Trying to figoure out kernel modules and fan controls, (Thinkpads)

JasonMehmel · 2025-01-30 04:27:02

I've been trying to figure this out for a while.

I'm not sure if it's that I don't have the thinkpad_acpi module installed at all, or if I'm just not activating them correctly.

I'm trying to use either `Thinkfan` or `zcfan` from the repositories.

I'm sticking with zcfan which has pretty sane defaults, but when I try to use it I either get:

COMMAND:
sudo rmmod thinkpad_acpi && modprobe thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1

RESPONSE:
modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'thinkpad_acpi': Operation not permitted

(does that mean I don't have the module turned on? I ran the command with sudo)

or

(this one from the zcfan documentation)

COMMAND:
sudo echo options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1 > /etc/modprobe.d/99-fancontrol.conf

RESPONSE:
bash: /etc/modprobe.d/99-fancontrol.conf: Permission denied

I don't have that 99-fancontrol.conf file in my modprobe.d folder... and I'm not sure if I should go in and create it!

Head_on_a_Stick · 2025-01-30 07:41:12

JasonMehmel wrote:

sudo rmmod thinkpad_acpi && modprobe thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1

You need to use `sudo` with the second command as well as the first.

JasonMehmel wrote:

sudo echo options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1 > /etc/modprobe.d/99-fancontrol.conf

The elevated permissions conferred by the sudo command are lost after the redirection (">").

So use either

sudo sh -c 'echo options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1 > /etc/modprobe.d/99-fancontrol.conf'

Or

sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/99-fancontrol.conf <<<"options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1"

https://mywiki.wooledge.org/HereDocument

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2025-01-30 17:38:56)

JasonMehmel · 2025-01-31 05:33:19

Okay! That got me as far as getting a /etc/modprobe.d/99-fancontrol.conf file!

I did the following:

sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/99-fancontrol.conf <<<"options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1"
sudo sh -c 'echo options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1 > /etc/modprobe.d/99-fancontrol.conf'
sudo zcfan

And it appears to be working!

I used sudo nohup zcfan so that I could keep it running after closing the terminal!

That's got me going and I think it's working!

Now I've just got to figure out how to load it at startup!

Head_on_a_Stick · 2025-01-31 08:02:03

sudo systemctl enable --now zcfan

But I think it should have been enabled automatically on installation.

WolfeN · 2025-02-01 19:43:37

Not sure if all you want is to monitor fan speed? If that is all, I use conky with

$ibm_fan

on my thinkpad. I use a conky that also shows me CPU temperature using

$acpitemp

to keep an eye on things on the desktop.

Last edited by WolfeN (2025-02-01 19:44:03)

JasonMehmel · 2025-02-03 20:50:41

WolfeN wrote:

Not sure if all you want is to monitor fan speed?

No, this was to control it. I was finding the fan kicks in earlier than necessary in BL compared to Windows. (Though I haven't rigorously tested that fact.) This was also to hopefully extend the battery life when it's not plugged into my desktop!

JasonMehmel · 2025-02-03 20:51:58

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

sudo systemctl enable --now zcfan
But I think it should have been enabled automatically on installation.

Would I still need to run the other modprobe commands in startup as well? Or is that a one-and-done setup to get zcfan working?

I'm still a bit confused by kernel modules, so I'm unsure about the processes.

Head_on_a_Stick · 2025-02-03 21:04:38

If you've created /etc/modprobe.d/99-fancontrol.conf with the suggested configuration then that should be persistent between boots.

Using the modprobe command alone is not persistent and would have to be repeated every boot.

#1 2025-01-30 04:27:02

Trying to figoure out kernel modules and fan controls, (Thinkpads)

#2 2025-01-30 07:41:12

Re: Trying to figoure out kernel modules and fan controls, (Thinkpads)

#3 2025-01-31 05:33:19

Re: Trying to figoure out kernel modules and fan controls, (Thinkpads)

#4 2025-01-31 08:02:03

Re: Trying to figoure out kernel modules and fan controls, (Thinkpads)

#5 2025-02-01 19:43:37

Re: Trying to figoure out kernel modules and fan controls, (Thinkpads)

#6 2025-02-03 20:50:41

Re: Trying to figoure out kernel modules and fan controls, (Thinkpads)

#7 2025-02-03 20:51:58

Re: Trying to figoure out kernel modules and fan controls, (Thinkpads)

#8 2025-02-03 21:04:38

Re: Trying to figoure out kernel modules and fan controls, (Thinkpads)

Board footer