Unable to adjust brightness (KMS bug)

[Chris Irwin]

Binary package hint: xorg

Unable to adjust brightness with Kernel-Mode-Setting enabled on Macbook3,1 (i965/x3100). Works fine without KMS.

Followed KMS instructions from https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/KernelModeSetting (using xorg-edgers PPA). KMS enabled via initramfs.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.04
Package: xorg 1:7.4~5ubuntu18
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_CA.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersion: Linux version 2.6.30-9-generic (buildd@fermium) (gcc version 4.3.3 (Ubuntu 4.3.3-5ubuntu4) ) #10-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jun 12 16:01:08 UTC 2009
SourcePackage: xorg
Uname: Linux 2.6.30-9-generic x86_64
XorgConf:
 Section "Device"
         Identifier "Configured Video Device"
         # ...
         Option "AccelMethod" "uxa"
 EndSection

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Hi Chris,

Can you also run the following command from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal) which will automatically gather and attach additional kernel debug information.

apport-collect -p linux-image-`uname -r` 388216

Additionally it would be great if you could test the latest mainline kernel build. It would just be good to confirm this bug also exists in the upstream kernel as well and make sure we notify the upstream developers accordingly. See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds for more information, I'd suggest trying the latest, 2.6.30-rc8 as of this posting. Thanks.

[Chris Irwin (chrisirwin)]

Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.04
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=429a79df-3a5a-4da8-90ed-dc0261c536b2
MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBook3,1
Package: linux-image-2.6.30-020630-generic 2.6.30-020630
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcCmdLine: root=/dev/mapper/vg_macbook-lv_root ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 LANG=en_CA.UTF-8
ProcVersionSignature: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/proc/version_signature'
Uname: Linux 2.6.30-020630-generic x86_64
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout kvm libvirtd lpadmin plugdev sambashare vboxusers

[Chris Irwin (chrisirwin)]

The above is from 'apport-collect -p linux-image-`uname -r` 388216' using a the most recent mainline kernel (uname -r is 2.6.30-020630-generic). It threw an error as it is not an "official" kernel, but continued on to collect other system information.

Collecting apport information for source package linux-image-2.6.30-020630-generic...
hook /usr/share/apport/package-hooks//source_linux.py crashed:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/apport/report.py", line 570, in add_hooks_info
    symb['add_info'](self)
  File "/usr/share/apport/package-hooks//source_linux.py", line 27, in add_info
    report['UnreportableReason'] = _('The running kernel is not an Ubuntu kernel')
NameError: global name '_' is not defined

[alain57 (alain57)]

i have the same bug on ubuntu karmic on my nc10

i found only one solution to change brightness with KMS,

first : find the device address (here 00:02.0)
lspci | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)

second :
setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=66 (a value between 00 and FF, where FF is 100%)

but this solution is not as simple as brightness keys, brightness applet, or even xbacklight !

the only possibility for me to made the brightness work, was disabling KMS with "nomodeset" as kernel parameter

i hope a fix will come out to use both brightness and KMS

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Hi Chris,

Just want to try and keep this up to date. Can you test and confirm this remains with the latest Karmic 9.10 Alpha release? It contains a newer 2.6.31 based kernel. ISO images are available at http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/karmic/ . You should be able to test via a LiveCD. Please let us know your results. Thanks.

[Chris Irwin (chrisirwin)]

Still exists in Karmic Alpha 3.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Hi Chris,

Can you capture and post an acpidump:

sudo acpidump -o > acpidump.log

Might also just trying the 2.6.31-5 kernel since it was uploaded just the other day and is newer than that the kernel used for Alpha 3.

[genericnowlin (genericnowlin-gmail)]

AplayDevices: aplay: device_list:223: no soundcards found...
Architecture: i386
ArecordDevices: arecord: device_list:223: no soundcards found...
AudioDevicesInUse: Error: command ['fuser', '-v', '/dev/dsp', '/dev/snd/by-path', '/dev/snd/controlC0', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D0p', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D0c', '/dev/snd/seq', '/dev/snd/timer', '/dev/sequencer', '/dev/sequencer2'] failed with exit code 1:
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=2a2e536a-0ee5-4e25-a93e-86e059c89fc0
MachineType: TOSHIBA Satellite A135
Package: linux-image-2.6.31-3-generic 2.6.31-3.19
PackageArchitecture: i386
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-3-generic root=UUID=f9e59a2d-7b59-492b-8e98-f1479b06c6ec ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-3.19-generic
RelatedPackageVersions: linux-firmware 1.15
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-3-generic i686
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout lpadmin plugdev sambashare
dmi.bios.date: 12/08/2006
dmi.bios.vendor: TOSHIBA
dmi.bios.version: V1.10
dmi.board.name: IAKAA
dmi.board.vendor: TOSHIBA
dmi.board.version: 1.00
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: *
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: TOSHIBA
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnTOSHIBA:bvrV1.10:bd12/08/2006:svnTOSHIBA:pnSatelliteA135:pvrPSAD0U-03H00P:rvnTOSHIBA:rnIAKAA:rvr1.00:cvnTOSHIBA:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: Satellite A135
dmi.product.version: PSAD0U-03H00P
dmi.sys.vendor: TOSHIBA

[Chris Irwin (chrisirwin)]

Sorry for the delay. I can not test 2.6.31-5 as today's daily image (2009-08-11) still contains 2.6.31-4.

$ uname -a
Linux ubuntu 2.6.31-4-generic #23-Ubuntu SMP Mon Jul 27 18:39:59 UTC 2009 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[alain57 (alain57)]

i could do a test, but it will not be with official ubuntu kernel
i compile a kernel from the official one, and add some patches because brightness did not work on my computer even without KMS.
Now it does ^^
but to save time i disabled some stuff like isdn, wimax, ipv6 ...
but i didn't touch the graphical part

but like i said, i applied some patch to video.c (in drivers/acpi)
so i'm not sure that my result will be good.

Chris maybe you need to enable the karmic-backports depot to have 2.6.31-5

[Chris Irwin (chrisirwin)]

Alain, what patches were required to enable brightness changes for you?

I'm testing Karmic from the daily live CD builds, so I can't install a new kernel.

[alain57 (alain57)]

maybe i wasn't clear, i think you misunderstand me

in fact i use some patches to make brightness work on MY notebook, because with official kernel brightness is not working, even if i disable KMS

actually i don't use KMS

i applied the patches to change my brightness level without KMS

the patches i use are there : https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/401591

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

I think this seems related to bug 397617 in Launchpad and subsequently the upstream bug at https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=20963 . Chris, can you comment if any of the workarounds noted work for you:

1) https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/397617/comments/2

or

2) Try booting with "acpi_backlight=vendor". This can be done by doing the following. Press 'Escape' key at the 3 second pause by Grub bootloader. Then press 'e' (edit) on the buggy kernel entry, followed by 'e' again on the kernel line. Add "acpi_backlight=vendor" (without quotes) to the end of the line and press 'b' to boot.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Hi Chris,

I forgot you were using the daily images to test. So from a LiveCD to modify the kernel command line I think you Press F6? Then you should be able to add "acpi_backlight=vendor" (without quotes).

[Chris Irwin (chrisirwin)]

* I tried acpi_backlight=vendor. Neither option works or seems to provide any backlight interface. I tried to get as much information as I could, but I'm not familiar with trying to debug acpi or driver issues. This is still using the 20090811 live cd (if the kernel update actually is in the live disc now I could re-download... But I'd rather not if it hasn't)

$ uname -a
Linux ubuntu 2.6.31-4-generic #23-Ubuntu SMP Mon Jul 27 18:39:59 UTC 2009 x86_64 GNU/Linux

$ dmesg | grep "Command line"
[ 0.000000] Command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd.lz quiet splash acpi_backlight=vendor

$ xbacklight
No outputs have backlight property

$ cat /proc/acpi/video/GFX0/LCD/brightness
<not supported>

$ ls -a /sys/class/backlight/
. ..

* Also, I've tried the setpci method, but that did not work. It is probably due to a different memory range.

* Time permitting tomorrow, I will see if I can dig up desrt's old macbook brightness utility to see how it did it. I used it originally before the "old" Intel driver supported the backlight on this machine, so it should work.

[Chris Irwin (chrisirwin)]

by "different memory range" I meant different register. desrt's utility doesn't seem to work for my machine (macbook3,1), I must be remembering my previous macbook laptop.

Of note, for me the 'pommed' and 'gpomme' utility pair work fine for a temporary workaround.

[Chris Irwin (chrisirwin)]

I'm running Karmic actually installed. I'm up to date and still can not adjust brightness.

(also, pommed is not a good workaround as it also acts on volume presses with alsa, messing up pulseaudio's behavior.)

$ uname -a
Linux MacBook 2.6.31-9-generic #29-Ubuntu SMP Sun Aug 30 17:39:26 UTC 2009 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[Chris Irwin (chrisirwin)]

Has there been anybody to look at this? It is currently still regression from Jaunty.

I can provide any further information needed.

[Chris Irwin (chrisirwin)]

This still affects me with xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.9.0-1ubuntu1 and linux-image-generic 2.6.32.13.24

[Drew Snellgrove (forkinme-deactivatedaccount)]

This still affects me as well

macbook 2,1
0:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.9.0-1ubuntu1
linux-image-generic 2.6.31-13.43

[Steffen Röcker (sroecker)]

If you have a Macbook please see bug #511965.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug was filed against a series that is no longer supported and so is being marked as Won't Fix. If this issue still exists in a supported series, please file a new bug.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.