For processors on which it works, turbostat is a very very good diagnostic tool. For many upstream escalations, it is the preferred tool. However the Ubuntu implementation doesn't actually execute turbostat directly, but rather goes to some script with incredibly tight, and unnecessary, kernel version dependency checks. This makes it difficult when trying to help others when we want them to try a newer or older kernel, and often we have to get them to override this and use turbostat directly.
While turbostat is part of the kernel source tree, it does not depend on the kernel version at all.
Here is an excerpt from a recent e-mail [1] from the turbostat maintainer:
> FWIW,
>
> The latest turbostat and x86_energy_perf_policy utilities
> in the upstream kernel tree should always be backward compatible
> with all old kernels. If that is EVER not the case, I want to know about it.
>
> Yes, I know that some distros ship old versions of these utilities built
> out of their matching kernel tree snapshots.
> Yes, applying upstream fixes to .stable for such distros is a good thing.
>
> However, the better solution for these particular utilities, is that they
> simply always use upstream utilities -- even with old kernels.
>
> When somebody reports a problem and I need them to run these tools,
> 100% of the time, I start by sending them the latest upstream version
> to replace the old version shipped by the distro.
I have been using turbostat for several years, minus the Ubuntu part, and never had a problem with any version of turbostat with any kernel.
This bug report is to request the deletion of the dependency check for Ubuntu. I am not saying it always has to be the latest version, but it should not be crippled by the dependency check.
[1] https://marc.info/?l=linux-pm&m=156770359620861&w=2
This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. While running an Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline or third-party kernel) please enter the following command in a terminal window:
apport-collect 1844201
and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.
If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.
This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.