Keyboard backlight does not function under Ubuntu - workaround needed

[Danté]

There are quite a few models of keyboards that come equipped with a keyboard backlight. Sadly, most of these do not have drivers for Linux.

Below is some code that allows control of the backlight on all keyboards I've tested (mainly XtremeIT series, but it does also work on a few other models)

#!/bin/bash
if [ -f /tmp/keyboard_light ]; then
xset -led 3 && rm /tmp/keyboard_light
else
xset led 3 && touch /tmp/keyboard_light
fi

I would ask this is put into Ubuntu, if only to provide a cleaner experience.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Okay, this bug report can focus on the request for a cleaner mechanism to manually switch on keyboard backlights. But I think you should also file bug report(s) against the kernel for each keyboard you've found that does not work due to the lack of driver issue.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

I don't think X should be involved in managing these settings. Like screen brightness, the configuration setting should be set and managed by Gnome.

For cases where there isn't a driver available for a particular keyboard, bug reports should be filed against the kernel.

[Evertjan Garretsen (egarretsen)]

On my new notebook (ASUS N56VM) the backlights did not work by default so i googled and found the following:

---
or N56V and N76V, you need :

    a 3.5 kernel (from quantal)
    to get the subwoofer
        I add on /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf this line: options snd-hda-intel model=asus-mode4
        reboot and select 2.1 output in audio pref
    to get the fn keys + keyboard backlight
        install asus-wmi-dkms_0.2_all.deb.gz package (from http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=12057336&postcount=49)
        reboot
    to get the GeForce (when you want)
        install bumblebee and driver from x-swat repository
    to get the Ethernet
        build/install alx module (http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/networking/alx)
---
on the URL: http://askubuntu.com/questions/166261/keyboard-backlight-not-working-on-an-asus-n56v

It would be nice if the packageasus-wmi-dkms_0.2_all.deb.gz would be installed by default for the N56V and N76V series. Don't know how to report this, that's why i comment here in this thread instead of making a new bug.

[Evertjan Garretsen (egarretsen)]

Oh and the backlight of the keyboard is working now by installing the mentioned package. :-) As well as the function keys accept for the screen brightness.

[wb8nbs (wb8nbs)]

With the 12.10 kernel 3.5, very function key worked on my Asus N56VJ except F5, F6 screen backlight. This morning a routine update installed kernel 3.7 and now F5, F6 work but will only adjust within about the top ten percent of brightness.