Optimus,battery life and Linux

Since optimus is not supported, I assume battery life will suffer running linux. The intel video will be running, but will the nvidia card be powered off? I should also note, machine is an xps15 with no switching in bios.

 

The NVidia gpu will switch off when unused, which in your Linux setup will be 100% of the time. Your notebook will use the same amount of battery as if it had integrated graphics only.

 

If you can't switch it to integrated only in the BIOS your nvidia card will be powered on in linux by default if it uses optimus, until you use the acpi_call module to power it down. You can find lots of examples if you search for "nvidia optimus acpi_call".

 

You can disconnect the x16 pcie port that the NVidia GPU is attached to in grub2 prior to booting Linux. That is equivalent to running with integrated only. Use

Code:

setpci -s 0:0.0 54.b=0:2

Confirm by noting the NVidia gpu is no longer in the 'lspci -tv' output.

 

My non optimus nvidia didnt have a choice for IGP only and always reverted to the nvidia card over the intel. I would think the same would happen with optimus cards until you run the script to disable the card. Not sure, just a hunch.

 

I did try, before writing to script, but it didn't take.

Code:

git clone http://github.com/mkottman/acpi_call.git

cd acpi_call

make

sudo insmod acpi_call.ko

./test_off.sh

 

@Gunjunkie are you getting any specific error messages when you compile the module and run insmod, or in /var/log/syslog?

I walked someone through building this recently for an alienware m11xr2, there might be some clues there. It needed a patch to acpi_call in order to work. I don't have any optimus hardware to test myself. That thread is here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/linux-compatibility-software/553945-help-new-linux-user-out-m11x-r2.html

 

Hmm, the m11xr2 has the option in bios for switching. Wonder if it matters that mine does not.

I was doing the commands in my previous post and the output was similar to this (not mine)

Code:

# ./test_off.sh
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P1.VGA._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.VGA._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.ATPX: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.XTPX: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P3.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P1.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.MXR0.MXM0._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG1.GFX0._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG1.GFX0.DOFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.XVR0.Z01I.DGOF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEGR.GFX0._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG.VID._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.DGPU._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P4.DGPU.DOFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.IXVE.IGPU.DGOF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.RP00.VGA._PS3: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.RP00.VGA.P3MO: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.GFX0.DSM._T_0: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.LPC.EC.PUBS._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.NVID._OFF: failed

and the one line should be,

Code:

Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG1.GFX0._OFF: works!

if working.

Also, don't know if it matters, but I'm using kernel
2.6.35-27-generic #48+kamal~mjgbacklight1-Ubuntu

 

So I did this and pasted

Code:

sudo /sbin/rmmod /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko
sudo /sbin/insmod /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko

into /etc/rc.local, but it didn't take at restart? I did kinda struggle through, so I'm sure I missed something.

 

What distro are you on?

 

ubuntu 10.10 64 bit

 

Do those commands work if you run them on their own?

Does the module show up in lsmod | grep m11xr2hack

Is your /etc/rc.local executable? chmod a+x /etc/rc.local

I'm not even sure the status of rc.local in recent ubuntu since it's been switched to upstart from sysvinit. I think it still gets executed but I'm not sure when.

 

I get "no such directory".

module shows

Code:

~$ lsmod | grep m11xr2hack
m11xr2hack              1737  0

Am I supposed to remove the acpi_call folder?
It was working before the reboot. Was showing 3:40 battery life before and 5:25 after.

 

You get no such directory on which one?

 

Code:

mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$ sudo /sbin/rmmod /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko
ERROR: Module m11xr2hack does not exist in /proc/modules
mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$ sudo /sbin/insmod /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko
mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$ 

 

OK maybe it's because the first one has a bad exit status so it could be killing the rest of your init script. I think if the exit status results in failure the rest of the script won't run.

Try removing the first line from your rc.local with the rmmod and reboot -- let me know if that works.

 

Same thing as my previous post

 

In /etc/rc.local you removed this line?
sudo /sbin/rmmod /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko

The only thing in your /etc/rc.local should be this:
/sbin/insmod /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko

After a reboot you should be able to do an lsmod | grep m11 and see that module loaded.

 

Correct.

Code:

mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$ lsmod | grep m11 
m11xr2hack              1737  0 
mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$ 

 

OK so what is the problem at this point?

Do you need to add the setpci commands to turn the card off? From the other thread:

Code:

echo 0 >/sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:01:00.0/enable
echo 1 >/sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:01:00.0/remove

Again, I have no optimus system so I'm flying blind here I'm sorry.

 

I believe so, because I did no such thing. No problem, I appreciate your help.

 

Does that mean it's working?

If not, maybe you need to use a different PCI ID. You can find it in your lspci -nn

 

Didn't get it yet. Removed the acpi_call.c and replaced with the hack file, but nothing. Did not do this before, yet it worked. Think I will start over.

 

This is the output of

Code:

chmod a+x /etc/rc.local

chmod: changing permissions of `/etc/rc.local': Operation not permitted

 

Yeah that has to be done as root. So add sudo to the beginning of the command.

I think it may already be executable, from what you posted earlier, but you can find out with ls -l /etc/rc.local

It should say something like this:

Code:

-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 306 Nov 30  2009 /etc/rc.local

 

I believe its working. Thanks for helping out a novice.

So when a new kernel is installed, is this correct?

make clean
make
mv m11xr2hack.ko /usr/local/lib
chmod 0400 /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko

Acutally I left out,
And rebuild your initrd after placing that blacklist file in modprobe.d:

/sbin/new-kernel-pkg --package kernel --mkinitrd --dracut --depmod --install $(uname -r)

Not sure on this.

 

That first part should be right.

The second part for updating the initrd is done with:

Code:

sudo update-initramfs -ut

from man update-initramfs:
-t Allows to take over an custom initramfs with a newer one.
-u This mode updates an existing initramfs.

If it's for a different kernel specify -k kernelversion. For instance update-initramfs -utk 2.6.37.2

The new-kernel-pkg is for redhat I think. Been ages since I used it so IDK.

 

Hmm, still not taking after reboot. So if I go

Code:

mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$ cd acpi_call
mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~/acpi_call$ sudo insmod m11xr2hack.ko
mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~/acpi_call$ lsmod | grep m11
m11xr2hack              1737  0
mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~/acpi_call$

Then it seems to load. I'm going to clear my head and try tomorrow. Thanks for your patience!

 

Did you copy the new module to /usr/local/lib ?

If you run the init script by itself after rmmod does the module load?

Code:

sudo rmmod /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko
sudo /etc/rc.local
lsmod | grep m11

Maybe paste in your /etc/rc.local file contents so we can take a look.

 

Code:

#!/bin/sh -e
#
# rc.local
#
# This script is executed at the end of each multiuser runlevel.
# Make sure that the script will "exit 0" on success or any other
# value on error.
#
# In order to enable or disable this script just change the execution
# bits.
#
# By default this script does nothing.

exit 0
echo 0 >/sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:01:00.0/enable
echo 1 >/sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:01:00.0/remove
/sbin/insmod /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko

Code:

mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$ sudo rmmod /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko
mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$ sudo /etc/rc.local
mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$ lsmod | grep m11
mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$

 

Move the first line (exit 0) to the end of the script.

 

Made the change to etc/rc.local, same. How do I copy the module

output

Code:

mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$ sudo rmmod /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko
ERROR: Module m11xr2hack does not exist in /proc/modules
mt@mt-XPS-L501X:~$

I see that there are errors, just don't know how to correct them. Post #28 is the only way I can seem to load the module.

 

I just meant did you copy the module from the build directory (acpi_call) to /usr/local/lib/

Code:

sudo cp ~/acpi_call/m11xr2hack.ko /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko

If you run the script now, does it work once that file has been copied?

 

I checked usr/local/lib and the m11xr2hack.ko file is there. Is it supposed to have an X icon over the upper right corner of the file? If I click on it, says "the file is of an unknown type".

 

Yeah that X icon is because it's owned by root and you don't have privileges for the file as a normal user. I'm not sure what's going wrong this time, I've lost track. Can you try running the script and see if the module loads?

 

If you want to keep the rmmod you could do the following to hide the error from being displayed and always get a good return code.

Code:

if /sbin/rmmod /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko 2>/dev/null ;then :;fi

 

Code:

sudo gedit /usr/local/lib/m11xr2hack.ko

If I do the above, shouldn't there be something in the file? It's empty. Also, when the lid is opened and resuming from suspend, there's a warning about ignoring a bad line starting with echo. Flashes too quick to see all of it. Sorry I seem so dense, but I'm just not getting it.

 

The .ko file is a kernel module, which is a binary file. You can't open it in anything but a hex editor.

 

Ok It works, but the script isn't running at startup. What files do I need to check to make sure the correct information is there?

 

Does it work if you run the script manually?

Try adding some time for it at the beginning by adding this to the top of the rc.local file (as the first line):

Code:

sleep 15

The problem may be the order since ubuntu is using upstart now which runs all your startup stuff in parallel, this command may be executed too soon. This will add 15 seconds of time for it to wait until it runs the rest of the script at startup.

 

Yes, if I run

Code:

:~$ cd acpi_call
:~/acpi_call$ sudo insmod m11xr2hack.ko

I'm done with this for a while. You've been extremely patient with me and I appreciate it. I'll get it eventually. Thanks!