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 Sat, 17 May 2008 01:07:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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!

]]> 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-176 tytso Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:50:35 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-176 Antioch, it works for me, but I suspect the reason for that is that I'm using a bleeding edge kernel. If there's interest, I could make available a set of .deb packages for 2.6.24-rc2 plus my personal patches. I use it on Ubuntu 7.10, and the extent of the support would be, "if it breaks" please let me know, but you get to keep both pieces. It supports all of the hardware on the X61s. I haven't gotten hotplug for the Ultrabay in the media slace working yet, but I'm not sure anyone has for the X61 yet.... Antioch, it works for me, but I suspect the reason for that is that I’m using a bleeding edge kernel. If there’s interest, I could make available a set of .deb packages for 2.6.24-rc2 plus my personal patches. I use it on Ubuntu 7.10, and the extent of the support would be, “if it breaks” please let me know, but you get to keep both pieces. It supports all of the hardware on the X61s. I haven’t gotten hotplug for the Ultrabay in the media slace working yet, but I’m not sure anyone has for the X61 yet….

]]> 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-156 Antioch Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:36:22 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-156 I also have an X61s, and have tried the 'echo 3 > sudo /sys/bus/pci/drivers/iwl4965/*/power_level' method, but it doesn't work. When I cat the power_level it says '6 (AC) OFF' before and after I try the echo - with or without being plugged in. Running linux on my X61s is very painful (literally) as the right palmrest gets uncomfortably warm because the WiFi power is set to maximum. (I've compared the palmrest heat to Vista usege temperature, and it's quite high. In Vista the palmrest barely gets warm) If you figure out how to get this working I'd appreciate it if you let us know. (I'm using Ubuntu 7.10 at the moment) I also have an X61s, and have tried the ‘echo 3 > sudo /sys/bus/pci/drivers/iwl4965/*/power_level’ method, but it doesn’t work. When I cat the power_level it says ‘6 (AC) OFF’ before and after I try the echo - with or without being plugged in.

Running linux on my X61s is very painful (literally) as the right palmrest gets uncomfortably warm because the WiFi power is set to maximum. (I’ve compared the palmrest heat to Vista usege temperature, and it’s quite high. In Vista the palmrest barely gets warm)

If you figure out how to get this working I’d appreciate it if you let us know.

(I’m using Ubuntu 7.10 at the moment)

]]> By: Dizzy http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-127 Dizzy Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:56:46 +0000 http://thunk.org/tytso/blog/2007/10/29/tip-o-the-hat-wag-o-the-finger-linux-power-savings-for-laptop-users/#comment-127 thanks benpi, makes sense :) the only other use I can see would be for silent pc fanatics, but they are usually able to underclock permanently from the bios. I do have another question tho, what will happen on future^h^h almost here cpus (k10) with split power planes for the cores/mem controller. if I understand correctly, the cores will wake up as needed, but would it be useful/practical enforcing affinities to keep work on a single core in a plane scenario for example? maybe the same 'work faster/sleep sooner' idea applies, but I'm not sure... thanks benpi, makes sense :)
the only other use I can see would be for silent pc fanatics, but they are usually able to underclock permanently from the bios.
I do have another question tho, what will happen on future^h^h almost here cpus (k10) with split power planes for the cores/mem controller. if I understand correctly, the cores will wake up as needed, but would it be useful/practical enforcing affinities to keep work on a single core in a plane scenario for example? maybe the same ‘work faster/sleep sooner’ idea applies, but I’m not sure…

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