linux, pick English