i8k_configuration.md

Dell Inspiron fan control setup for Linux

Researched from:

1. https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/controlling-dell-fan-speeds-temperature-on-ubuntu-debian-linux/
2. http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages//precise/man1/i8kmon.1.html
3. https://askubuntu.com/questions/522954/setting-temperature-thresholds-in-i8kmon-ubuntu-14-04
4. https://askubuntu.com/questions/1227489/i8kctl-not-working-for-dell-inspiron-fan-control.

---

Steps:

1. sudo apt install lm-sensors, it will allow us to monitor temperature of cpu and fan speeds via sensors command.

2. sudo apt install i8kutils, this has i8k, the driver and utility which will help us control the fan.

3. sudo modprobe -v i8k, this will load i8k driver.

4. Then follow:

   git clone https://github.com/TomFreudenberg/dell-bios-fan-control.git
   cd dell-bios-fan-control
   make
   sudo ./dell-bios-fan-control 0
   

   to disable BIOS control of fans.

   If you get an error like this

   ioperm:: Operation not permitted 
   ioperm:: Operation not permitted [1] 
   4701 segmentation fault
   

   you need to go to your BIOS/UEFI and disable SECURE BOOT. Then run the command again. Output should now be BIOS CONTROL DISABLED.

5. If everything has worked till now

   sudo i8kctl fan 2 2
   

   should put your fans at full speed.

6. Now open /etc/i8kmon.conf in a text editor

   sudo nano /etc/i8kmon.conf
   

   and put the following in it:

   {% raw %}

   # i8kmon configuration file (/etc/i8kmon.conf, ~/.i8kmon).
   
   # Run as daemon, override with --daemon option
   set config(daemon)      0
   
   # Automatic fan control, override with --auto option
   set config(auto)        1
   
   # External program to control the fans
   set config(i8kfan)      /usr/bin/i8kfan
   
   # Report status on stdout, override with --verbose option
   set config(verbose)     0
   
   # Status check timeout (seconds), override with --timeout option
   set config(timeout)     5
   
   # Temperature threshold at which the temperature is displayed in red
   set config(t_high)      80
   
   # Temperature thresholds: {fan_speeds low_ac high_ac low_batt high_batt}
   # These were tested on the I8000. If you have a different Dell laptop model
   # you should check the BIOS temperature monitoring and set the appropriate
   # thresholds here. In doubt start with low values and gradually rise them
   # until the fans are not always on when the cpu is idle.
   set config(0)   {{-1 0}  -1  45  -1  45}
   set config(1)   {{-1 1}  45  65  45  65}
   set config(2)   {{-1 2}  65  128  65  128}
   set config(3)   {{-1 2}  65 128  65 128}
   
   # Speed values are set here to avoid i8kmon probe them at every time it starts.
   set status(leftspeed)   "0 1000 2000 3000"
   set status(rightspeed)  "0 1000 2000 3000"
   
   # end of file
   

   {% endraw %}

   Remember to replace those {-1 0} things with specific to your laptop. -1 signifies my laptop doesn't have a left fan. If you have both fans put {0 0}, if only right {0 -1}. Refer manpage for more details.

7. Create /etc/modprobe.d/i8k.conf with this line inside it:

   options i8k force=1
   

8. Thats it. Reboot your system and enjoy a cooler laptop.

---

To check status of i8kmon service:

sudo systemctl status i8kmon.service

To start it:

sudo systemctl start i8kmon.service

To stop it:

sudo systemctl stop i8kmon.service

To restart it:

sudo systemctl restart i8kmon.service

---

To heat CPU cores for checking i8k fan control you can do a stress test using:

stress -c 8

and monitor temperatures using:

watch sensors

and press CTRL+c to cancel when satisfied.

---