<disclaimer>
I'm not sure if I should ask this in the hardware or software forum, but I use Slackware and my questions usually get answered best in the Slackware forum. Please move it if I put it in the wrong place, OK?
</disclaimer>

When I upgrade to the next version of Slackware I plan on a fresh install using the bare.acpi 2.6.x kernel. If I have ACPI enabled in the BIOS, will that make ACPI work, or will it conflict with it on a software level? In other words, if I want ACPI, should I have it just on a software/kernel module level, or does it need to be supported in the BIOS as well?

I ask because at an Install-Fest I once helped a man install Mandrake 9.1 on his laptop. We installed ACPI and it froze on booting at the point when ACPI tried to load. When we disabled ACPI in his BIOS, the problem went away. I've never used ACPI before, and I have a PC, not a laptop, and this is for Slackware, not Mandrake, etc..., but still I would appreciate any pointers anyone can give me. I'd love to have my drives spin down when not in use...

TIA,
Siri Amrit

Hi!

I think you're talking about APM (not ACPI) in BIOS.
APM (BIOS is in charge of power management) doesn't work with ACPI (operating system is the boss of power management).
If you want to use ACPI you should disable APM.

Cheers!

Thanks for your reply and sorry I had to take so long to get back to this.

My BIOS has the following:

ACPI Function: Enable/Disable (I've set it to Enable)
Power Management Function: Minimum Saving, Maximum Saving or User Define (I chose User Define)
HDD PowerDown: Enable/Disable (I've set it to Disable)
Suspend Mode (set to 20 minutes)
Video Off Option: "Suspend ->OFF" or "Always ON" (default is "Suspend ->OFF")
Video Off Method: "V/H SYNC+Blank", "Blank Screen", or "DPMS Support" (it's set for V/H SYNC+Blank, but I have DPMS support in my XF86Config file)

I don't understand what some of these options mean and my motherboard handbook is useless. Do you have any suggestions as to how I should configure these BIOS options if I want to enable ACPI in my kernel?

Also, what Append options regarding ACPI and apic should I put into LILO when I reinstall?

Thanks!
Siri Amrit

tm, I don't see any options in my BIOS that say anything about APM. The BIOS seems to only know about ACPI.

Hi!

If you switch ACPI off is PowerM still available? (if not it means its not ACPI but APM).

Set ACPI on, PowerManagement-user define and switch everything OFF.

In lilo the only append option you need 'acpi=on'.

When you compiling the kernel make sure that:
1. You have the newest kernel version cause ACPI is being developed now so it's changing with every new release.
2. Disable APM options
3. Enable all ACPI options.
*4. If your computer freezes on boot try:
* *) enable apic
* **) disable lapic
* ***) disable apic
*(that helps with some laptops)


johnMG: Follow above and can you write what options are available in your BIOS?

Cheers!

Thanks, (tm)! That was just what I was needing to know. I'll shutdown sometime this weekend to reset my BIOS and see what happens with power management. G-d bless Linux; changing a BIOS setting or turning it off during a lightening storm are the ONLY reasons I shutdown my "confuser" anymore...

Siri Amrit

tm,

(Note, I'm not having any "freeze during boot" problems (though I might once I start trying to get this ACPI/APM stuff working :) -- I just thought this thread was interesting.)

> If you switch ACPI off is PowerM still available?

Do you mean switch it off in the BIOS?
What's PowerM/PowerManagement? Some software package?

I'm running the stock Slack 9.1 with Gnome, and have acpid-1.0.2-i486-1 installed.

The note in /var/log/packages/acpid.* says that I need ACPI compiled into the kernel to run acpid.

/usr/src/linux/drivers/acpi is loaded with stuff, but nothing acpi-related is in /lib/modules.

ps -e | grep acpi
yields nothing.

I've got an /etc/rc.d/rc.acpid file present.

> In lilo the only append option you need 'acpi=on'.

Can't you just have the acpi module load like the others? Wait, does this have something to do with compiling acpi into the kernel (rather than outside the kernel as a module)?

> johnMG: Follow above and can you write what options are available in your BIOS?

Sure. :) Let me warm up my typing fingers...

I've got the "Award" BIOS. Once in it, I can go to "Power Management Setup" and then have a number of options:

Hmm... also just noticed that in /usr/src/linux-2.4.22/.config, it lists:
# CONFIG_ACPI is not set

(I'm running bare.i and installed the kernel sources when I did the initial install.)

Looks like -- if I want ACPI to work -- I'll have to enable this config option, rebuild the kernel, install it, then go into the BIOS and switch ACPI on.

John,

Power Management (PM) is basically everything connected with saving energy in computers. That's just a term by some wise man (probably from Sun, Intel or Microsoft ).

Advanced Power Management (APM) is a standard. Standard of managing any parts (graphic card, hard disk, etc.) inside any computer. Someone decided that we'll have PM in computers. Then decided that BIOS will be responsible for that (BIOS will stop the disk for example). And finally decided that this feature in PCs will be called APM.
Couple of years later it turned out that APM is not good enough. Again some wise man gathered and decided that we need something more flexible. They decided that will let the operating system control power features. That's ACPI.


>Can't you just have the acpi module load like the others? Wait, does this have something to do with compiling acpi into the kernel (rather than outside the kernel as a module)?

Yes you can, but you have to compile the kernel with ACPI as its module. You cannot load a module which wasn't compiled with your kernel (it will be possible soon, but that's another story). "....ACPI compiled into the kernel to run acpid." means that you need the module loaded OR have it compiled inside your kernel.

>(I'm running bare.i and installed the kernel sources when I did the initial install.)
Looks like -- if I want ACPI to work -- I'll have to enable this config option, rebuild the kernel, install it, then go into the BIOS and switch ACPI on.

You're damn right. bare.i kernel in 9.1 doesn't have ACPI compiled neither in kernel nor as a module, so you won't have ACPI running without recompiling the kernel. Get 2.6.? sources.

>> As it comes to BIOS I think you should set it like that:
1) ACPI on
2. PM - user define, everything off
3) ACPI Suspend Type [S1(POS)] <- i don't think it's important (Have you got something like a 'Sleep button'?)
4) PM Control by APM - NO

Thanks again, (tm) and John. This thread is the motherload for explaining all the stuff I didn't even know how to put into words to ask.
FWIW, my display power management is fine with ACPI turned OFF and vidio option set to DPMS support. Will await the next version of Slack for ACPI support...

Siri Amrit

Thanks for all the info tm -- I used it to start these three pages at our wiki:
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/APM
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Power_Management
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/ACPI

Anyone who has more detailed knowledge, please contribute to those pages. :)

Also, you wrote:
3) ACPI Suspend Type [S1(POS)] <- i don't think it's important (Have you got something like a 'Sleep button'?)

Nope, I don't have a "sleep button" anywhere -- though warm milk with honey tends to knock me out pretty well. :)

>>Will await the next version of Slack for ACPI support...

Why don't you just get new kernel sources? You can play and learn with it

>warm milk with honey
I have to try!

Cheers guys!