Determining Linux Release

[Hearn, Stan J.]

I need to determine the version of Linux in a script.

I would prefer to use the uname command.  I use that currently for Solaris.  But that really only gives me the kernel version in Linux.  Right?

With Redhat I could use the /etc/redhat-release, but would that work for other flavors like Fedora, CentOS, etc...?  Is there a standard for Linux based distros to use /etc/*-release to identify itself?

Thanks,
Stan