Fan control scripts

2010-09-25T08:03:59Z

Kab: /* tp-fan: Automatic daemon with GTK+ GUI */ supported distros and home page link updated

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This page provides several scripts for controlling the ThinkPad's system fan according the its [[thermal sensors]] (overriding the embedded controller), in order to reduce [[problem with fan noise|fan noise]] and decrease [[how to reduce power consumption|power consumption]].

{{WARN|These scripts rely on undocumented hardware features and override nominal hardware behavior. They may thus cause arbitrary damage to your laptop or data. Watch your temperatures!}}
{{NOTE|Closed-loop fan control requires a thermal sensor sweep, which is an expensive operation. The firmware doesn't update the sensors more than once every 2s, so care should be taken not to waste resources by reading them too often.}}
|}

==Variable speed control scripts==
The following scripts sets the fan speed according to the system's [[thermal sensors]]. In addition, they include a hack for preventing the annoying fan pulsing that occurs on some systems. Note that the fan levels, thresholds and anti-pulsing hacks are system-specific, so you may need to adjust them.

===Comprehensive <tt>bash</tt> script with fine control over fan speed===
This script works with any recent Linux kernel (2.6.14 and higher). It requires the [[ibm-acpi]] module to be loaded with the <tt>experimental=1</tt> module parameter (e.g., {{cmdroot|1=modprobe ibm_acpi experimental=1}}).

In Linux 2.6.22 and higher you need to additionally pass fan_control=1 to the module thinkpad_acpi (e.g., {{cmdroot|1=modprobe thinkpad-acpi experimental=1 fan_control=1}})

On Ubuntu > 10.04 or from kernel 2.6.32 onwards: To make the kernel module settings permanent and to make them be executed at boot run below command and reboot afterwards:

{{cmdroot|1=sudo echo "options thinkpad_acpi experimental=1 fan_control=1" >/etc/modprobe.d/thinkpad_acpi.conf}}

The code lets you define a temperature range for each [[thermal sensors|thermal sensor]]. The script computes the fan level needed by each sensor based on the configured range, and then sets the the actual fan level to the slowest that will satisfy all sensors (plus some hysteresis to avoid fluctiations). It also includes a workaround for the [[Problem with fan noise|pulsing noise]] problem. The script provides an (optional) daemon mode and logging to syslog. The method of controlling fan speed is documented [[How to control fan speed|here]].

The system hard disk temperature is monitored as well, using the hard disk's internal sensor. This works only on certain Hitachi disks and requires kernel >= 2.6.19-rc1 or the ide driver, since it uses a [[Thermal Sensors#Hitachi_harddisks_SENSE_CONDITION_temperature_sensor|non-standard method]] for reading the temperature without causing a head unload or spinup.

The code:
* {{CodeRef|tp-fancontrol}}

Current options:

Usage: ./tp-fancontrol [OPTION]...

Available options:
-s N Shift up the min temperature thresholds by N degrees
(positive for quieter, negative for cooler).
Max temperature thresholds are not affected.
-S N Shift up the max temperature thresholds by N degrees
(positive for quieter, negative for cooler). DANGEROUS.
-t Test mode
-q Quiet mode
-d Daemon mode, go into background (implies -q)
-l Log to syslog
-k Kill already-running daemon
-u Tell already-running daemon that the system is being suspended
-p Pid file location for daemon mode
{{WARN|The list of temperature ranges used in this script is much more liberal than the rules used by the embedded controller firmware, and is derived mostly from anecdotal evidence, hunches and wishful thinking. It is also model-specific - see [[thermal sensors]].}}

====init script for the comprehensive script====

This is optional. It assumes that the above <tt>tp-fancontrol</tt> script is saved at {{path|/usr/bin/tp-fancontrol}}.
* Init script: {{CodeRef|tp-fancontrol.init}} (save as {{path|/etc/init.d/tp-fancontrol}})
* Init script (Debian): {{CodeRef|tp-fancontrol.init.debian}} (save as {{path|/etc/init.d/tp-fancontrol}})
* Configuration file for init script: {{CodeRef|tp-fancontrol.conf}} (save as {{path|/etc/tp-fancontrol.conf}})

===Simple <tt>bash</tt> script with fine control over fan speed (requires kernel patch)===
The following is a simpler patch (without extra features like daemon mode and logging). It requires the [[patch for controlling fan speed]] or a recent kernel (>=2.6.19).

{{CodeRef|tp-fancontrol-basic}}

===tp-fan: Automatic daemon with GTK+ GUI===
Provides easy setup and monitoring through graphical GTK+ interface. Temperature thresholds can be set separately for each sensor since version 0.90.

At the moment packages are available for Ubuntu 8.04, 8.10, and 9.04. However, porting to other distributions or manual setup should be easy.

* Home page: http://www.gambitchess.org/mediawiki/index.php/ThinkPad_Fan_Control
http://www.gambitchess.org/moin.py/tpfan

===thinkfan: A minimalist fan control program===
Written in C to use as little CPU power as possible. Configuration is done via a simple text file, by providing (FAN_LEVEL, LOWER_LIMIT, UPPER_LIMIT) tuples. Inspired by i8kfan. Requires thinkpad_acpi with fan_control=1. Just released version 0.7, which now allows a more fine-grained control over temperature limits.

* Download here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/thinkfan/

==Fan enable/disable scripts==
The following scripts were written before it was known [[patch for controlling fan speed|how to control the fan speed]], so they only toggle between fan disabled and default (noisy) fan behavior. In some models, they also do not monitor all available [[thermal sensors]].

===<tt>sh</tt> script example===
{{CodeRef|fan-enable-basic}}

===<tt>sh</tt> script with more features===
{{CodeRef|fan-enable-extended}}

===<tt>sh</tt> script with extra safety functionality===
ibm_acpi usually works well. But to rely on it completely, this script provides some extra safety functionality:
# It catches various signals and turns the fan on before it quits.
# It turns off the fan under very strict conditions, leaving it on when unexpected errors occur.

{{CodeRef|fan-enable-safe}}

==Init scripts==

===Init script example===

{{CodeRef|fan-enable.init}}

===Init script example for gentoo===
Assume one of the above control scripts is {{path|/usr/sbin/ibm-fancontrold}}, for gentoo use the following init script in /etc/init.d/ibm-fancontrol.
Copy the script to {{path|/etc/init.d/ibm-fancontrol}}, then do

# rc-update add ibm-fancontrol default

This will add the init script to the default runlevel.

{{CodeRef|ibm-fancontrol.init}}

===Init script example for rh/fedora===
Assume one of the above control scripts is {{path|/sbin/tp-fancontrold}},
copy the script to {{path|/etc/init.d/tp-fancontrol}}, then do

# chkconfig --add tp-fancontrol

This will add the init script to the default runlevel.

{{CodeRef|tp-fancontrol-fc.init}}

You'd have to install also "kernel-module-ibm-acpi" package.

==Other==

===tpfand===
This little piece of python code is only there to speed up your fan in a T400 with an ATI card cause the fglrx driver does not control the fan speed which leads to overheating while gaming or do other graphic stuff with the ati chip. This script relies on the normal bios control of the fan. If the laptop gets to hot it will speed up the fan to max speed (somehow the bios does not do this ??!!) and re-enables the bios control on a certain temperature. This was only tested on a T400 with ATI chip.
You can just run in in the background as root. It is very chatty and writes in a logfile in /tmp. It should work with any Thinkpad who has /proc/acpi/ibm/fan interface.
[http://pastebin.ca/1884323 tpfand]

Tested on:
T400 with Radeon HD 3400
Please test on other models with ATI chip.

===fanctrld===
[http://log.does-not-exist.org/archives/2005/08/13/2043_t_43_fan_control_daemon.html fanctrld] is a daemon (written in C) that controls the Thinkpad's fan. The basic approach is to monitor both temperature and fan speed. The fan is enabled when a certain temperature is exceeded, and disabled when the BIOS slows down the fan below a certain speed.

===ThinkPad Fan Control GTK GUI tool===

[http://www.gambitchess.org/moin.py/ThinkPad_Fan_Control A GTK GUI program (packaged for Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10)] may also help.

For those using Ubuntu 8.10 and recent Thinkpad models (eg: X200), this is the fan control packages to use: sudo apt-get install tpfand tpfan-admin tpfand-profiles (The packages are part of the main ubuntu repository). It solves the problem of a constantly-on fan. I don't think there are yet profiles for those newer thinkpad models, but it's fairly easy to manually configure the right thresholds. For reference, this is the /etc/tpfand.conf I use for my X200:

enabled = True

override_profile = True

0. Sensor 0 = 0:0 50:3 58:5 67:8

1. Sensor 1 = 0:0 55:3 62:5 69:8

2. Sensor 2 = 0:255

3. Sensor 3 = 0:0 48:3 61:5 69:8

4. Sensor 4 = 0:0 43:3 50:8

5. Sensor 5 = 0:255

6. Sensor 6 = 0:0 40:8

7. Sensor 7 = 0:255

==Ideas for improvement==
* Use the [[HDAPS]] sensor to automatically lower the temperature thresholds when the laptop is moving. Prolonged movement usually happens when the laptop is on the user's lap (see [[Problem with hot surfaces]] for implications), or when in a moving vehicle where fan noise is typically overshadowed by vehicle noise.
* Use a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller PID controller] feedback loop instead of simple thresholds.
* Monitor the UltraBay disk temperature too.

==See also==
* [[How to control fan speed]]
* Shimodax's ThinkPad fan control tool for a Windows offers functionality similar to these scripts; see the [http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=17715 forum discussion] at thinkpads.com.
* Yury Polyanskiy has a [http://mailman.linux-thinkpad.org/pipermail/linux-thinkpad/2005-November/030697.html kernel patch] for automatic fan control in kernelspace (only enable/disable based on maximum temperature).

[[Category:Scripts]]

Wireless Network Adapters

2006-12-05T19:31:29Z

Kab: /* Atheros */ ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n added

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This document covers IBM integrated (MiniPCI), Cardbus and PC Card (PCMCIA) Wi-Fi devices.
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== Finding out which adapter you have ==
For MiniPCI or Cardbus adapters run the command:
:{{cmdroot|lspci -n <nowiki>|</nowiki> grep "Class 0200"}}
If that produces no output, run this command instead:
:{{cmdroot|lspci -n <nowiki>|</nowiki> grep "0200"}}

(Alternatively, grep for "0280" which identifies "Network" controllers, as opposed to "0200" which identifies "Ethernet" controllers.)

And compare the PCI IDS with the ones below.

{{NOTE| This will also return the PCI IDS of any Ethernet adapters, as Ethernet adapters and Wireless adapters share the same PCI Class ID.}}

== MiniPCI adapters ==
=== Atheros ===
*[[IBM Dual-Band 11a/b Wi-Fi Wireless Mini PCI Adapter]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 168c:0012)</tt>
*[[IBM 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 168c:0013)</tt>
*[[IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 168c:1014)</tt>
*[[IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 168c:1014)</tt>
*[[ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 168c:1014)</tt>
*[[ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 168c:0024)</tt>
*[[SparkLAN WMIA-166AG Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter (AR5006XS)]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 168c:001b)</tt>

=== Cisco ===
*[[Cisco Aironet Wireless 802.11b]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 14b9:a504)</tt>
=== Intel ===
*[[Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 8086:1043)</tt>
*[[Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Mini-PCI Adapter]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 8086:4220)</tt>
*[[Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Mini-PCI Adapter]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 8086:4224)</tt>
*[[Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter]]

=== Prism ===
*[[IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter with Modem]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 1260:3873)</tt>
*[[IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter with Modem II]] <tt>(PCI-ID: 1260:3873)</tt>
*[[IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter III]]

=== Error 1802 - "Unauthorized" MiniPCI network card ===
Attempts to install an unsupported card will result in the following message:

1802: Unauthorized network card is plugged in - Power off and remove the miniPCI network card.

For a resolution, see the [[Problem with unauthorized MiniPCI network card]] page.

== Cardbus adapters ==
Cardbus is a 32bits bus that runs at 33MHz, and is in many ways simular to the PCI bus. In fact under Linux Cardbus adapters are handled by the PCI subsystem. 
You can differentiate a PC Card adapter from a Cardbus adapter as the later has a gold coloured grounding strip
=== IBM 11 a/b/g Wireless Cardbus Adapter ===
Chipset: Atheros 
Driver: [[madwifi]] 
Supported wireless modes: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g

Specifications: [http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-51855 MIGR-51855] 
Users Guide: [http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-51959 MIGE-51855] 
Service Parts: [http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-51874 MIGR-51874]
Looking for a reverse PCI to cardbus (ie - want to fit a PCI card into a cardbus slot)

=== IBM 802.11a Wireless LAN Cardbus Adapter ===
Chipset: Atheros 
Driver: [[madwifi]] 
Supported wireless modes: 802.11a

Specifications: [http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-42209 MIGR-42209] 
Users Guide: [http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-42233 MIGR-42233] 
Service Parts: [http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-42231 MIGR-42231]

== PC Card (PCMCIA) adapters ==
PC Card or PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) as it used to be called, is an 8 or 16bits bus limited to 8MHz, in many ways simular to the old ISA bus and not suitable for highspeed devices.
=== Cisco Aironet 350 802.11b wireless PC card with 128bit ===
Chipset: Cisco 
Driver: airo_cs 
Supported wireless modes: 802.11b
=== IBM High Rate Wireless LAN PC Card ===
Chipset: Hermes I 
Drivers: [[orinoco|orinoco_cs]] 
Supported wireless modes: 802.11b

[[Category:Components]]

ThinkWiki - User contributions [en]

Fan control scripts

Wireless Network Adapters