Debian on laptop
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How to tune a laptop to save battery life and to handle on-the-go configuration?
ACPI
- apt-get install acpi acpid acpitool
Adaptative CPU speed (on Pentium Mobile Centrino) with 2.6 kernels
Choose one of these methods:
With laptop_mode (preferred as it does more than CPU scaling and does not run as daemon)
By default, conservative governor when on battery and performance governor when on AC
- add to /etc/modules:
- cpufreq_conservative
- cpufreq_ondemand
- speedstep_centrino
- apt-get install laptop-mode-tools
- /etc/laptop-mode/laptop-mode.conf: set CONTROL_CPU_FREQUENCY=1
- Note that the script /usr/sbin/laptop_mode contains an error line 606: (at least version 1.11-1, a bugreport exists)
- Replace THIS_GOVERNOR by THIS_CPU_GOVERNOR
- Another bug: when on verbose, it empties the log file /var/log/acpid!
- Some broken ACPI don't send AC events, monitor /var/log/acpid while (un)plugging the power and see if there are calls to lm_ac_adapter.sh or only to lm_battery.sh.
If only to lm_battery.sh, then set ACPI_WITHOUT_AC_EVENTS=1 in laptop-mode.conf
With powernowd:
By default, aggressive switch to highest freq when load > 80% and progressive switch to lowest freq when load < 20%
- apt-get install powernowd
- add to /etc/modules:
- cpufreq_userspace
- speedstep_centrino
Manually:
If you want to use always the same governor, then this is the easiest:
- apt-get install sysfsutils
- add to /etc/modules the desired scaling governor: cpufreq_(powersave/conservative/ondemand)
- edit /etc/sysfs.conf
- devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor=ondemand
- for some stats:
- modprobe cpufreq_stats
- cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu*/cpufreq/stats/*
and you will see how much time was spent on each freq and how many switches occured.
cf also package cpufreqd especially for kernels 2.4
Networking
- apt-get install ifscheme ifplugd
- when using ifplugd to monitor an interface, this interface should not be "auto" in /etc/network/interfaces
Some problems:
- At boot time, ifscheme is called between ifupdown_clean and ifupdown, so /etc/default/ifscheme BOOT_SCHEME=my_scheme does not work, hack: put this instead in the /etc/default/ifscheme file:
- echo my_scheme > /etc/network/run/scheme
- interface seems up but left unconfigured at boot time -> if the cable is already plugged ifplugd does not configure the interface
- after a suspend-to-ram, ifplugd does not configure the interface
Wireless:
- waproamd?
Suspend-to-ram
- first, try:
- sync
- echo "mem" >> /proc/power/state
- ongoing...
Suspend-to-disk
- first, try:
- sync
- echo "disk" >> /proc/power/state
- ongoing...
HD
spin down:
- laptop-mode-tools (preferred)
- apt-get install laptop-mode-tools hdparm
- seems to work even with SATA and seems more efficient than noflushd (and can handle CPU scaling and other tweaks as well)
- noflushd
- does not work with SATA controller
- requires a better sata passthrough for hdparm
smartmon:
- smartmon with SATA?
- cf also HardDrives
Hotkeys
- apt-get install hotkey-setup
- Use the keys via the Gnome preferences->Keyboard shortcuts (gnome-keybinding-properties)
- You can try setup the keys yourself with e.g. lineak, cf LaptopDell
Screen
If you have a Radeon video card, it does not turn off when you close your LID and if you have e.g. a Dell D610 with an Intel 915GM card, id does turn off but doesn't turn on anymore when opened, even worse!!
Here is a script backlight_install.sh to solve both problems:
#!/bin/bash
# Version: 0.04
# Copyright:
# 2006 Philippe Teuwen <phil-debian _at_ teuwen.org>
# License:
# GPL
# Usage:
# Install radeontool if you have an ATI Radeon video card
# or install vbetool if you have an Intel 915GM video card
# To install this script, run it without params
# For printing extra messages -> /var/log/acpid
DEBUG=false
# Supported card_handlers: radeon/vbepost/vbestate
# You are not supposed to change this yourself but rather run this script
# without parameters for a proper installation!!
card_handler=undef
###########################################################################
# read permanent states
lid_state="unknown"
function read_lid_state() {
case $(cat /proc/acpi/button/lid/LID/state) in
*open)
lid_state=open
;;
*closed)
lid_state=closed
;;
esac
}
function check_installed() {
tool=$1
if which $tool >/dev/null; then
echo "Good! $tool found."
else
echo "Please install $tool and run this script again"
exit 1
fi
}
function install() {
EVENT_NAME=backlight_handler
echo "Installation of this script..."
echo -n "Which card handler do you want to use? [radeon/vbepost/vbestate/none]: "
#TODO: detect radeon automatically?
read mycard
case "$mycard" in
radeon)
check_installed radeontool
;;
vbepost)
check_installed vbetool
;;
vbestate)
check_installed vbetool
echo "Saving current video hardware data..."
mkdir -p /var/lib/vbetool
save_vt_nr=$(fgconsole)
chvt 1
vbetool vbestate save > /var/lib/vbetool/vbestate
chvt $save_vt_nr
echo "Done."
;;
none)
echo "Then you probably don't need this script! Exiting."
exit 0
;;
*)
echo "Error: unsupported card handler!: $mycard. Exiting."
exit 1
;;
esac
echo "Installation of the script"
ACTION_DEST=/etc/acpi/actions
EVENT_DEST=/etc/acpi/events
me="$(basename $0)"
cd "$(dirname $0)"
if [ ! -d $EVENT_DEST ]; then
echo "Error! Did you install acpid?"
exit 1
fi
cat > $EVENT_DEST/$EVENT_NAME << EOF
event=button[ /]lid
action=$ACTION_DEST/$EVENT_NAME.sh %e
EOF
/etc/init.d/acpid reload
if [ "$(pwd)/$me" != "$ACTION_DEST/$EVENT_NAME.sh" ]; then
mkdir -p "$ACTION_DEST"
sed "s/^\(card_handler=\).*/\1$mycard/" $me > "$ACTION_DEST/$EVENT_NAME.sh"
chmod 755 "$ACTION_DEST/$EVENT_NAME.sh"
else
# In-place re-configuration
sed -i "s/^\(card_handler=\).*/\1$mycard/" $me;
fi
echo "Installation finished!"
exit 0
}
###########################################################################
# Main()
[ "$1" = "" ] && install
read_lid_state
$DEBUG && echo "LID: $lid_state"
case "$lid_state" in
open)
$DEBUG && echo "Setting light on";
case "$card_handler" in
radeon)
radeontool light on;
;;
vbepost)
save_vt_nr=$(fgconsole)
chvt 15
vbetool post
sleep 1
chvt $save_vt_nr
;;
vbestate)
save_vt_nr=$(fgconsole)
chvt 15
if [ -e /var/lib/vbetool/vbestate ]; then
vbetool vbestate restore < /var/lib/vbetool/vbestate
else
$DEBUG && echo "Error: unconfigured vbestate, fallback to vbepost";
vbetool post
fi
sleep 1
chvt $save_vt_nr
;;
*)
$DEBUG && echo "Error: unknown card_handler: $card_handler";
;;
esac
;;
closed)
$DEBUG && echo "Setting light off";
case "$card_handler" in
radeon)
radeontool light off;
;;
vbe*)
;;
*)
$DEBUG && echo "Error: unknown card_handler: $card_handler";
;;
esac
;;
*)
$DEBUG && echo "Error: LID state not recognized: $lid_state"
;;
esac
If you know what you are doing, you can achieve much smaller script, cf LaptopDellD610 step-by-step
Low battery warning
As I mostly use icewn and there is no alert mechanism forseen in it, I use my own script: /etc/acpi/events/warn_battery:
event=battery.* action=/etc/acpi/actions/warn_battery.sh %e
/etc/acpi/actions/warn_battery.sh (chmod +x):
#! /bin/bash
# Automatically warns when the battery almost runs out.
# Version: 0.03
# Copyright:
# 2006 Philippe Teuwen <phil-debian _at_ teuwen.org>
# License:
# GPL
BATT_INFO=/proc/acpi/battery/$2
MINIMUM_BATTERY_MINUTES=7
MINIMUM_BATTERY_CHARGE_MAH=500
MINIMUM_BATTERY_CHARGE_MWH=500
CRITICAL_BATTERY_MINUTES=1
CRITICAL_BATTERY_CHARGE_MAH=100
CRITICAL_BATTERY_CHARGE_MWH=100
#WARNING_SOUND=/usr/share/sounds/pop.wav
WARNING_SOUND=/usr/share/kismet/wav/new_network.wav
if [ -f $BATT_INFO/state ] ; then
[[ $(cat /proc/acpi/ac_adapter/AC/state) = *on-line* ]] && exit
if cat $BATT_INFO/state | grep -q discharging ; then
REMAINING=`cat $BATT_INFO/state | grep "remaining capacity:.*m.h" | sed "s/.* \([0-9][0-9]* \).*/\1/" `
REMAINING=${REMAINING:-0}
FULL=`cat $BATT_INFO/info | grep "last full capacity:.*m.h" | sed "s/.* \([0-9][0-9]* \).*/\1/" `
FULL=${FULL:-0}
IN_MAH=0
IN_MWH=0
( cat $BATT_INFO/state | grep mWh >/dev/null ) && IN_MWH=1 && UNIT=mW
( cat $BATT_INFO/state | grep mAh >/dev/null ) && IN_MAH=1 && UNIT=mA
DO=0
DO_CRIT=0
PRESENT_RATE=`cat $BATT_INFO/state | grep "present rate:.*m" | sed "s/.* \([0-9][0-9]* \).*/\1/" `
PRESENT_RATE=${PRESENT_RATE:-0}
[ "$PRESENT_RATE" -ne 0 -a "$REMAINING" -ne 0 ] && \
REMAINING_MINUTES=$(($REMAINING * 60 / $PRESENT_RATE))
[ "$REMAINING" -ne 0 -a "$FULL" -ne 0 ] && \
REMAINING_PERCENT=$(($REMAINING * 100 / $FULL))
[ "$PRESENT_RATE" -ne 0 -a "$REMAINING" -ne 0 ] && \
(($REMAINING_MINUTES < $MINIMUM_BATTERY_MINUTES)) && DO=1
[ "$IN_MAH" -ne 0 -a "$REMAINING" -lt "$MINIMUM_BATTERY_CHARGE_MAH" ] && DO=1
[ "$IN_MWH" -ne 0 -a "$REMAINING" -lt "$MINIMUM_BATTERY_CHARGE_MWH" ] && DO=1
[ "$PRESENT_RATE" -ne 0 -a "$REMAINING" -ne 0 ] && \
(($REMAINING_MINUTES < $CRITICAL_BATTERY_MINUTES)) && DO_CRIT=1
[ "$IN_MAH" -ne 0 -a "$REMAINING" -lt "$CRITICAL_BATTERY_CHARGE_MAH" ] && DO_CRIT=1
[ "$IN_MWH" -ne 0 -a "$REMAINING" -lt "$CRITICAL_BATTERY_CHARGE_MWH" ] && DO_CRIT=1
if [ $DO -ne 0 ] ; then
text="WARNING!!!\n"
text=$text"Remaining: $REMAINING${UNIT}h ($REMAINING_PERCENT%)\n"
[[ $PRESENT_RATE -ne 0 ]] && text=$text"You have about $REMAINING_MINUTES mins left (discharging at $PRESENT_RATE$UNIT)\n"
# Send to /var/log/acpid
echo -e -n $text
# Send to all terms
#echo -e -n $text | wall
# Send an X pop-up
eval $(w -s -h|grep --max-count=1 "\(startx\|dm\?\)"|sed 's/^\([^[:space:]]\+\)[[:space:]]\+\([^[:space:]]\+\).*$/XUSER=\1;XDISP=\2;/')
[[ "$XDISP" != :* ]] && XDISP=:0
echo -e -n $text | su - $XUSER -c "DISPLAY=$XDISP /usr/X11R6/bin/xmessage -center -timeout 10 -file - " &
# Play a sound
aplay $WARNING_SOUND
fi
if [ $DO_CRIT -ne 0 ] ; then
# Shutdown
shutdown -h now
# Sleep if you prefer and have an adequate script
#/etc/acpi/actions/acpi_handler.sh button_sleep
fi
fi
fi
/etc/init.d/acpid reload
Useful packages
Some packages I found useful, especially on laptops:
- backuppc (to be installed on a server, requires only ssh and rsync on the laptop, cf also some notes on HardDrives)
- OfflineImap
- cron-apt
Miscellaneous
- Disable devices you don't use often in the BIOS to get longer battery life.
todo
- Stop services such as cupsys, cron, sysklogd, klogd, and inetd when on battery power to get more battery life --- create a script to stop these automatically when on battery and restart them when on AC power.
- sleepd
- suspend-to-ram and suspend-to-disk
- lm-profiler