I would offer the opinion that this is more like a regression as this
exposed a kernel regression as proper aspm handling requires changes
to the drivers in the kernel.

In the article, it mentions that the windows drivers may have
additional bits for aspm functionality, thus overriding BIOS handover.

This is not unlike previous issues seen with linux where many BIOS
implementations are usually just good enough to get windows working,
specific functions they are supposed to do are not done according to
standards.

Before this issue there were numerous issues with suspend/resume,
DPMI, intel graphics bios missing resolution info, and more.  Each
issue resulted in hacks to work around until drivers or the kernel got
a more permanent fix.



On 6/30/11, Jon Grossart <email address hidden> wrote:
> While, I agree that this a huge problem overall, I'm think I have to
> agree with the idea that it's not a regression.  If you read the
> comments on Phoronix from the actual path author (which was only linked
> on the little side bar of the page, not the main column), he makes the
> statement a little more clear.
>
> http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=OTYwNA
>
> The patch enables correct handling of the ASPM to the BIOS if it can
> handle it, otherwise it lets the kernel do it.  However, it then depends
> on the hardware drivers to setup the correct values.  That is the
> problem that is happening with this bug according to the author.  The
> kernel is now handling the situation correctly, and it is revealing a
> lot of long standing bugs in a lot/most of the drivers and BIOSes in
> that they don't handle ASPM correctly, or coded to the fact that the
> kernel was incorrectly managing it before.  Quite frankly, it sounds a
> lot like the whole IE6 problem plaguing web browsers.
>
> Maybe this has something to do with the overall higher power consumption
> in Ubuntu often seen.  On netbook in WinXP I can it down to 5W idling.
> In Ubuntu with same config, it won't go below 7-8W.  The only thing I
> can think that would make the different is the driver
> settings/abilities.
>
> So what is the correct fix?  That, I don't know.  BIOS and hardware
> drivers are real culprits it seems.  Chances of BIOS fixes are probably
> slim for the vast majority of systems.  And the drivers changes would
> probably be numerous and slow going.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/760131
>
> Title:
>   Power consumption raised significantly in natty
>
> Status in Release Notes for Ubuntu:
>   Fix Released
> Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu:
>   Triaged
> Status in “linux” source package in Natty:
>   Incomplete
> Status in “linux” source package in Oneiric:
>   Triaged
>
> Bug description:
>   This is a regression moving from maverick->natty.  With the same sort
>   of light interactive usage, Battery life has gone from ~4 hours to
>   2:45 or so.
>
>   Running powertop shows the system in P-state "Turbo mode" 10-15% of
>   the time.  Typically this was almost zero in maverick, 98+% of the
>   time maverick was in the lowest state.
>
>   wakeups reported in the 5-600/s range where previously (from memory)
>   it was 200 ish.  i915 driver is high on the list.  This is
>   irrespective of whether running unity or classic desktop.
>
>   ProblemType: Bug
>   DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
>   Package: linux-image-2.6.38-8-generic 2.6.38-8.42
>   Regression: Yes
>   Reproducible: Yes
>   ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
>   Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic x86_64
>   AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.23.
>   Architecture: amd64
>   ArecordDevices:
>    **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
>    card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog]
>      Subdevices: 1/1
>      Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>   AudioDevicesInUse:
>    USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
>    /dev/snd/controlC0:  james      2068 F.... pulseaudio
>   CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
>   Card0.Amixer.info:
>    Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xf2620000 irq 47'
>      Mixer name	: 'Conexant CX20561 (Hermosa)'
>      Components	: 'HDA:14f15051,17aa20ff,00100000'
>      Controls      : 16
>      Simple ctrls  : 8
>   Card29.Amixer.info:
>    Card hw:29 'ThinkPadEC'/'ThinkPad Console Audio Control at EC reg 0x30,
> fw 7XHT24WW-1.06'
>      Mixer name	: 'ThinkPad EC 7XHT24WW-1.06'
>      Components	: ''
>      Controls      : 1
>      Simple ctrls  : 1
>   Card29.Amixer.values:
>    Simple mixer control 'Console',0
>      Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum
>      Playback channels: Mono
>      Mono: Playback [on]
>   Date: Wed Apr 13 15:03:35 2011
>   EcryptfsInUse: Yes
>   HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=bb479652-f524-4abe-b1b0-27646d6deebc
>   InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release Candidate
> amd64 (20100928)
>   MachineType: LENOVO 7465CTO
>   ProcEnviron:
>    LANGUAGE=en_US:en_GB:en
>    PATH=(custom, user)
>    LANG=en_US.UTF-8
>    SHELL=/bin/bash
>   ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic
> root=UUID=266abe9a-19c2-4cc3-9ef7-238b729b6044 ro quiet splash
> libata.force=noncq vt.handoff=7
>   RelatedPackageVersions:
>    linux-restricted-modules-2.6.38-8-generic N/A
>    linux-backports-modules-2.6.38-8-generic  N/A
>    linux-firmware                            1.50
>   RfKill:
>    0: phy0: Wireless LAN
>     Soft blocked: no
>     Hard blocked: no
>   SourcePackage: linux
>   UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to natty on 2011-04-06 (7 days ago)
>   dmi.bios.date: 11/10/2009
>   dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
>   dmi.bios.version: 6DET61WW (3.11 )
>   dmi.board.name: 7465CTO
>   dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
>   dmi.board.version: Not Available
>   dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
>   dmi.chassis.type: 10
>   dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
>   dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
>   dmi.modalias:
> dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr6DET61WW(3.11):bd11/10/2009:svnLENOVO:pn7465CTO:pvrThinkPadX200s:rvnLENOVO:rn7465CTO:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
>   dmi.product.name: 7465CTO
>   dmi.product.version: ThinkPad X200s
>   dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
>
>   === Release Notes ===
>
>   Due to a regression inherited from the upstream linux kernel, Natty 11.04
> can exhibit a 10-30% increase in power consumption.  This is a known issue
> which is actively being investigated.  A SRU will be released onced a viable
> solution is found. For more information, please see
>
> http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=linux_mobile_uffda&num=1
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-release-notes/+bug/760131/+subscriptions
>

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