There are times when you may need to get information about your system via the command line. Perhaps for a shell script or you’re already working in Terminal and it’s just quicker then opening the GUI version of System Profiler. The command line version of System Profiler is system_profiler.
With man system_profiler you get a list of all the many things it can do.
With system_profiler -xml will export everything to an XML file
Here a sample from my system 
MKs-iMac:~ moschos$ system_profiler
Hardware:
Hardware Overview:
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac8,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: IM81.00C1.B00
SMC Version: 1.30f1
Serial Number: VM820GYCZE7
Network:
AirPort:
Type: AirPort
Hardware: AirPort
BSD Device Name: en1
Has IP Assigned: No
IPv4:
Configuration Method: DHCP
IPv6:
Configuration Method: Automatic
Proxies:
Exceptions List: *.local, 169.254/16
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
Ethernet:
MAC Address: 00:1e:c2:bc:81:ad
Media Options:
Media Subtype: Auto Select
Ethernet:
Type: Ethernet
Hardware: Ethernet
BSD Device Name: en0
Has IP Assigned: Yes
IPv4 Addresses: 10.2.0.45
IPv4:
Addresses: 10.2.0.45
Configuration Method: Manual
Interface Name: en0
NetworkSignature: IPv4.Router=10.2.0.254;IPv4.RouterHardwareAddress=00:50:7f:b2:4a:d8
Router: 10.2.0.254
Subnet Masks: 255.255.255.0
IPv6:
Configuration Method: Automatic
DNS:
Server Addresses: 195.170.0.1
Proxies:
Exceptions List: *.local, 169.254/16
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
Ethernet:
MAC Address: 00:1f:5b:f4:9a:8a
Media Options: Full Duplex, flow-control
Media Subtype: 1000baseT
FireWire:
Type: FireWire
Hardware: FireWire
BSD Device Name: fw0
Has IP Assigned: No
IPv4:
Configuration Method: DHCP
IPv6:
Configuration Method: Automatic
Proxies:
Exceptions List: *.local, 169.254/16
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
Ethernet:
MAC Address: 00:1f:f3:ff:fe:29:8c:74
Media Options: Full Duplex
Media Subtype: Auto Select
Bluetooth-PDA-Sync:
Type: PPP (PPPSerial)
Hardware: Modem
BSD Device Name: Bluetooth-PDA-Sync
Has IP Assigned: No
IPv4:
Configuration Method: PPP
DNS:
Server Addresses: 192.55.55.100
Proxies:
FTP Proxy Enabled: No
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
Gopher Proxy Enabled: No
HTTP Proxy Enabled: No
HTTPS Proxy Enabled: No
RTSP Proxy Enabled: No
SOCKS Proxy Enabled: No
Bluetooth:
Type: PPP (PPPSerial)
Hardware: Modem
BSD Device Name: Bluetooth-Modem
Has IP Assigned: No
IPv4:
Configuration Method: PPP
IPv6:
Configuration Method: Automatic
Proxies:
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
[.....]
Audio (Built In):
Intel High Definition Audio:
Device ID: 0x106B00A0
Audio ID: 62
Available Devices:
Speaker:
Connection: Internal
Headphone:
Connection: Combo
Microphone:
Connection: Internal
Line In:
Connection: Combo
S/P-DIF Out:
Connection: Combo
S/P-DIF In:
Connection: Combo
Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 2.1.0f17
Services:
Bluetooth File Transfer:
Folder other devices can browse: ~/Public
Requires Authentication: Yes
State: Enabled
Bluetooth File Exchange:
Folder for accepted items: ~/Downloads
Requires Authentication: No
When other items are accepted: Ask
When PIM items are accepted: Ask
When receiving items: Prompt for each file
State: Enabled
Incoming Serial Ports:
Serial Port 1:
Name: Bluetooth-PDA-Sync
RFCOMM Channel: 3
Requires Authentication: No
Outgoing Serial Ports:
Serial Port 1:
Address:
Name: Bluetooth-Modem
RFCOMM Channel: 0
Requires Authentication: No
Diagnostics:
Power On Self-Test:
Last Run: 10/8/08 2:22 PM
Result: Passed
Disc Burning:
MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-875:
Firmware Revision: DB09
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds
FireWire:
FireWire Bus:
Maximum Speed: Up to 800 Mb/sec
My Book:
Manufacturer: WD
Model: 0x1105
GUID: 0x90A99500A06B9E
Maximum Speed: Up to 800 Mb/sec
Connection Speed: Up to 800 Mb/sec
Sub-units:
My Book Unit:
Unit Software Version: 0x10483
Unit Spec ID: 0x609E
Firmware Revision: 0x1010
Product Revision Level: 1010
Sub-units:
My Book SBP-LUN:
Capacity: 1.82 TB
Removable Media: Yes
BSD Name: disk2
Mac OS 9 Drivers: No
Partition Map Type: APM (Apple Partition Map)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported
Volumes:
WD 2TB:
Capacity: 1.82 TB
Available: 1.64 TB
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk2s3
Mount Point: /Volumes/WD 2TB
Volumes:
disk2s3:
Capacity: 1.82 TB
Available: 1.64 TB
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
My Book Device Unit:
Unit Software Version: 0x10483
Unit Spec ID: 0x609E
Firmware Revision: 0x1010
Product Revision Level: 1010
Sub-units:
My Book Device SBP-LUN:
Graphics/Displays:
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS:
Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0609
Revision ID: 0x00a2
ROM Revision: 3234
Displays:
iMac:
Display Type: LCD
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Depth: 32-bit Color
Built-In: Yes
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected
Memory:
BANK 0/DIMM0:
Size: 2 GB
Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Speed: 800 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0xCE00000000000000
Part Number: 0x4D342037305435363633515A332D43463720
Serial Number: 0x758921F1
BANK 1/DIMM1:
Size: 2 GB
Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Speed: 800 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0xCE00000000000000
Part Number: 0x4D342037305435363633515A332D43463720
Serial Number: 0x758921CB
Power:
System Power Settings:
AC Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 20
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Sleep On Power Button: Yes
Automatic Restart On Power Loss: No
Wake On LAN: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Hardware Configuration:
UPS Installed: No
Serial-ATA:
Intel ICH8-M AHCI:
Vendor: Intel
Product: ICH8-M AHCI
Speed: 3.0 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.10 Supported
ST3500630AS Q:
Capacity: 465.76 GB
Model: ST3500630AS Q
Revision: 3.BTH
Serial Number: 5QG2M9MD
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk0
Mac OS 9 Drivers: No
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
Macintosh HD:
Capacity: 353.88 GB
Available: 222.31 GB
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk0s2
Mount Point: /
Volumes:
disk0s2:
Capacity: 353.88 GB
Available: 222.31 GB
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
USB:
USB High-Speed Bus:
Host Controller Location: Built In USB
Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBEHCI
PCI Device ID: 0x2836
PCI Revision ID: 0x0003
PCI Vendor ID: 0x8086
Bus Number: 0xfd
Built-in iSight:
Version: 1.60
Bus Power (mA): 500
Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Product ID: 0x8502
Serial Number: 8T83M0A820003L00
Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Computer, Inc.)
Keyboard Hub:
Version: 94.15
Bus Power (mA): 500
Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: Apple, Inc.
Product ID: 0x1006
Serial Number: 000000000000
Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Computer, Inc.)
Apple Optical USB Mouse:
Version: 1.10
Bus Power (mA): 100
Speed: Up to 1.5 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: Primax Electronics
Product ID: 0x0304
Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Computer, Inc.)
Apple Keyboard:
Version: 0.69
Bus Power (mA): 100
Speed: Up to 1.5 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: Apple, Inc
Product ID: 0x0221
Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Computer, Inc.)
USB High-Speed Bus:
Host Controller Location: Built In USB
Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBEHCI
PCI Device ID: 0x283a
PCI Revision ID: 0x0003
PCI Vendor ID: 0x8086
Bus Number: 0xfa
Generic RNDIS:
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: Yes
BSD Name: en2
Version: 0.00
Bus Power (mA): 500
Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: HTC
Mac OS 9 Drivers: No
Partition Map Type: Unknown
Product ID: 0x0b13
Serial Number: 3fbf5000-7351-0801-3575-590135544430
Vendor ID: 0x0bb4
My Book:
Capacity: 931.51 GB
Removable Media: Yes
Detachable Drive: Yes
BSD Name: disk1
Version: 1.65
Bus Power (mA): 500
Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: Western Digital
Mac OS 9 Drivers: No
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
Product ID: 0x1100
Serial Number: 57442D574341553430373138363631
S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported
Vendor ID: 0x1058
Volumes:
MY FAT_WD=1TB:
Capacity: 931.19 GB
Available: 581.94 GB
Writable: Yes
File System: Case-sensitive Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk1s2
Mount Point: /Volumes/WD 1TB
Volumes:
disk1s2:
Capacity: 931.19 GB
Available: 581.94 GB
Writable: Yes
File System: Case-sensitive Journaled HFS+
USB Bus:
Host Controller Location: Built In USB
Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBUHCI
PCI Device ID: 0x2830
PCI Revision ID: 0x0003
PCI Vendor ID: 0x8086
Bus Number: 0x1d
USB Bus:
Host Controller Location: Built In USB
Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBUHCI
PCI Device ID: 0x2831
PCI Revision ID: 0x0003
PCI Vendor ID: 0x8086
Bus Number: 0x3d
USB Bus:
Host Controller Location: Built In USB
Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBUHCI
PCI Device ID: 0x2832
PCI Revision ID: 0x0003
PCI Vendor ID: 0x8086
Bus Number: 0x5d
IR Receiver:
Version: 0.16
Bus Power (mA): 500
Speed: Up to 1.5 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: Apple Computer, Inc.
Product ID: 0x8242
Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Computer, Inc.)
USB Bus:
Host Controller Location: Built In USB
Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBUHCI
PCI Device ID: 0x2834
PCI Revision ID: 0x0003
PCI Vendor ID: 0x8086
Bus Number: 0x1a
BCM2045B2:
Version: 1.00
Bus Power (mA): 500
Speed: Up to 12 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: Broadcom
Product ID: 0x4500
Vendor ID: 0x0a5c
Bluetooth USB Host Controller:
Version: 0.37
Bus Power (mA): 500
Speed: Up to 12 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: Apple, Inc.
Product ID: 0x820f
Serial Number: 001EC292DEE1
Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Computer, Inc.)
USB Bus:
Host Controller Location: Built In USB
Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBUHCI
PCI Device ID: 0x2835
PCI Revision ID: 0x0003
PCI Vendor ID: 0x8086
Bus Number: 0x3a
AirPort Card:
AirPort Card Information:
Wireless Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0x8C)
Wireless Card Locale: Worldwide
Wireless Card Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (4.170.46.11)
Current Wireless Network: AirPort is currently turned off
Firewall:
Firewall Settings:
Mode: Allow all incoming connections
Locations:
Automatic:
Active Location: Yes
Services:
AirPort:
Type: IEEE80211
BSD Device Name: en1
Hardware (MAC) Address: 00:1e:c2:bc:81:ad
IPv4:
Configuration Method: DHCP
IPv6:
Configuration Method: Automatic
AppleTalk:
Configuration Method: Node
Proxies:
Exceptions List: *.local, 169.254/16
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
IEEE80211:
Join Mode: Automatic
JoinModeFallback: Prompt
PowerEnabled: 0
PreferredNetworks:
SecurityType: Open
SSID_STR: HOTEL ERIKA
Unique Network ID: C073B6C6-24AB-42D5-AB3F-DC16A05EC48C
Ethernet:
Type: Ethernet
BSD Device Name: en0
Hardware (MAC) Address: 40:df:3b:ff:9a:aa
IPv4:
Addresses: 10.0.2.22
Configuration Method: Manual
Router: 10.0.2.11
Subnet Masks: 255.255.255.0
IPv6:
Configuration Method: Automatic
AppleTalk:
Configuration Method: Node
DNS:
Server Addresses: 195.170.0.1
Proxies:
Exceptions List: *.local, 169.254/16
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
SMB:
Workgroup: WORKGROUP
FireWire:
Type: FireWire
BSD Device Name: fw0
Hardware (MAC) Address: 00:1f:f3:ff:fe:29:8c:74
IPv4:
Configuration Method: DHCP
IPv6:
Configuration Method: Automatic
Proxies:
Exceptions List: *.local, 169.254/16
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
Bluetooth-PDA-Sync:
Type: PPP
IPv4:
Configuration Method: PPP
DNS:
Server Addresses: 192.168.55.100
Proxies:
FTP Proxy Enabled: No
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
Gopher Proxy Enabled: No
HTTP Proxy Enabled: No
HTTPS Proxy Enabled: No
RTSP Proxy Enabled: No
SOCKS Proxy Enabled: No
PPP:
Display Terminal Window: No
Redial Count: 1
Redial Enabled: Yes
Redial Interval: 30
Dial On Demand: No
Disconnect On Idle: Yes
Disconnect On Idle Time: 900
Disconnect On Logout: Yes
Idle Reminder: No
Idle Reminder Time: 1800
IPCP Compression VJ: Yes
LCP Echo Enabled: Yes
LCP Echo Failure: 3
LCP Echo Interval: 10
Log File: /tmp/ppp.log
Verbose Logging: No
Bluetooth:
Type: PPP
IPv4:
Configuration Method: PPP
IPv6:
Configuration Method: Automatic
Proxies:
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
PPP:
ACSP Enabled: No
Display Terminal Window: No
Redial Count: 1
Redial Enabled: Yes
Redial Interval: 5
Use Terminal Script: No
Dial On Demand: No
Disconnect On Fast User Switch: Yes
Disconnect On Idle: Yes
Disconnect On Idle Time: 600
Disconnect On Logout: Yes
Disconnect On Sleep: Yes
Idle Reminder: No
Idle Reminder Time: 1800
IPCP Compression VJ: Yes
LCP Echo Enabled: No
LCP Echo Failure: 4
LCP Echo Interval: 10
Log File: /var/log/ppp.log
Verbose Logging: No
Missing Sync for Windows Mobile (en2):
Type: Ethernet
BSD Device Name: en2
Hardware (MAC) Address: 80:00:60:0f:e8:00
IPv4:
Configuration Method: DHCP
IPv6:
Configuration Method: Automatic
Proxies:
Proxy Configuration Method: 2
Exclude Simple Hostnames: No
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
Auto Discovery Enabled: No
Volumes:
net:
Type: autofs
Mount Point: /net
Mounted From: map -hosts
Automounted: Yes
home:
Type: autofs
Mount Point: /home
Mounted From: map auto_home
Automounted: Yes
Universal Access:
Universal Access Information:
Cursor Magnification: Off
Display: Black on White
Flash Screen: Off
Mouse Keys: Off
Slow Keys: Off
Sticky Keys: Off
VoiceOver: Off
Zoom: Off
