laptop-mode-tools deletes Suspend/Hibernate buttons from Indicator Applet Session

[Gurmeet]

Binary package hint: laptop-mode-tools

The installation of laptop-mode-tools deletes Standby and Hibernate buttons from Indicator Applet Session (Power button on extreme right of top panel) after uninstalling pm-utils package.

Because of this, I cannot suspend my machine and if I have to leave it for a few minutes, the only choice I have is to shutdown. Needless to say shutting down and later on rebooting has it's own cycle and I do not want to be doing it 4-5 times a day. This is definitely not the expected behavior.

What I expect to happen : laptop-mode-tools should not delete default buttons and reduce basic obvious functionality almost everyone needs.

To reproduce :
1. Get a working copy is of Ubuntu 10.10, otherwise do a clean install (just to be sure). Update and upgrade as required.

2. Click Indicator Applet Session (Power button on extreme right of top panel) and verify you have Suspend and Hibernate Options available. Press on Suspend and verify (if required) to see that the system properly suspends and then verify that it comes back on from a suspended state also.

3. Issue the command 'sudo apt-get install laptop-mode-tools'. Do not press 'y'.

4. On the terminal it is indicated clearly that pm-utils package will be removed. Make a note of it and move on.
      (For the extra cautious) Verify that the buttons are still there in Indicator Applet Session.

5. Press 'y' (or 'yes') and let it run.

6. Look at Indicator Applet Session.
        The buttons are gone and with it the ability of a UI user to suspend his machine everytime he needs.

# lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 10.10
Release: 10.10

# uname -a
Linux ubnode6 2.6.35-23-server #40-Ubuntu SMP Wed Nov 17 23:31:10 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux

# apt-cache policy laptop-mode-tools
laptop-mode-tools:
  Installed: 1.52-1ubuntu2
  Candidate: 1.52-1ubuntu2
  Version table:
 *** 1.52-1ubuntu2 0
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

[Jérôme (kibohely)]

I confirm this issue. After reinstalling pm-tools, hirbante and suspend otions are back.. Strange behavior of " said "laptop-mode" ..

[Tormod Volden (tormodvolden)]

I think "basic obvious functionality" is meant to be provided by pm-utils, indicator-applet and so on without having laptop-mode-tools installed. laptop-mode-tools is in universe and not part of a default installation. Maintaining compatibility with laptop-mode-tools has therefore low or no priority in the development of the standard components, which probably makes it very difficult for the laptop-mode-tools developers to make it play together with those. The package install conflict between pm-utils and laptop-mode-tools is an indication that you are on your own if you install laptop-mode-tools, since clearly the whole Ubuntu desktop relies on pm-utils being installed. laptop-mode-tools is not designed as a replacement of pm-utils.

I would encourage you to file bugs on pm-utils etc if they do not provide the functionality that one should expect of a modern operating system.

[Jérôme (kibohely)]

Hi Tormod,

thank you for the explanation. I don't notice that laptop-mode uninstall
pm-utils. Pm-utils work great on my system, so no needs to file a new
bug-report.

I think the confusion here come from the not obvious name for pm-utils
(versus laptop-mode that is very speaking), and also my lake a research (I
didn't known that laptop-mode has "almost" obsolete ).

After 10 years of using (Mandrake/Debian/Ubuntu) Linux, it's still confusing
me that every year or almost, key component change name, and you have to
relearn how to tweak your system. The config file is not a big issue, but
you need to known what you'r looking for :) Anyway, that a completely other
problem :)

Wish you a good week,

Jérôme

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 9:42 AM, Tormod Volden <email address hidden>wrote:

> I think "basic obvious functionality" is meant to be provided by pm-
> utils, indicator-applet and so on without having laptop-mode-tools
> installed. laptop-mode-tools is in universe and not part of a default
> installation. Maintaining compatibility with laptop-mode-tools has
> therefore low or no priority in the development of the standard
> components, which probably makes it very difficult for the laptop-mode-
> tools developers to make it play together with those. The package
> install conflict between pm-utils and laptop-mode-tools is an indication
> that you are on your own if you install laptop-mode-tools, since clearly
> the whole Ubuntu desktop relies on pm-utils being installed. laptop-
> mode-tools is not designed as a replacement of pm-utils.
>
> I would encourage you to file bugs on pm-utils etc if they do not
> provide the functionality that one should expect of a modern operating
> system.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/681488
>
> Title:
> laptop-mode-tools deletes Suspend/Hibernate buttons from Indicator Applet
> Session
>
> Status in “laptop-mode-tools” package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> Binary package hint: laptop-mode-tools
>
>
> The installation of laptop-mode-tools deletes Standby and Hibernate
> buttons from Indicator Applet Session (Power button on extreme right of top
> panel) after uninstalling pm-utils package.
>
> Because of this, I cannot suspend my machine and if I have to leave it for
> a few minutes, the only choice I have is to shutdown. Needless to say
> shutting down and later on rebooting has it's own cycle and I do not want to
> be doing it 4-5 times a day. This is definitely not the expected behavior