apmd problems

[JoeyJoeJo]

I downloaded and installed the apmd rpms and when I run apmd in the command line, it says "no apmd support in kernel." I have a brand new Dell Inspiron 8500 w/p4 chip. I know that Windows (dual boot w/xpPro) uses ACPI, but I just want something quick and easy to tell me how much battery life I've got left.

[mdwatts]

Check your current running kernels config (.config) to see if APM is enabled.

i.e.


#
# PCI Hotplug Support
#
CONFIG_HOTPLUG_PCI=m
CONFIG_HOTPLUG_PCI_COMPAQ=m
CONFIG_HOTPLUG_PCI_COMPAQ_NVRAM=y
CONFIG_HOTPLUG_PCI_IBM=m
CONFIG_HOTPLUG_PCI_ACPI=m
CONFIG_HOTPLUG_PCI_AMD=m
CONFIG_SYSVIPC=y
CONFIG_BSD_PROCESS_ACCT=y
CONFIG_SYSCTL=y
CONFIG_MAX_USER_RT_PRIO=100
CONFIG_MAX_RT_PRIO=0
CONFIG_KCORE_ELF=y
# CONFIG_KCORE_AOUT is not set
CONFIG_BINFMT_AOUT=m
CONFIG_BINFMT_ELF=y
CONFIG_BINFMT_MISC=m
CONFIG_PM=y
CONFIG_APM=y
# CONFIG_APM_IGNORE_USER_SUSPEND is not set
CONFIG_APM_DO_ENABLE=y
# CONFIG_APM_CPU_IDLE is not set
CONFIG_APM_DISPLAY_BLANK=y
# CONFIG_APM_RTC_IS_GMT is not set
CONFIG_APM_ALLOW_INTS=y
CONFIG_SISBUG=m
CONFIG_VTUNE=m

[JoeyJoeJo]

Okay, heres a dumb question. Where is the kernel config file located?

[sploo22]

If your system uses ACPI for power management, you'll need to use acpid instead of apmd.

[JoeyJoeJo]

From what I understand from this site (http://tldp.org/HOWTO/mini/Battery-Powered/powermgm.html) , I should be able to use either or.

If you have a relatively recent x86 laptop, odds are it supports either Advanced Power Management (APM) or Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI).

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Hayl]

Originally posted by JoeyJoeJo
Okay, heres a dumb question. Where is the kernel config file located?

if you haven't compiled your own kernel, then you most likely don't have one.

typically, it is in /usr/src/linux

you don't mention what distro you are using however, you will need to either check the distro's web page to find out what support they add to their stock/default kernel, or install the kernel packages off of your installation media.

if your distro doesn't include support for what you need in their stock/default kernel then you will either need to find a RPM for the module(s) you are missing or recompile the kernel with the opotions that you require.

[Hayl]

Originally posted by JoeyJoeJo
From what I understand from this site (http://tldp.org/HOWTO/mini/Battery-Powered/powermgm.html) , I should be able to use either or.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.


yes, but afaik, generally it will support one or the other but not both

<edit>i just reread your initial post and it said that you used ACPI in Windows so your laptop uses ACPI, not APM.</edit>

[rbrimhall]

This is true... the new dell 8500 has no apm support at all... pure acpi... here's some sites for ya...


http://mikehardy.net/linux_latitude_d800/#ACPI

http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/G.Wilford/Inspiron8500/

http://www.garshol.priv.no/download/i8500/