Re: acerhdf.c - unsupported notebook

Re: acerhdf.c - unsupported notebook

[Borislav Petkov]

From: Branislav Gajdos <brianzee@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 01:44:38PM +0200

+Peter
+lkml

> I'm not sure if you're the right person to write to but my linux
> kernel (2.6.34.1) outputs this line while booting:
> 
> acerhdf: unknown (unsupported) BIOS version Acer/Aspire 3810T/V1.04,
> please report, aborting!

It doesn't look to me like this machine is a netbook with an Atom cpu
supported by this driver. Do as root:

dmidecode > dmi.log

and send me the dmi.log file please.

Thanks.

-- 
Regards/Gruss,
Boris.

Re: acerhdf.c - unsupported notebook

[Branislav Gajdos]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 624 bytes --]

Hi Borislav,

On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 2:48 PM, Borislav Petkov <bp@alien8.de> wrote:
>
>> acerhdf: unknown (unsupported) BIOS version Acer/Aspire 3810T/V1.04,
>> please report, aborting!
>
> It doesn't look to me like this machine is a netbook with an Atom cpu
> supported by this driver. Do as root:

That's possible, I'm not sure what exactly this driver does. However,
I've seen Aspire 1810T definitions in the file already (in bios_tbl
table) which is afaik 11" version of 3810T, so I decided to report it
for completeness.

> dmidecode > dmi.log
>
> and send me the dmi.log file please.

attaching the file.

Branislav

[-- Attachment #2: dmi.log --]
[-- Type: application/octet-stream, Size: 9999 bytes --]

# dmidecode 2.9
SMBIOS 2.6 present.
28 structures occupying 1442 bytes.
Table at 0x000E8180.

Handle 0x0000, DMI type 0, 24 bytes
BIOS Information
	Vendor: Acer
	Version: V1.04
	Release Date: 05/27/2009
	ROM Size: 2048 kB
	Characteristics:
		PCI is supported
		BIOS is upgradeable
		BIOS shadowing is allowed
		Boot from CD is supported
		Selectable boot is supported
		BIOS ROM is socketed
		EDD is supported
		Japanese floppy for NEC 9800 1.2 MB is supported (int 13h)
		Japanese floppy for Toshiba 1.2 MB is supported (int 13h)
		5.25"/360 KB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
		5.25"/1.2 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
		3.5"/720 KB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
		3.5"/2.88 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
		8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h)
		CGA/mono video services are supported (int 10h)
		ACPI is supported
		USB legacy is supported
		Targeted content distribution is supported

Handle 0x0001, DMI type 1, 27 bytes
System Information
	Manufacturer: Acer
	Product Name: Aspire 3810T
	Version: V1.04
	Serial Number: LXPCR0X136919022FC2300
	UUID: A3B72CF6-2510-3113-0213-00A0D1AF994E
	Wake-up Type: Power Switch
	SKU Number: Montevina_Fab
	Family: Intel_Mobile

Handle 0x0002, DMI type 2, 16 bytes
Base Board Information
	Manufacturer: Acer
	Product Name: Aspire 3810T
	Version: PSMBOU-1234567
	Serial Number: Base Board Serial Number
	Asset Tag: Base Board Asset Tag
	Features:
		Board is a hosting board
		Board is replaceable
	Location In Chassis: Base Board Chassis Location
	Chassis Handle: 0x0003
	Type: Motherboard
	Contained Object Handles: 0

Handle 0x0003, DMI type 3, 22 bytes
Chassis Information
	Manufacturer: Acer
	Type: Notebook
	Lock: Not Present
	Version: None
	Serial Number: None
	Asset Tag:  
	Boot-up State: Safe
	Power Supply State: Safe
	Thermal State: Safe
	Security Status: None
	OEM Information: 0x00000000
	Height: Unspecified
	Number Of Power Cords: 1
	Contained Elements: 0

Handle 0x0004, DMI type 5, 20 bytes
Memory Controller Information
	Error Detecting Method: None
	Error Correcting Capabilities:
		None
	Supported Interleave: One-way Interleave
	Current Interleave: One-way Interleave
	Maximum Memory Module Size: 4096 MB
	Maximum Total Memory Size: 8192 MB
	Supported Speeds:
		Other
	Supported Memory Types:
		Other
	Memory Module Voltage: Unknown
	Associated Memory Slots: 2
		0x0000
		0x0000
	Enabled Error Correcting Capabilities:
		None

Handle 0x0005, DMI type 9, 17 bytes
System Slot Information
	Designation: J6B2
	Type: x16 PCI Express
	Current Usage: Available
	Length: Other
	ID: 0
	Characteristics:
		PME signal is supported
		Hot-plug devices are supported

Handle 0x0006, DMI type 9, 17 bytes
System Slot Information
	Designation: J6B1
	Type: x1 PCI Express
	Current Usage: Available
	Length: Other
	ID: 0
	Characteristics:
		PME signal is supported
		Hot-plug devices are supported

Handle 0x0007, DMI type 9, 17 bytes
System Slot Information
	Designation: J6C2
	Type: x1 PCI Express
	Current Usage: Available
	Length: Other
	ID: 1
	Characteristics:
		PME signal is supported
		Hot-plug devices are supported

Handle 0x0008, DMI type 9, 17 bytes
System Slot Information
	Designation: J7B1
	Type: x1 PCI Express
	Current Usage: Available
	Length: Other
	ID: 2
	Characteristics:
		PME signal is supported
		Hot-plug devices are supported

Handle 0x0009, DMI type 9, 17 bytes
System Slot Information
	Designation: J8B3
	Type: x1 PCI Express
	Current Usage: Available
	Length: Other
	ID: 3
	Characteristics:
		PME signal is supported
		Hot-plug devices are supported

Handle 0x000A, DMI type 9, 17 bytes
System Slot Information
	Designation: J8D1
	Type: x1 PCI Express
	Current Usage: Available
	Length: Other
	ID: 4
	Characteristics:
		PME signal is supported
		Hot-plug devices are supported

Handle 0x000B, DMI type 10, 10 bytes
On Board Device 1 Information
	Type: Video
	Status: Enabled
	Description: Onboard Video
On Board Device 2 Information
	Type: Ethernet
	Status: Enabled
	Description: Onboard Ethernet
On Board Device 3 Information
	Type: Sound
	Status: Enabled
	Description: Onboard Audio

Handle 0x000C, DMI type 11, 5 bytes
OEM Strings
	String 1: String1 for Original Equipment Manufacturer
	String 2: String2 for Original Equipment Manufacturer
	String 3: String3 for Original Equipment Manufacturer
	String 4: String4 for Original Equipment Manufacturer
	String 5: String5 for Original Equipment Manufacturer

Handle 0x000D, DMI type 12, 5 bytes
System Configuration Options
	Option 1: String1 for Type12 Equipment Manufacturer
	Option 2: String2 for Type12 Equipment Manufacturer
	Option 3: String3 for Type12 Equipment Manufacturer
	Option 4: String4 for Type12 Equipment Manufacturer

Handle 0x000E, DMI type 32, 20 bytes
System Boot Information
	Status: No errors detected

Handle 0x000F, DMI type 16, 15 bytes
Physical Memory Array
	Location: System Board Or Motherboard
	Use: System Memory
	Error Correction Type: None
	Maximum Capacity: 8 GB
	Error Information Handle: No Error
	Number Of Devices: 2

Handle 0x0010, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
	Socket Designation: DIMM0
	Bank Connections: 0 0
	Current Speed: 1 ns
	Type: None
	Installed Size: 2048 MB (Single-bank Connection)
	Enabled Size: 2048 MB (Single-bank Connection)
	Error Status: OK

Handle 0x0011, DMI type 17, 28 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x000F
	Error Information Handle: No Error
	Total Width: Unknown
	Data Width: 65508 bits
	Size: 2048 MB
	Form Factor: SODIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: DIMM0
	Bank Locator: BANK 0
	Type: Other
	Type Detail: Synchronous
	Speed: 800 MHz (1.2 ns)
	Manufacturer: 80CE
	Serial Number: 84ABA40E
	Asset Tag: Unknown
	Part Number: M471B5673EH1-CF8  

Handle 0x0012, DMI type 20, 19 bytes
Memory Device Mapped Address
	Starting Address: 0x00000000000
	Ending Address: 0x0007FFFFFFF
	Range Size: 2 GB
	Physical Device Handle: 0x0011
	Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x0016
	Partition Row Position: Unknown
	Interleave Position: 1
	Interleaved Data Depth: 1

Handle 0x0013, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
	Socket Designation: DIMM2
	Bank Connections: 0 0
	Current Speed: 1 ns
	Type: None
	Installed Size: 2048 MB (Single-bank Connection)
	Enabled Size: 2048 MB (Single-bank Connection)
	Error Status: OK

Handle 0x0014, DMI type 17, 28 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x000F
	Error Information Handle: No Error
	Total Width: Unknown
	Data Width: 65508 bits
	Size: 2048 MB
	Form Factor: SODIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: DIMM2
	Bank Locator: BANK 2
	Type: Other
	Type Detail: Synchronous
	Speed: 800 MHz (1.2 ns)
	Manufacturer: 80CE
	Serial Number: 84ABA397
	Asset Tag: Unknown
	Part Number: M471B5673EH1-CF8  

Handle 0x0015, DMI type 20, 19 bytes
Memory Device Mapped Address
	Starting Address: 0x00000000000
	Ending Address: 0x0007FFFFFFF
	Range Size: 2 GB
	Physical Device Handle: 0x0014
	Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x0016
	Partition Row Position: Unknown
	Interleave Position: 2
	Interleaved Data Depth: 1

Handle 0x0016, DMI type 19, 15 bytes
Memory Array Mapped Address
	Starting Address: 0x00000000000
	Ending Address: 0x000FFFFFFFF
	Range Size: 4 GB
	Physical Array Handle: 0x000F
	Partition Width: 0

Handle 0x0017, DMI type 4, 42 bytes
Processor Information
	Socket Designation: CPU
	Type: Central Processor
	Family: Pentium M
	Manufacturer: Intel(R) Corporation
	ID: 7A 06 01 00 FF FB EB BF
	Signature: Type 0, Family 6, Model 23, Stepping 10
	Flags:
		FPU (Floating-point unit on-chip)
		VME (Virtual mode extension)
		DE (Debugging extension)
		PSE (Page size extension)
		TSC (Time stamp counter)
		MSR (Model specific registers)
		PAE (Physical address extension)
		MCE (Machine check exception)
		CX8 (CMPXCHG8 instruction supported)
		APIC (On-chip APIC hardware supported)
		SEP (Fast system call)
		MTRR (Memory type range registers)
		PGE (Page global enable)
		MCA (Machine check architecture)
		CMOV (Conditional move instruction supported)
		PAT (Page attribute table)
		PSE-36 (36-bit page size extension)
		CLFSH (CLFLUSH instruction supported)
		DS (Debug store)
		ACPI (ACPI supported)
		MMX (MMX technology supported)
		FXSR (Fast floating-point save and restore)
		SSE (Streaming SIMD extensions)
		SSE2 (Streaming SIMD extensions 2)
		SS (Self-snoop)
		HTT (Hyper-threading technology)
		TM (Thermal monitor supported)
		PBE (Pending break enabled)
	Version: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     U9400  @ 1.40GHz
	Voltage: 1.6 V
	External Clock: 800 MHz
	Max Speed: 1400 MHz
	Current Speed: 1200 MHz
	Status: Populated, Enabled
	Upgrade: <OUT OF SPEC>
	L1 Cache Handle: 0x001A
	L2 Cache Handle: 0x0018
	L3 Cache Handle: Not Provided
	Serial Number: Not Specified
	Asset Tag: FFFF
	Part Number: Not Specified
	Characteristics: None

Handle 0x0018, DMI type 7, 19 bytes
Cache Information
	Socket Designation: Unknown
	Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 2
	Operational Mode: Write Back
	Location: Internal
	Installed Size: 3072 KB
	Maximum Size: 3072 KB
	Supported SRAM Types:
		Synchronous
	Installed SRAM Type: Synchronous
	Speed: Unknown
	Error Correction Type: Single-bit ECC
	System Type: Unified
	Associativity: Unknown

Handle 0x0019, DMI type 7, 19 bytes
Cache Information
	Socket Designation: Unknown
	Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 1
	Operational Mode: Write Back
	Location: Internal
	Installed Size: 32 KB
	Maximum Size: 32 KB
	Supported SRAM Types:
		Synchronous
	Installed SRAM Type: Synchronous
	Speed: Unknown
	Error Correction Type: Single-bit ECC
	System Type: Instruction
	Associativity: 8-way Set-associative

Handle 0x001A, DMI type 7, 19 bytes
Cache Information
	Socket Designation: Unknown
	Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 1
	Operational Mode: Write Back
	Location: Internal
	Installed Size: 32 KB
	Maximum Size: 32 KB
	Supported SRAM Types:
		Synchronous
	Installed SRAM Type: Synchronous
	Speed: Unknown
	Error Correction Type: Single-bit ECC
	System Type: Data
	Associativity: 8-way Set-associative

Handle 0x001B, DMI type 127, 4 bytes
End Of Table

Re: acerhdf.c - unsupported notebook

[Borislav Petkov]

From: Branislav Gajdos <brianzee@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 04:27:37PM +0200

> >> acerhdf: unknown (unsupported) BIOS version Acer/Aspire 3810T/V1.04,
> >> please report, aborting!
> >
> > It doesn't look to me like this machine is a netbook with an Atom cpu
> > supported by this driver. Do as root:
> 
> That's possible, I'm not sure what exactly this driver does. However,
> I've seen Aspire 1810T definitions in the file already (in bios_tbl
> table) which is afaik 11" version of 3810T, so I decided to report it
> for completeness.

Hmm, acerhdf is a driver for, originally, acer aspire one netbooks with
noisy fans. We have static limits which turn on the fan at 63 °C and
off again when the temperature reaches 58 °C - those are at least the
defaults.

Now you have a Core 2 Duo U9400 for which I can't find the specs after a
quick search but it looks like something a little bit more powerful than
a netbook cpu but still ultra low power. So, before we dig further into
this, is your fan noisy at all?

Peter, it looks like we support not only Atoms with that driver. Maybe
we should check the cpu specs of the 1810T for example (and google says
there are several different cpu types packaged with those laptops)
before we enforce temperature limits on them...? And let me ask you
this: are all those 1810T* entries in the bios_tbl there because of
noisy fans ...?

Thanks.

-- 
Regards/Gruss,
Boris.

Re: acerhdf.c - unsupported notebook

[Peter Feuerer]

Hi Boris, Hi Branislav,

Borislav Petkov writes:

> From: Branislav Gajdos <brianzee@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 04:27:37PM +0200
> 
>> >> acerhdf: unknown (unsupported) BIOS version Acer/Aspire 3810T/V1.04,
>> >> please report, aborting!

I'm wondering, why acerhdf is even loaded for your notebook, as no 
MODULE_ALIAS matches:

[...]
MODULE_ALIAS("dmi:*:*Acer*:pnAOA*:");
MODULE_ALIAS("dmi:*:*Acer*:pnAspire 1410*:");
MODULE_ALIAS("dmi:*:*Acer*:pnAspire 1810*:");
MODULE_ALIAS("dmi:*:*Acer*:pnAO531*:");
[...]

Which distribution do you use? Does the distribution somehow autoload acerhdf? Or do you manually load the driver?

> Peter, it looks like we support not only Atoms with that driver. Maybe
> we should check the cpu specs of the 1810T for example (and google says
> there are several different cpu types packaged with those laptops)
> before we enforce temperature limits on them...? And let me ask you
> this: are all those 1810T* entries in the bios_tbl there because of
> noisy fans ...?

Boris, I agree, we really should check the cpu specs. A quick search got me to this page: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Maximum-CPU-Temperature/143/5 where we clearly see, that the core 2 have much lower critical temperatures. 
I added all those 1410* and 1810T* entries on behalf of people telling they'd have the fan control working with these lines for some weeks without problems and I didn't care about searching for the netbooks specifications. My fault.

I would propose to enhance the bios_tbl by the default temperatures. What do you think?

thanks and kind regards,
--peter;

Re: acerhdf.c - unsupported notebook

[Branislav Gajdos]

Hi Peter,

On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 7:12 PM, Peter Feuerer <peter@piie.net> wrote:
>>
>>> >> acerhdf: unknown (unsupported) BIOS version Acer/Aspire 3810T/V1.04,
>>> >> please report, aborting!
>
> Which distribution do you use? Does the distribution somehow autoload
> acerhdf? Or do you manually load the driver?

I compiled the kernel myself and chose the driver as my notebook was
Acer Aspire, I didn't realize it was meant only for netbooks :-)

> I would propose to enhance the bios_tbl by the default temperatures. What do you think?

So that means you would keep there the definitions for Core 2 based
models as well, right?

Branislav

Re: acerhdf.c - unsupported notebook

[Borislav Petkov]

From: Branislav Gajdos <brianzee@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 10:30:14PM +0200

> Hi Peter,
> 
> On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 7:12 PM, Peter Feuerer <peter@piie.net> wrote:
> >>
> >>> >> acerhdf: unknown (unsupported) BIOS version Acer/Aspire 3810T/V1.04,
> >>> >> please report, aborting!
> >
> > Which distribution do you use? Does the distribution somehow autoload
> > acerhdf? Or do you manually load the driver?
> 
> I compiled the kernel myself and chose the driver as my notebook was
> Acer Aspire, I didn't realize it was meant only for netbooks :-)
> 
> > I would propose to enhance the bios_tbl by the default temperatures. What do you think?
> 
> So that means you would keep there the definitions for Core 2 based
> models as well, right?

You still didn't answer my question whether your fan is noisy? IOW, does
it make sense for you to use this driver at all?

-- 
Regards/Gruss,
    Boris.

Re: acerhdf.c - unsupported notebook

[Branislav Gajdos]

Hi Boris,

On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 10:42 PM, Borislav Petkov <bp@alien8.de> wrote:
>>
>> > I would propose to enhance the bios_tbl by the default temperatures. What do you think?
>>
>> So that means you would keep there the definitions for Core 2 based
>> models as well, right?
>
> You still didn't answer my question whether your fan is noisy? IOW, does
> it make sense for you to use this driver at all?

That's a good question. I didn't really investigate the fan noise. I
can probably make some observations and let you know in a couple of
days.

Branislav

Re: acerhdf.c - unsupported notebook

[peter]

Hi Boris, Hi Branislav,

Quoting Borislav Petkov <bp@alien8.de>:

> From: Branislav Gajdos <brianzee@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 10:30:14PM +0200
>
>> So that means you would keep there the definitions for Core 2 based
>> models as well, right?

The 1810's are already supported by acerhdf and some people use it for  
fan control, so we should keep it, but we should enhance the bios_tbl  
by "default_fanon" and "default_fanoff". What do you think Boris?

> You still didn't answer my question whether your fan is noisy? IOW, does
> it make sense for you to use this driver at all?

Haven't got any email from a 3810 user to add support for this model,  
so for me it seems like the fan isn't noisy at all. - Usually as soon  
as a new model with a noisy fan comes out the people are spaming my  
inbox and crying ;)

kind regards,
--peter;

Re: acerhdf.c - unsupported notebook

[Borislav Petkov]

From: peter@piie.net
Date: Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 07:20:12AM +0200

> >>So that means you would keep there the definitions for Core 2 based
> >>models as well, right?
> 
> The 1810's are already supported by acerhdf and some people use it
> for fan control, so we should keep it, but we should enhance the
> bios_tbl by "default_fanon" and "default_fanoff". What do you think
> Boris?

Sure, we definitely need to do that, and more specifically:

1) we have to check first with how many different types of cpus are the
1810s being shipped and

2) whether the thermal settings of those cpus differ

because if they do, you need to check for cpu types also and not only
bios version and product info, which can get very hairy very fast.

And for all those thermal settings we need official documentation and
cannot accept any other sources.

That's why I keep questioning whether it makes sense for 1810 users (or
users of something else besides acer aspire netbooks with atom cpus, for
that matter) to use this driver.

> >You still didn't answer my question whether your fan is noisy? IOW, does
> >it make sense for you to use this driver at all?
> 
> Haven't got any email from a 3810 user to add support for this
> model, so for me it seems like the fan isn't noisy at all. - Usually
> as soon as a new model with a noisy fan comes out the people are
> spaming my inbox and crying ;)

What models are those, are those only aspire one netbooks or anything
else acer dumps out?

Bottom line is: I'm trying to understand what this driver should and
should not support? Frankly, I don't want to make it easy for users
to do fan control and break their hardware while doing so. Actually,
if acer's system builders would've done their job right in picking a
quieter fan for their packaging we wouldn't be talking here in the first
place. For example, I have also a lenovo edge and I almost can't hear
the fan there but that's a different story.

See what I'm sayin'?

-- 
Regards/Gruss,
    Boris.

Re: acerhdf.c - unsupported notebook

[Thomas Davis]

On 07/13/2010 10:12 AM, Peter Feuerer wrote:
>
> Boris, I agree, we really should check the cpu specs. A quick search got
> me to this page:
> http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Maximum-CPU-Temperature/143/5
> where we clearly see, that the core 2 have much lower critical
> temperatures. I added all those 1410* and 1810T* entries on behalf of
> people telling they'd have the fan control working with these lines for
> some weeks without problems and I didn't care about searching for the
> netbooks specifications. My fault.
>
> I would propose to enhance the bios_tbl by the default temperatures.
> What do you think?
>

I'm the person who figured out how the EC worked on the acer 1410, and 
sent the first patches in to make acer-hdf work on my 1410.

The bios turns the fan on full blast, and never throttles it.  there is 
another 3rd party application, for Windows7 that also does the same thing.

The CPU is CULV; ie:

processor       : 1
vendor_id       : GenuineIntel
cpu family      : 6
model           : 23
model name      : Genuine Intel(R) CPU           U2300  @ 1.20GHz
stepping        : 10
cpu MHz         : 1197.118
cache size      : 1024 KB
physical id     : 0
siblings        : 2
core id         : 1
cpu cores       : 2
apicid          : 1
initial apicid  : 1
fpu             : yes
fpu_exception   : yes
cpuid level     : 13
wp              : yes
flags           : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr pge mca 
cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall 
nx lm constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good aperfmperf pni dtes64 
monitor ds_cpl vmx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm xsave lahf_lm tpr_shadow 
vnmi flexpriority
bogomips        : 2394.03
clflush size    : 64
cache_alignment : 64
address sizes   : 36 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management:


thomas