Ubuntu Question - t420

So I just installed Ubuntu on my T420, but I am having problems with the fan. It appears to be always on; however, I did find a solution online, but I can't really comprehend the directions cause I am relatively new to linux.

Here are the directions as follows -

"

i got thinkfan working on my t420:

1. install thinkfan package
2. add kernel module 'coretemp' to /etc/modules
3. load kernel module 'coretemp'
4. add the following three sensor entries to /etc/thinkfan.conf just before the temperature levels:

sensor /sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/temp1_input
sensor /sys/devices/platform/coretemp.2/temp1_input
sensor /sys/devices/virtual/hwmon/hwmon0/temp1_input

5. add the following to /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf:

options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1

6. reload kernel module 'thinkpad_acpi'
7. set START="yes" in /etc/default/thinkfan
8. start thinkfan: /etc/init.d/thinkfan start

9. check whether it works: cat /proc/acpi/ibm/fan

if level has a value between 0 and 7, and changes by times, your thinkfan daemon works.

I found the solution in the thinkpad wiki (only german) at Thinkfan - ThinkPad-Wiki

"

I know how to access Terminal, but I don't know how to follow the rest. Can anybody help me out with the buzz words, or be kind enough to type out exactly what to write down in the terminal?


Also, I have already installed thinkfan, so that is not the problem as of now.

Much appreciated,
Rahim

 

I'm posting the translated instructions below.

Installation

Install Package
You can install the package

Code:

thinkfan

Input this into the terminal

Code:

sudo apt-get install thinkfan

Note: sudo is only needed for Ubuntu, Debian runs all instead of commands from a root shell.

Code:

thinkpad_acpi configure

In order to use fan control, the kernel module must have thinkpad_acpi with the option fan_control = 1 loaded. The file /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf must be edited with root privileges

Code:

gksudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf

and then enter the following

Code:

options thinkpad_acpi fan_control = 1

Then you load the new module

Code:

sudo modprobe-rv thinkpad_acpi sudo modprobe-v thinkpad_acpi

Start thinkfan automatically

Forcing thinkfan to activate automatically at startup, the file /etc/default/thinkfan with root privileges and edit the following word in the line from a no to a yes to replace:

Code:

START=yes

Set temperature thresholds

thinkfan has no GUI. The temperature thresholds of the text file /etc/thinkfan.conf are configured. The predetermined thresholds should work with any ThinkPad. Upon request, the file can be edited as root:
(0, 0, 55) (1, 48, 60) (2, 50, 61) (3, 52, 63) (4, 56, 65) (5, 59, 66) (7, 63, 32767)
Each line consists of three values ​​- whose meaning is (from left to right):
Fan Level 0 (off) - 7 (max.)
The temperature when reached in the descending direction of the fan level by 1 decreases.
The temperature when reached in the ascending direction of the fan level by 1 increases.
Note: The temperature taken into account is the highest value found in the system of all temperature sensors.
After setting the thresholds, the thinkfan daemon can be started manually:

Code:

sudo /etc/init.d/thinkfan

Show the temperature

For ThinkPads shows the values ​​of all temperature sensors with

Code:

cat /proc/acpi/ibm/thermal

The first value is always the CPU. The allocation of additional sensors varies by model. Details can be found here.

Test operation

To observe the effect of the settings directly, you must first stop the thinkfan daemon from running in the background:

Code:

sudo /etc/init.d/stop thinkfan

Then thinkfan started in the foreground by:

Code:

sudo-s thinkfan

It appears the following continuous output (example)

Code:

WARNING: Using default temperature inputs into /proc/acpi/ibm/thermal. WARNING: You have not provided any correction values ​​for any sensor, and your fan will only start at 55 ° C. This can be dangerous for your hard drive. Config as read from /etc/thinkfan.conf: Fan level Low High 0 0 55 1 48 60 2 50 61 3 52 63 4 56 65 5 7 63 59 66 32 767 sleeptime = 5, temp = 50, last_temp = 0, = biased_temp 50 -> level = 1 sleeptime = 5, temp = 60, last_temp = 59, biased_temp = 60 -> level = 2 sleeptime = 5, temp = 61, last_temp = 60, biased_temp = 61 -> level = 3 sleeptime = 5, temp = 52, = 53 last_temp, biased_temp = 52 -> level = 2 sleeptime = 5, temp = 50, = 51 last_temp, biased_temp = 50 -> level = 1

Use Ctrl + C, the test can be terminated.

Troubleshooting

No function on X220, T420 (s), L420 with Ubuntu 11.04 / kernel 2.6.38

The symptom: When the manual starting of thinkfan:

Code:

sudo /etc/init.d/thinkfan

displays the following output

Code:

/Proc/acpi/ibm/thermal: No such file or directory

The cause: the file /proc/acpi/ibm/thermal no longer exists in the affected models. The temperature sensors are moved to another location in the sysfs thinkfan and she does not recognize.
The solution: to determine the available temperature sensors is the first packet, use the following command:

Code:

lm-sensors

to install. Then you start the identification with the command:

Code:

sudo sensors-detect

All requests of the program (up to the last) can be confirmed with <Enter> (Yes).
The last question of the program "Do you want to add these lines automatically to /etc/modules? (Yes / No)" is answered with Yes <Enter>.
As a next step, you load the kernel detected by sensors-detect modules:

Code:

sudo module-init-tools start Ubuntu # sudo /etc/init.d/module-init-tools start # Debian

or alternatively with a reboot.
Now, the available temperature sensors are displayed with the following command:

Code:

find /sys/devices -type f -name "temp*_input"

The output lines will be with one leading sensor in /etc/thinkfan.conf (right before the temperature thresholds).
Example (T420s):

Code:

sensor /sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/temp1_input sensor /sys/devices/platform/coretemp.2/temp1_input sensor /sys/devices/virtual/hwmon/hwmon0/temp1_input

The current values ​​of the temperature sensors can be shown with:

Code:

sensors