1ACPITOOL(1) User Commands ACPITOOL(1)
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6 acpitool - a Linux ACPI client, allowing you to query or set ACPI val‐
7 ues
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10 acpitool [ -aAbBcefFhjlmnosStTvVwWz ]
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13 acpitool is a Linux ACPI client. It simply reads /proc/acpi entries and
14 presents the output in a meaningfull, human-readable format.
15 It provides a.o. information on battery status, AC adapter presence,
17 thermal reading, etc. This command is most useful on laptops with an
18 ACPI compliant BIOS and a Linux kernel, preferably from the 2.6 series,
19 with ACPI enabled.
20 Acpitool also allows the machine to be put into standby, if your laptop
22 supports it.
23 If your laptop is a Toshiba , it allows you to set the LCD brighness
25 level and toggle the fan on/off.
26 If you have an Asus laptop, it can also set the LCD brightness level,
28 switch the LCD panel on or off, and control the mail led and wireless
29 led.
30 If you have an IBM Thinkpad laptop, it can once again set the LCD
32 brightness level, and also eject the ultrabay device.
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36 -a, --ac_adapter
37 Show AC adapter presence
38 -A Show supported Asus ACPI extensions (LCD brightness level, video
40 out routing DSDT/acpi4asus info)
41 -b Show battery status information, available batteries only.
43 -B, --battery
45 Show detailed battery status information, for all battery
46 entries found.
47 -c, --cpu
49 Show CPU information (type, speed, PM capabilities, throttling
50 states, c-state usage).
51 -e Show just about everything : more info on the batteries, ACPI
53 version, kernel version, CPU, . . .
54 -f, --fan
56 Show fan status (shows fan info specific to Toshiba or IBM
57 Thinkpad, if applicable).
58 -F x Force the fan on (x=1) or switch back to auto mode (x=0). Works
60 only on Toshiba laptops. The fan is switched off ONLY if it was
61 forced on first, not if it was switched on automatically.
62 Requires write access to /proc/acpi/toshiba/fan
63 -h, --help
65 Show help text.
66 -j Eject Thinkpad ultrabay device. Requires write acces to
68 /proc/acpi/ibm/bay
69 -l x Set LCD brightness level to x, where x is in the range 0..7.
71 Works only on Toshiba and IBM Thinkpad laptops. Requires write
72 access to /proc/acpi/tochiba/lcd or /proc/acpi/ibm/brightness
73 Illegal values for x will result in the value being set to
74 either 0 or 7.
75 -m x Switch the mail led on (x=1) or off (x=0). Works only on Asus
77 laptops. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/asus/mled
78 -n x Switch the wireless led on (x=1) or off (x=0). Works only on
80 Asus laptops. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/asus/wled
81 -o x Switch the LCD panel on (x=1) or off (x=0). Works only on Asus
83 laptops. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/asus/lcd
84 -s, --suspend to memory
86 Put the machine into sleep state S3, if possible. Requires
87 write access to /proc/acpi/sleep (kernel 2.4.x) or
88 /sys/power/state (kernel 2.6.x)
89 -S, --suspend to disk ?
91 Put the machine into sleep state S4, if possible. Requires
92 write access to /proc/acpi/sleep (kernel 2.4.x) or
93 /sys/power/state (kernel 2.6.x)
94 -t, --thermal
96 Show thermal zone(s) information, including trip_points.
97 -T, --Toshiba
99 Show supported Toshiba ACPI extensions, currently being LCD
100 brightness level, video out routing (what display is the video
101 chip sending to) and fan status (on/off, forced or not).
102 -v Show more verbose output when something is not found. Makes
104 sense only when used together with other options.
105 -V, --version
107 Show acpitool version number and release date, then exit.
108 -w Show the wakeup capable devices. (Available since ACPI 20040715,
110 check your version).
111 -W x Enable/disable wakeup capable device x. Run 'acpitool -w' to see
113 valid numbers for x. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/wakeup
114 -z x Set Asus LCD brightness level to x, where x is 0..15. Works only
116 on Asus laptops. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/asus/brn
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119 This program absolutely requires a Linux kernel with ACPI support
120 enabled. This program will not work without it.
121 IBM Thinkpad support is part of the Linux kernel since kernel 2.6.10.
123 Don't blame me if acpitool can't suspend your laptop : there are quite
125 some problematic laptops out there. Check the acpi-bugzilla list if you
126 don't believe me ;)
127 Note that some options, like -F, -l , -j, -s, -W and -z, require write
129 access to some of the /proc/acpi entries. This requires acpitool either
130 to be run as root or either administrative measures must be taken, most
131 likely by root, to allow ordinary users to write to these files. Creat‐
132 ing a group for ACPI users and setting permissions accordingly comes to
133 mind.
134 Also note that older laptops (< 2000) often simply don't have ACPI sup‐
136 port, they support APM only, which may however sometimes work even bet‐
137 ter than ACPI . . .
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140 Let me know if you think you found one.
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143 /proc/acpi/...
144 /proc/acpi/toshiba
145 /proc/acpi/asus
146 /proc/acpi/ibm
147 /sys/power/state
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150 http://freeunix.dyndns.org:8000/site2/acpitool.shtml
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153 This program is written and maintained by David Leemans (davidleemans
154 |at| tiscali |dot| be) and may be freely distributed under the terms of
155 the GNU General Public License. There is ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY for
156 this program.
157AcpiTool 0.4.6 09 Aug 2006 ACPITOOL(1)