Comments on: Tip ‘o the hat, wag o’ the finger — Linux power savings for laptop users http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/ Musings about Open Source, Linux, and Life by Theodore Tso Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:39:59 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Felipe Balbi http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/comment-page-1/#comment-848 Felipe Balbi Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:26:11 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-848 The thing is that windows can reach 8-9 watts consumptions without breaking any functionality. We can still attach pendrives and connect to wifi networks and use bluetooth, but when they're not been used they probably go into D2 state (acpi D2) and have their context saved. I'm speculating that :-p Still, most of us here know how to rmmod/insmod and can easily deal with that, but we need userland services to allow normal users to have the same power consumptions we have. I mean, we need the network properties to ifconfig XXX down and echo 5 > /sys/.../power_level. As well as bluetooth-properties should have means to hciconfig hci0 down && rmmod hci_usb (or any other bt module). The wifi, shouldn't be always in the high power, it should stay in the lowest power possible and when trying to find a network then we find the best power level according to strenght of the signal, or something. But we're getting there :-) The thing is that windows can reach 8-9 watts consumptions without breaking any functionality. We can still attach pendrives and connect to wifi networks and use bluetooth, but when they’re not been used they probably go into D2 state (acpi D2) and have their context saved. I’m speculating that :-p

Still, most of us here know how to rmmod/insmod and can easily deal with that, but we need userland services to allow normal users to have the same power consumptions we have. I mean, we need the network properties to ifconfig XXX down and echo 5 > /sys/…/power_level. As well as bluetooth-properties should have means to hciconfig hci0 down && rmmod hci_usb (or any other bt module).

The wifi, shouldn’t be always in the high power, it should stay in the lowest power possible and when trying to find a network then we find the best power level according to strenght of the signal, or something.

But we’re getting there :-)

]]> By: tytso http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/comment-page-1/#comment-784 tytso Sun, 25 May 2008 12:00:27 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-784 David, Note that many X61s simply don't have the second fan. Only the systems with a WWAN built in apparently have the second fan at all, presumably because if you have both the WiFI and WWAN mini-pci cards install the second card is an absolute necessity. There are some web pages out there which show how it is possible to order a second fan and retrofit it into X61 laptops that don't have the fan, but this is the first I've heard that you have to explicitly enable it from the OS. David,

Note that many X61s simply don’t have the second fan. Only the systems with a WWAN built in apparently have the second fan at all, presumably because if you have both the WiFI and WWAN mini-pci cards install the second card is an absolute necessity. There are some web pages out there which show how it is possible to order a second fan and retrofit it into X61 laptops that don’t have the fan, but this is the first I’ve heard that you have to explicitly enable it from the OS.

]]> By: David A. Desrosiers http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/comment-page-1/#comment-771 David A. Desrosiers Sat, 24 May 2008 13:39:00 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-771 For those who are complaining about the palmrest of the X-series getting too warm or hot under Linux and not Windows, this is due to the secondary cooling fan (in the X61s series) not being enabled under Linux. Windows XP and Vista both have access to this fan and can keep the palm rest cool, but Linux does not. It can only communicate with the primary (CPU) cooling fan, but not the secondary cooling fan (almost directly under the fingerprint reader area). For those who are complaining about the palmrest of the X-series getting too warm or hot under Linux and not Windows, this is due to the secondary cooling fan (in the X61s series) not being enabled under Linux.

Windows XP and Vista both have access to this fan and can keep the palm rest cool, but Linux does not. It can only communicate with the primary (CPU) cooling fan, but not the secondary cooling fan (almost directly under the fingerprint reader area).

]]> By: tytso http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/comment-page-1/#comment-253 tytso Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:32:12 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-253 FALK, Antioch. If you rmmod the wireless driver (i.e., iwl4965 or iwl3945, as appropriate), the right palmrest will be cooler. As I stated in my original blog post, someone seriously needs to be smacked upside the head. Even with the RF kill switch enabled and wlan0 ifconfig'ed down, with the device driver loaded the laptop is burning approximately a full watt more than if the wireless device driver is not loaded --- and that's what's heating up the right palmrest. FALK, Antioch. If you rmmod the wireless driver (i.e., iwl4965 or iwl3945, as appropriate), the right palmrest will be cooler. As I stated in my original blog post, someone seriously needs to be smacked upside the head. Even with the RF kill switch enabled and wlan0 ifconfig’ed down, with the device driver loaded the laptop is burning approximately a full watt more than if the wireless device driver is not loaded — and that’s what’s heating up the right palmrest.

]]> By: tytso http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/comment-page-1/#comment-252 tytso Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:08:59 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-252 FALK: You need to have the wireless firmware installed in /lib/firmware. You can copy the iwl*.ucode files from one of the kernel-specific directories, such as /lib/firmware/2.6.22-14-generic/iwlwifi-*.ucode. FALK: You need to have the wireless firmware installed in /lib/firmware. You can copy the iwl*.ucode files from one of the kernel-specific directories, such as /lib/firmware/2.6.22-14-generic/iwlwifi-*.ucode.

]]> By: FALK http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/comment-page-1/#comment-251 FALK Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:46:04 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-251 Antioch: thanks for info. And you'r right, the right palmrest is killing me. No problems in winxp, but it gets seriously hot in linux, even when disabled with kill switch. Antioch: thanks for info. And you’r right, the right palmrest is killing me. No problems in winxp, but it gets seriously hot in linux, even when disabled with kill switch.

]]> By: Antioch http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/comment-page-1/#comment-250 Antioch Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:42:06 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-250 FALK, I had that problem too. However, I spoke to Ted about it and here's what he said: ---- You need to make sure the firmware is installed in /lib/firmware. Ubuntu installs them in a kernel specific directory, so something like this: sudo cp /lib/firmware/2.6.22-14-generic/iwlwifi-*.ucode /lib/firmware should be sufficient. Then either reboot, or unload and reload the iwl4965 device driver: sudo rmmod iwl4965 sudo modprobe iwl4965 And of course, make sure that the RF kill switch is set correctly! ---- Using the above method, I was able to enable WiFi. Iwconfig still says that power management for iwl4965 is disabled, however, the right palm rest is now noticeably cooler. I've looked in the kernel changelog and power management for iwl4965 was added, so I'm guessing iwconfig isn't accurately reporting the status yet (I also can't seem to find a way to change the specific power level setting yet). Also, the WiFi status light still doesn't work - but I didn't expect it to yet :) FALK, I had that problem too. However, I spoke to Ted about it and here’s what he said:

—-
You need to make sure the firmware is installed in /lib/firmware.
Ubuntu installs them in a kernel specific directory, so something like this:

sudo cp /lib/firmware/2.6.22-14-generic/iwlwifi-*.ucode /lib/firmware

should be sufficient. Then either reboot, or unload and reload the iwl4965 device driver:

sudo rmmod iwl4965
sudo modprobe iwl4965

And of course, make sure that the RF kill switch is set correctly!
—-

Using the above method, I was able to enable WiFi. Iwconfig still says that power management for iwl4965 is disabled, however, the right palm rest is now noticeably cooler. I’ve looked in the kernel changelog and power management for iwl4965 was added, so I’m guessing iwconfig isn’t accurately reporting the status yet (I also can’t seem to find a way to change the specific power level setting yet). Also, the WiFi status light still doesn’t work – but I didn’t expect it to yet :)

]]> By: FALK http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/comment-page-1/#comment-249 FALK Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:15:27 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-249 tytso : tried your kernel, gave me 1-1½ hours extra batterytime, but disabled wifi. Haven't looked into enabling it though. tytso : tried your kernel, gave me 1-1½ hours extra batterytime, but disabled wifi. Haven’t looked into enabling it though.

]]> By: tytso http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/comment-page-1/#comment-221 tytso Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:52:38 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-221 Antioch, this isn't the final location, but for now the kernel debs which I use can be found at: http://www.kernel.org/~tytso/tbek (Where TBEK stands for "Ted's Bleeding Edge Kernel".) Just as a reminder, it's in a "if it breaks, you get to keep both pieces", and "git repository conveniently available so you can do your own bisection" non-guarantee; see the debian changes file for the URL for the repository plus description of what I've pulled into it. :-) I am curious how it works for you, though; if you use it, please drop me a note on the blog or via e-mail. Antioch, this isn’t the final location, but for now the kernel debs which I use can be found at: http://www.kernel.org/~tytso/tbek

(Where TBEK stands for “Ted’s Bleeding Edge Kernel”.)

Just as a reminder, it’s in a “if it breaks, you get to keep both pieces”, and “git repository conveniently available so you can do your own bisection” non-guarantee; see the debian changes file for the URL for the repository plus description of what I’ve pulled into it. :-)

I am curious how it works for you, though; if you use it, please drop me a note on the blog or via e-mail.

]]> By: Antioch http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/comment-page-1/#comment-186 Antioch Thu, 08 Nov 2007 21:27:42 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-186 tytso, that sounds great - and I don't use the ultrabay so the lack of support is not a problem for me. Out of curiosity, what personal patches have you applied? Anyways, let me know where you decide to post it. Thanks! tytso, that sounds great – and I don’t use the ultrabay so the lack of support is not a problem for me.

Out of curiosity, what personal patches have you applied?

Anyways, let me know where you decide to post it.

Thanks!

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