Can't get thinkfan to run, doesn't find /sys/devices/pci.../hwmon

[Chrissi43]

Hallo,

I have a huge problem with thinkfan. It's really a great software. So far i have had no problems. Now after I upgraded to a newer linux system I can no longer get the software to run. I'm not a software engineer, only a boring normal computer user. I have no idea what the problem is. Maybe someone here knows a solution?

My system consists of

• Kernel: 5.10.0-18-amd64 [5.10.140-1] x86_64
• init=/lib/systemd/systemd
• Distro: MX-21.2.1_x64 Wildflower April 9 2022
• base: Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)
• Machine: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 3680HSG v: ThinkPad X201

What I have done so far

• I followed the instructions for installation and setup as indicated here: https://thinkwiki.de/Thinkfan -- I used this instruction for my older system before and everything was fine.
• So I installed the packages "thinkfan" (1.2.1-3~mx21+1) and "lm-sensors" (1:3.6.0-7) from the normal package sources without an error.
• I created the file /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf with the content options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1
• I looked after the temperature control devices with find /sys/devices -type f -name "temp*_input"
• Then I created the file /etc/thinkfan.confwith these informations. Here is the content of this file:

hwmon /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/hwmon/hwmon2/temp6_input
hwmon /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/hwmon/hwmon2/temp3_input
hwmon /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/hwmon/hwmon2/temp7_input
hwmon /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/hwmon/hwmon2/temp4_input
hwmon /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/hwmon/hwmon2/temp8_input
hwmon /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/hwmon/hwmon2/temp1_input
hwmon /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/hwmon/hwmon2/temp5_input
hwmon /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_hwmon/hwmon/hwmon2/temp2_input
hwmon /sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/hwmon/hwmon3/temp4_input
hwmon /sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/hwmon/hwmon3/temp2_input

(0,	0,	60)
(1,	60,	65)
(2,	65,	70)
(3,	70,	75)
(4,	75,	80)
(5,	80,	85)
(7,	85,	32767)

• I rebooted my system

Testing the installation

• After reboot I tested thinkfan with the command sudo thinkfan -n
• It gave me this error: ERROR: Error scanning /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/0000:27:00.0/hwmon: No such file or directory

Solution?

I am quite perplexed, since everything has run without problems so far with the old system. I also do not find my problem described on the Internet or here in the forum. I have not yet dared to compile the program with the newest version myself. I have no idea about compiling and have not needed it yet. Does anyone know advice?

Thanks in advance for any help,
Chrissi

[30m3e]

Does the thinkpad_acpi load in /etc/modprobe.d properly?

[Chrissi43]

Hallo ThaungHan,

thank you for your time and question. I checked with lsmod whether "thinkpad_acpi" is loading. Among other things, the output lists the module, but with a zero. So if I understand it right the module is being loaded but not used?

[30m3e]

Hallo ThaungHan,

thank you for your time and question. I checked with lsmod whether "thinkpad_acpi" is loading. Among other things, the output lists the module, but with a zero. So if I understand it right the module is being loaded but not used?

" I created the file /etc/modprobe.d/thinkfan.conf with the content options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1 "

I think the thinkpad_acpi.conf path should be in /etc/modprobe.d/ thinkpad_acpi.conf and fan config file should be in /etc/thinkfan.conf imo.

And also you should cat /proc/acpi/ibm/fan is enabled or not. If the output is enabled and thing still does not work, you should unload the module first "modprobe -r thinkpad_acpi"and load again "modprobe thinkpad_acpi. I think it would work. Pls keep in mind that I'm also a user and thinkfan is broken many times by my messing up. Hope it work out for you. Thank you.

[Chrissi43]

Thank you for your kindly suggestions.

I think the thinkpad_acpi.conf path should be in /etc/modprobe.d/ thinkpad_acpi.conf and fan config file should be in /etc/thinkfan.conf imo.

I have also noticed that the naming of the files in the instructions sometimes diverges. However, so far I had stuck to the old variant that worked for me. I have now as you recommended

1. put the renamed file thinkpad_acpi.conf into the directory /etc/modprobe.d and
2. the file thinkfan.conf into the directory /etc.

And also you should cat /proc/acpi/ibm/fan is enabled or not.

• I have run the command, the status is enabled, level auto.
• After that, I restarted the notebook again to be on the safe side.
• After running lsmod, output still for thinkpad_acpi is a zero.
• The command sudo thinkfan -n unfortunately still produces the known error message: ERROR: Error scanning /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/0000:27:00.0/hwmon: No such file or directory

If the output is enabled and thing still does not work, you should unload the module first modprobe -r thinkpad_acpi and load again modprobe thinkpad_acpi.

• I have now unloaded the module and reloaded it as suggested.
• After that a new test with lsmod - unchanged display, thinkpad_acpi is listed with a zero
• After that a new test with sudo thinkfan -n - known error message.

Then I tried something else again. Let me know the status with command service thinkfan status. Output:

thinkfan.service
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/thinkfan.service; disabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Thu 2022-10-13 21:34:51 CEST; 47s ago
Process: 4069 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/thinkfan $THINKFAN_ARGS $DAEMON_ARGS (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
CPU: 7ms

So the service is loaded but disabled. Could it possibly be because my Linux system runs with systemd?

I think it would work. Pls keep in mind that I'm also a user and thinkfan is broken many times by my messing up. Hope it work out for you. Thank you.

In the end, I think it doesn't matter whether you are a programmer or "just" a user - what counts in the end is that a solution is found? In this sense, thank you very much for your help, "four eyes see more than two". :-)

[Chrissi43]

• So, have now once booted my Linux system without systemd.
• The command lsmod lists unchanged thinkpad_acpi with a zero.
• The command sudo thinkfan -n gives the well-known error like before: ERROR: Error scanning /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/0000:27:00.0/hwmon: No such file or directory
• The command sudo service thinkfan start gives the same error.
• The command service thinkfan status gives the output: thinkfan is not running ... failed!

So no progress. :-(

[vmatare]

@Chrissi43 have you taken a look at your hwmon hierarchy to see what's actually in there? I'd recommend looking at /sys/class/hwmon. Either use those paths directly or look where the symlinks point.

[vmatare]

Oh and please don't put much trust in 3rd party instructions, in particular don't expect you can just copy&paste configs from the internet. Read the thinkfan.conf manpage and pay particular attention to the documentation of the hwmon path specification and the related indices and name entries.