Laptop Power shutdown under heavy processor use, Slack 11.0 Kernel 2.6.18
 

Hey everyone,
Been working on upgrading my Toshiba 2545XCDT laptop to Slack 11.0 with a 2.6.18 kernel, but I'm having a power shutdown issue. This question might go in either the laptop or the kernel forum, but I figured it's Slack, so try here first.

The problem is simple and very reproducable; when the processor is doing something for a long time (recently it's been compiling ALSA from source), the power will randomly shutdown after maybe 20-30 minutes of this. It does it regradless if it's on battery power or wall power, and if the computer is just sitting (i.e. screensaver or something) there this doesn't happen, and it doesn't happen under the 2.4 kernel. I'm thinking a power issue in the new kernel, but I'm not really sure where to start looking.

Anyone have any thoughts on where to get started with this?

Thanks!
(PS in case it matters, the kernel is from the Slack 11.0 CDs with no customizing)

It may be something with ACPI ... not sure if you can use apm instead on a 2.6.x kernel.

Why not use apm on 2.6 kernels? It's all depends of your hardware. I'm using apm on 2.6 (Thinkpad T23), and everything it's ok. Better then on acpi system.
thethinker; question is, what powersaving subsytem do you use? If you have default slackware 2.6 kernel, then I suppose that You use acpi. Try to stop acpi daemon (/etc/rc.d/rc.acpi stop), and watch for any changes...

Could it be overheating? Does the fan come on?

Brian

I would guess it's overheating. It sounds like either the kernel or BIOS is detecting excessive CPU temperature and forcing the power off to protect the hardware. If you can't modify the kernel's ACPI modules, try minimizing resource usage when compiling sources. And, if necessary, consider an external cooling source.

Are there any internal sensors that you can get the temp from ? Maybe that'll tell you if it's overheating.

stopping the ACPI demon didn't work, so I guess I could just recompile the kernel with apm instead of acpi enabled (I didn't put either in as modular). Given that I don't have this problem in the 2.4 kernel, maybe that's the answer. I'll get back with more info later today.

Thanks for the help so far guys.

Well guys it appears the problem is fixed...I recompiled, getting rid of ACPI in favor of APM, tried to compile ALSA (which didn't work before) and it completed. So perhaps that was the answer. Fine with me!

Thanks a bunch!

On my laptop I also had many problems with ACPI. Switching to APM helped. I guess some laptops don't fully (and correctly) support ACPI ... or there is a bug in ACPI ?

I think, there's nothing wrong with ACPI. Just older laptops don't correctly
cooperate with ACPI standard.

So how does one install Slackware 11 on an older laptop to use apm instead of acpi and with a 2.6 kernel?

I've got a Thinkpad A22m that I'm considering wiping OpenSUSE off of to put on Slackware 11, which my desktop computer already has.

Regards,

-Drew

First try it with ACPI, then if you have problems, recompile the kernel to use APM (take ACPI out of the kernel).

You should also note that you should not use APM with SMP. This is unlikely anyway, because, as bzyk says, it typically only happens in older laptops.

Lufbery: I have T23 (just typing on it), and Slackware 11 on board. I had some problems with acpi. Suspending and resuming from ram was not so good ad I want to... That why I give ACPI up. I'm using apm now, and everything is ok. Suspending to ram, to disc (suspend2 - path on kernel), working very good. And all Fn/control combinations are good. If you want occasionally turn off acpi, run kernel with parameter; acpi=off. Want to turn off for ever - configure your lilo or grub with append parameter (man lilo.conf). Then, when you start without acpi just type as root; modprobe apm. Generally, if you have more questions about linux and Thinkpad visit thinkwiki.org

bzyk,

Thanks for the tips. Here's another question: which kernel are you using?

Thanks,

-Drew

With acpi you can obtain this information from directory /proc/acpi/thermal_zone/THRM/. For example, to find out the cpu temperature I do:

Brian