Thinkpad T420, Ubuntu 11.04 Fan running all the Time

[mejo]

The output is

$ grep -r thinkpad_acpi /etc/modprobe.d/
 /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf:options thinkpad_acpi fan_control = 1

I'm not sure whether this is a problem at all, but I don't have spaces between variable, = and value. In other words, try to change 'fan_control = 1' to 'fan_control=1', and see whether modprobe succeeds afterwards.

Also while installing the thinkfan I got the following out put:
# apt-get install thinkfan
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
thinkfan
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/33.7 kB of archives.
After this operation, 164 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Selecting previously deselected package thinkfan.
(Reading database ... 161516 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking thinkfan (from .../thinkfan_0.7.1-2_amd64.deb) ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Processing triggers for ureadahead ...
ureadahead will be reprofiled on next reboot
Setting up thinkfan (0.7.1-2) ...
/proc/acpi/ibm/fan: No such file or directory


I guess the file in /proc/acpi/ibm/fan is not created while install. i don't know why...

/proc/acpi/ibm/fan is created by the kernel module thinkpad_acpi. Thus it's no suprise that you don't have that file. I guess all your problems are related to the fact that loading the kernel module fails.

[coolleonard]

I'm not sure whether this is a problem at all, but I don't have spaces between variable, = and value. In other words, try to change 'fan_control = 1' to 'fan_control=1', and see whether modprobe succeeds afterwards.



/proc/acpi/ibm/fan is created by the kernel module thinkpad_acpi. Thus it's no suprise that you don't have that file. I guess all your problems are related to the fact that loading the kernel module fails.

After removing spaces I'm still getting the same error on
# sudo modprobe thinkpad_acpi

[mejo]

After removing spaces I'm still getting the same error on
# sudo modprobe thinkpad_acpi

ok, so there is another problem. which hardware do you have, btw? is it a t420 or another thinkpad? please do the following:

1. open a console and start the following command to monitor log files:

$ tail -n0 -f /var/log/syslog /var/log/dmesg /var/log/kern.log

2. open a second console and run modprobe in verbose mode:

$ sudo modprobe -v thinkpad_acpi

3. post the output of modprobe both the the console and to the log files here

[coolleonard]

ok, so there is another problem. which hardware do you have, btw? is it a t420 or another thinkpad? please do the following:

1. open a console and start the following command to monitor log files:

$ tail -n0 -f /var/log/syslog /var/log/dmesg /var/log/kern.log

2. open a second console and run modprobe in verbose mode:

$ sudo modprobe -v thinkpad_acpi

3. post the output of modprobe both the the console and to the log files here

I have T420 with NV4000 graphics

here is the output :

 # tail -n0 -f /var/log/syslog /var/log/dmesg /var/log/kern.log
==> /var/log/syslog <==

==> /var/log/dmesg <==

==> /var/log/kern.log <==

==> /var/log/syslog <==
Sep 24 16:15:52 Freeloader kernel: [ 4431.577741] thinkpad_acpi: Unknown parameter `='

==> /var/log/kern.log <==
Sep 24 16:15:52 Freeloader kernel: [ 4431.577741] thinkpad_acpi: Unknown parameter `='

another output:

# sudo modprobe -v thinkpad_acpi
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/platform/x86/thinkpad_acpi.ko fan_control = 1 fan_control=1
FATAL: Error inserting thinkpad_acpi (/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/platform/x86/thinkpad_acpi.ko): Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)

[mejo]

I have T420 with NV4000 graphics

here is the output :

==> /var/log/syslog <==
Sep 24 16:15:52 Freeloader kernel: [ 4431.577741] thinkpad_acpi: Unknown parameter `='

another output:

# sudo modprobe -v thinkpad_acpi
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/platform/x86/thinkpad_acpi.ko fan_control = 1 fan_control=1
FATAL: Error inserting thinkpad_acpi (/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/platform/x86/thinkpad_acpi.ko): Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)

Ok, if you take a look at the output of modprobe, then you see, that the fan_control argument is given twice to insmod. once with spaces ('fan_control = 1'), and once without ('fan_control=1').

Now if you take a look at the error log to syslog, it writes: 'Unknown parameter `=''. So I was right, that the parameter with spaces between variable, = and value is wrong. For some reason it is still given to the module as argument. please again post the output of 'grep -r thinkpad_acpi /etc/modprobe.d/'.

[coolleonard]

Ok, if you take a look at the output of modprobe, then you see, that the fan_control argument is given twice to insmod. once with spaces ('fan_control = 1'), and once without ('fan_control=1').

Now if you take a look at the error log to syslog, it writes: 'Unknown parameter `=''. So I was right, that the parameter with spaces between variable, = and value is wrong. For some reason it is still given to the module as argument. please again post the output of 'grep -r thinkpad_acpi /etc/modprobe.d/'.

Yes it clearly shows the control argument is given twice. Here is the output

# grep -r thinkpad_acpi /etc/modprobe.d/
/etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf:options thinkpad_acpi fan_control = 1
/etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf:options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1

Could you please tell me how to delete the argument with spaces?

[mejo]

Yes it clearly shows the control argument is given twice. Here is the output

# grep -r thinkpad_acpi /etc/modprobe.d/
/etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf:options thinkpad_acpi fan_control = 1
/etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf:options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1

Could you please tell me how to delete the argument with spaces?

The easiest and most convenient way is to edit the file /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf with your favourite editor. In case you don't have a favourite editor yet, I suggest you use gedit, which is installed by default: 'sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf'. Simply remove the first line (that contains the argument with spaces), save the file and try whether modprobe succeeds now.

[coolleonard]

Yes it clearly shows the control argument is given twice. Here is the output

# grep -r thinkpad_acpi /etc/modprobe.d/
/etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf:options thinkpad_acpi fan_control = 1
/etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf:options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1

Could you please tell me how to delete the argument with spaces?

I deleted the argument with spaces. Now the command sudo modprobe thinkpad_acpi is working.
I'll perform the other commands and let you know in case I get stuck.
Thanks for your prompt solutions!

[coolleonard]

The file shows status as disabled. I can't see any changing values for speed with time.
I already started the thinkfan daemon using the command sudo /etc/init.d/thinkfan start

# sudo cat /proc/acpi/ibm/fan
status:        disabled
speed:        0
level:        0
commands:    level <level> (<level> is 0-7, auto, disengaged, full-speed)
commands:    enable, disable
commands:    watchdog <timeout> (<timeout> is 0 (off), 1-120 (seconds))

[mejo]

The easiest and most convenient way is to edit the file /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf with your favourite editor. In case you don't have a favourite editor yet, I suggest you use gedit, which is installed by default: 'sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf'. Simply remove the first line (that contains the argument with spaces), save the file and try whether modprobe succeeds now.

I deleted the argument with spaces. Now the command sudo modprobe thinkpad_acpi is working.
I'll perform the other commands and let you know in case I get stuck.
Thanks for your prompt solutions!

The file shows status as disabled. I can't see any changing values for speed with time.
I already started the thinkfan daemon using the command sudo /etc/init.d/thinkfan start

# sudo cat /proc/acpi/ibm/fan
status:        disabled
speed:        0
level:        0
commands:    level <level> (<level> is 0-7, auto, disengaged, full-speed)
commands:    enable, disable
commands:    watchdog <timeout> (<timeout> is 0 (off), 1-120 (seconds))

Try to enable thinkfan with the following command:

$ sudo sh -c 'echo enable > /proc/acpi/ibm/fan'

Again: which hardware do you use? Is this a T420 or another thinkpad?