[PATCH v11 5/5] alienware-wmi: WMAX interface documentation

Kurt Borja
2024-10-30T00:12:40Z

Added documentation for new WMAX interface, present on some Alienware
X-Series, Alienware M-Series and Dell's G-Series laptops.

Signed-off-by: Kurt Borja <kuurtb@gmail.com>
Reviewed-by: Armin Wolf <W_Armin@gmx.de>
Reviewed-by: Ilpo Järvinen <ilpo.jarvinen@linux.intel.com>
---
v11:
- Unchanged
v10:
- Unchanged
v9:
- Unchanged
v8:
- Unchanged
v7:
- Added GameShiftStatus method to documentation
- Added remark about operation 0x03 of Thermal_Information method
- Removed undocumented methods
v6:
- Fixed typos
- Included new file in MAINTAINERS
---
Documentation/wmi/devices/alienware-wmi.rst | 388 ++++++++++++++++++++
MAINTAINERS | 1 +
2 files changed, 389 insertions(+)
create mode 100644 Documentation/wmi/devices/alienware-wmi.rst

diff --git a/Documentation/wmi/devices/alienware-wmi.rst b/Documentation/wmi/devices/alienware-wmi.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..36a67ff9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/wmi/devices/alienware-wmi.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,388 @@
+.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
+
+==============================================
+Dell AWCC WMI interface driver (alienware-wmi)
+==============================================
+
+Introduction
+============
+
+The WMI device WMAX has been implemented for many Alienware and Dell's G-Series
+models. Throughout these models, two implementations have been identified. The
+first one, used by older systems, deals with HDMI, brightness, RGB, amplifier
+and deep sleep control. The second one used by newer systems deals primarily
+with thermal, overclocking, and GPIO control.
+
+It is suspected that the latter is used by Alienware Command Center (AWCC) to
+manage manufacturer predefined thermal profiles. The alienware-wmi driver
+exposes Thermal_Information and Thermal_Control methods through the Platform
+Profile API to mimic AWCC's behavior.
+
+This newer interface, named AWCCMethodFunction has been reverse engineered, as
+Dell has not provided any official documentation. We will try to describe to the
+best of our ability its discovered inner workings.
+
+.. note::
+ The following method description may be incomplete and some operations have
+ different implementations between devices.
+
+WMI interface description
+-------------------------
+
+The WMI interface description can be decoded from the embedded binary MOF (bmof)
+data using the `bmfdec <https://github.com/pali/bmfdec>`_ utility:
+
+::
+
+ [WMI, Dynamic, Provider("WmiProv"), Locale("MS\\0x409"), Description("WMI Function"), guid("{A70591CE-A997-11DA-B012-B622A1EF5492}")]
+ class AWCCWmiMethodFunction {
+ [key, read] string InstanceName;
+ [read] boolean Active;
+
+ [WmiMethodId(13), Implemented, read, write, Description("Return Overclocking Report.")] void Return_OverclockingReport([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(14), Implemented, read, write, Description("Set OCUIBIOS Control.")] void Set_OCUIBIOSControl([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(15), Implemented, read, write, Description("Clear OC FailSafe Flag.")] void Clear_OCFailSafeFlag([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(19), Implemented, read, write, Description("Get Fan Sensors.")] void GetFanSensors([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(20), Implemented, read, write, Description("Thermal Information.")] void Thermal_Information([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(21), Implemented, read, write, Description("Thermal Control.")] void Thermal_Control([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(23), Implemented, read, write, Description("MemoryOCControl.")] void MemoryOCControl([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(26), Implemented, read, write, Description("System Information.")] void SystemInformation([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(28), Implemented, read, write, Description("Power Information.")] void PowerInformation([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(32), Implemented, read, write, Description("FW Update GPIO toggle.")] void FWUpdateGPIOtoggle([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(33), Implemented, read, write, Description("Read Total of GPIOs.")] void ReadTotalofGPIOs([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(34), Implemented, read, write, Description("Read GPIO pin Status.")] void ReadGPIOpPinStatus([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(35), Implemented, read, write, Description("Read Chassis Color.")] void ReadChassisColor([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(36), Implemented, read, write, Description("Read Platform Properties.")] void ReadPlatformProperties([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(37), Implemented, read, write, Description("Game Shift Status.")] void GameShiftStatus([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(128), Implemented, read, write, Description("Caldera SW installation.")] void CalderaSWInstallation([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(129), Implemented, read, write, Description("Caldera SW is released.")] void CalderaSWReleased([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(130), Implemented, read, write, Description("Caldera Connection Status.")] void CalderaConnectionStatus([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(131), Implemented, read, write, Description("Surprise Unplugged Flag Status.")] void SurpriseUnpluggedFlagStatus([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(132), Implemented, read, write, Description("Clear Surprise Unplugged Flag.")] void ClearSurpriseUnpluggedFlag([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(133), Implemented, read, write, Description("Cancel Undock Request.")] void CancelUndockRequest([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(135), Implemented, read, write, Description("Devices in Caldera.")] void DevicesInCaldera([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(136), Implemented, read, write, Description("Notify BIOS for SW ready to disconnect Caldera.")] void NotifyBIOSForSWReadyToDisconnectCaldera([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(160), Implemented, read, write, Description("Tobii SW installation.")] void TobiiSWinstallation([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(161), Implemented, read, write, Description("Tobii SW Released.")] void TobiiSWReleased([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(162), Implemented, read, write, Description("Tobii Camera Power Reset.")] void TobiiCameraPowerReset([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(163), Implemented, read, write, Description("Tobii Camera Power On.")] void TobiiCameraPowerOn([out] uint32 argr);
+ [WmiMethodId(164), Implemented, read, write, Description("Tobii Camera Power Off.")] void TobiiCameraPowerOff([out] uint32 argr);
+ };
+
+Some of these methods get quite intricate so we will describe them using
+pseudo-code that vaguely resembles the original ASL code.
+
+Methods not described in the following document have unknown behavior.
+
+Argument Structure
+------------------
+
+All input arguments have type **uint32** and their structure is very similar
+between methods. Usually, the first byte corresponds to a specific *operation*
+the method performs, and the subsequent bytes correspond to *arguments* passed
+to this *operation*. For example, if an operation has code 0x01 and requires an
+ID 0xA0, the argument you would pass to the method is 0xA001.
+
+
+Thermal Methods
+===============
+
+WMI method Thermal_Information([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr)
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+::
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x01:
+ argr = 1
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x02:
+ argr = UNKNOWN_CONSTANT
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x03:
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x00:
+ argr = FAN_ID_0
+
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x01:
+ argr = FAN_ID_1
+
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x02:
+ argr = FAN_ID_2
+
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x03:
+ argr = FAN_ID_3
+
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x04:
+ argr = SENSOR_ID_CPU | 0x0100
+
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x05:
+ argr = SENSOR_ID_GPU | 0x0100
+
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x06:
+ argr = THERMAL_MODE_QUIET_ID
+
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x07:
+ argr = THERMAL_MODE_BALANCED_ID
+
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x08:
+ argr = THERMAL_MODE_BALANCED_PERFORMANCE_ID
+
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x09:
+ argr = THERMAL_MODE_PERFORMANCE_ID
+
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x0A:
+ argr = THERMAL_MODE_LOW_POWER_ID
+
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 0x0B:
+ argr = THERMAL_MODE_GMODE_ID
+
+ else:
+ argr = 0xFFFFFFFF
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x04:
+ if is_valid_sensor(BYTE_1(arg2)):
+ argr = SENSOR_TEMP_C
+ else:
+ argr = 0xFFFFFFFF
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x05:
+ if is_valid_fan(BYTE_1(arg2)):
+ argr = FAN_RPM()
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x06:
+ skip
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x07:
+ argr = 0
+
+ If BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x08:
+ if is_valid_fan(BYTE_1(arg2)):
+ argr = 0
+ else:
+ argr = 0xFFFFFFFF
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x09:
+ if is_valid_fan(BYTE_1(arg2)):
+ argr = FAN_UNKNOWN_STAT_0()
+
+ else:
+ argr = 0xFFFFFFFF
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x0A:
+ argr = THERMAL_MODE_BALANCED_ID
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x0B:
+ argr = CURRENT_THERMAL_MODE()
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x0C:
+ if is_valid_fan(BYTE_1(arg2)):
+ argr = FAN_UNKNOWN_STAT_1()
+ else:
+ argr = 0xFFFFFFFF
+
+Operation 0x03 list all available fan IDs, sensor IDs and thermal profile
+codes in order, but different models may have different number of fans and
+thermal profiles. These are the known ranges:
+
+* Fan IDs: from 2 up to 4
+* Sensor IDs: 2
+* Thermal profile codes: from 1 up to 7
+
+In total BYTE_1(ARG2) may range from 0x5 up to 0xD depending on the model.
+
+WMI method Thermal_Control([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr)
+---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+::
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x01:
+ if is_valid_thermal_profile(BYTE_1(arg2)):
+ SET_THERMAL_PROFILE(BYTE_1(arg2))
+ argr = 0
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x02:
+ if is_valid_fan(BYTE_1(arg2)):
+ SET_FAN_SPEED_MULTIPLIER(BYTE_2(arg2))
+ argr = 0
+ else:
+ argr = 0xFFFFFFFF
+
+.. note::
+ While you can manually change the fan speed multiplier with this method,
+ Dell's BIOS tends to overwrite this changes anyway.
+
+These are the known thermal profile codes:
+
+::
+
+ CUSTOM 0x00
+
+ BALANCED_USTT 0xA0
+ BALANCED_PERFORMANCE_USTT 0xA1
+ COOL_USTT 0xA2
+ QUIET_USTT 0xA3
+ PERFORMANCE_USTT 0xA4
+ LOW_POWER_USTT 0xA5
+
+ QUIET 0x96
+ BALANCED 0x97
+ BALANCED_PERFORMANCE 0x98
+ PERFORMANCE 0x99
+
+ GMODE 0xAB
+
+Usually if a model doesn't support the first four profiles they will support
+the User Selectable Thermal Tables (USTT) profiles and vice-versa.
+
+GMODE replaces PERFORMANCE in G-Series laptops.
+
+WMI method GameShiftStatus([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr)
+---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+::
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x1:
+ TOGGLE_GAME_SHIFT()
+ argr = GET_GAME_SHIFT_STATUS()
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x2:
+ argr = GET_GAME_SHIFT_STATUS()
+
+Game Shift Status does not change the fan speed profile but it could be some
+sort of CPU/GPU power profile. Benchmarks have not been done.
+
+This method is only present on Dell's G-Series laptops and it's implementation
+implies GMODE thermal profile is available, even if operation 0x03 of
+Thermal_Information does not list it.
+
+G-key on Dell's G-Series laptops also changes Game Shift status, so both are
+directly related.
+
+WMI method GetFanSensors([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr)
+-------------------------------------------------------------
+
+::
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x1:
+ if is_valid_fan(BYTE_1(arg2)):
+ argr = 1
+ else:
+ argr = 0
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0x2:
+ if is_valid_fan(BYTE_1(arg2)):
+ if BYTE_2(arg2) == 0:
+ argr == SENSOR_ID
+ else
+ argr == 0xFFFFFFFF
+ else:
+ argr = 0
+
+Overclocking Methods
+====================
+
+.. warning::
+ These methods have not been tested and are only partially reverse
+ engineered.
+
+WMI method Return_OverclockingReport([out] uint32 argr)
+-------------------------------------------------------
+
+::
+
+ CSMI (0xE3, 0x99)
+ argr = 0
+
+CSMI is an unknown operation.
+
+WMI method Set_OCUIBIOSControl([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr)
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+::
+
+ CSMI (0xE3, 0x99)
+ argr = 0
+
+CSMI is an unknown operation.
+
+WMI method Clear_OCFailSafeFlag([out] uint32 argr)
+--------------------------------------------------
+
+::
+
+ CSMI (0xE3, 0x99)
+ argr = 0
+
+CSMI is an unknown operation.
+
+
+WMI method MemoryOCControl([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr)
+---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+AWCC supports memory overclocking, but this method is very intricate and has
+not been deciphered yet.
+
+GPIO methods
+============
+
+These methods are probably related to some kind of firmware update system,
+through a GPIO device.
+
+.. warning::
+ These methods have not been tested and are only partially reverse
+ engineered.
+
+WMI method FWUpdateGPIOtoggle([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr)
+------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+::
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0:
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 1:
+ SET_PIN_A_HIGH()
+ else:
+ SET_PIN_A_LOW()
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 1:
+ if BYTE_1(arg2) == 1:
+ SET_PIN_B_HIGH()
+
+ else:
+ SET_PIN_B_LOW()
+
+ else:
+ argr = 1
+
+WMI method ReadTotalofGPIOs([out] uint32 argr)
+----------------------------------------------
+
+::
+
+ argr = 0x02
+
+WMI method ReadGPIOpPinStatus([in] uint32 arg2, [out] uint32 argr)
+------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+::
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 0:
+ argr = PIN_A_STATUS
+
+ if BYTE_0(arg2) == 1:
+ argr = PIN_B_STATUS
+
+Other information Methods
+=========================
+
+WMI method ReadChassisColor([out] uint32 argr)
+----------------------------------------------
+
+::
+
+ argr = CHASSIS_COLOR_ID
+
+Acknowledgements
+================
+
+Kudos to `AlexIII <https://github.com/AlexIII/tcc-g15>`_ for documenting
+and testing available thermal profile codes.
+
diff --git a/MAINTAINERS b/MAINTAINERS
index c27f31907..25f6de4c2 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS
+++ b/MAINTAINERS
@@ -792,6 +792,7 @@ F: drivers/perf/alibaba_uncore_drw_pmu.c
ALIENWARE WMI DRIVER
L: Dell.Client.Kernel@dell.com
S: Maintained
+F: Documentation/wmi/devices/alienware-wmi.rst
F: drivers/platform/x86/dell/alienware-wmi.c

ALLEGRO DVT VIDEO IP CORE DRIVER
--
2.47.0