if u r telnetting or doing ssh to a linux server you cant tell the version or its type.
some will tell you to use this command:
uname -a
daaa!! no distr type .

so, i recommend to use this:
dmesg | head -1

or try this one:
cat /etc/issue

or this same effect command:
cat /proc/version

i hope that this was helpfull !!!