GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

Ryu945 · 2014-09-09 11:41:06

There use to be a GUI control in either All Settings> Desktop or All Settings> Display . In the lastest XFCE, that is gone. How do I restore this GUI? I have looked in power manager but no setting in there controls default screen brightness. The only brightness control I saw was if you were away for a period of time. I am using Linux Mint 17.

ToZ · 2014-09-09 12:19:29

Which version of xfce4-power-manager is shipped/installed with Mint 17?

If its the new 1.3, then the brightness panel plugin has been moved to the Battery Indicator Plugin (or Power Manager plugin). Make sure you add it to the panel. It displays the battery icon, and if you click on it, you'll also see the brightness slider.

Ryu945 · 2014-09-09 13:51:14

The power manager is 1.2.0-3ubuntu4.1

ToZ · 2014-09-09 16:05:29

For Ubuntu/Mint in xfce4-power-manager 1.2, it's packaged in xfce4-power-manager-plugins. It's a panel plugin that gets added to the panel.

Ryu945 · 2014-09-09 18:37:15

The problem is it is not in the power manager and it is also not in its previous location.

MountainDewManiac · 2014-09-09 19:10:46

Mint 17 here. It IS in the power manager... plug-in (? I always called them panel applets, lol). Click on "On AC" or "On Battery," and then the Monitor tab.

Or, as mentioned, add the brightness plugin to a panel. I cannot remember whether or not it is pre-installed - if not, run Synaptic Package Manager and type "xfce4-brightness-plugin" into its search box and install it (double-click the file, or right-click on it and select "Mark for Installation," then click on the Apply button).

Regards,
MDM

PS The brightness plugin may (I don't remember) be installed when the user installs the xfce4-goodies package. But it is definitely installed when done so by name.

Ryu945 · 2014-09-09 20:15:04

That monitor brightness control is only for when your away. There is nothing for setting its value while your using the computer.

ToZ · 2014-09-09 22:45:06

Ryu945 wrote:

The problem is it is not in the power manager and it is also not in its previous location.

What does the following return?

apt-get policy xfce4-power-manager-plugins

If its installed, right-click your panel and select "Panel >> Add new items..." and add the Brightness plugin.

Ryu945 · 2014-09-10 03:41:15

Invalid operation policy

ToZ · 2014-09-10 10:24:33

Oops, sorry about that. Wrong program. Try:

apt-cache policy xfce4-power-manager-plugins

MountainDewManiac · 2014-09-10 11:31:38

Ryu945 wrote:

That monitor brightness control is only for when your away. There is nothing for setting its value while your using the computer.

Whoops, you're correct. I hadn't done more than just glance at it when I posted - I just use the panel brightness plugin because it's so quick and easy to just click on its icon and then adjust the slider that pops up (wish it had a keyboard command to open it in addition to the actual adjustment, though).

If the plugin isn't enough for your requirements, I'm not really sure what you're looking for - so I'll just go into lurk mode and let ToZ try to help.

Regards,
MDM

ToZ · 2014-09-10 12:40:43

As far as I know, there is only one place in Xfce to manually change the brightness on the fly using a gui and that's the xfce4-power-manager brightness slider. In versions 1.2 and prior, its called the "Brightness Plugin". In Xubuntu 14.04 (and mint I believe, since its derived from Xubuntu), its packaged in the xfce4-power-manager-plugins package.

Ryu945 · 2014-09-10 22:16:29

That command gives:

xfce4-power-manager-plugins:
Installed: 1.2.0-3ubuntu4.1
Candidate: 1.2.0-3ubuntu4.1
Version table:
*** 1.2.0-3ubuntu4.1 0
500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/universe amd64 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
1.2.0-3ubuntu4 0
500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty/universe amd64 Packages

Also, I have tried the brightness control you put on the bar before but moving it has no effect on the brightness.

ToZ · 2014-09-10 23:02:22

Ryu945 wrote:

Also, I have tried the brightness control you put on the bar before but moving it has no effect on the brightness.

This may be indicative of a bigger issue. Do you have any brightness control of your computer?

And perhaps you can tell us more about your computer:

1. The make and model.

2. Your current kernel boot parameters:

cat /proc/cmdline

3. Info about your video card(s):

lspci -k | grep -iA2 VGA

4. Info about your recognized backlight interfaces:

for interface in /sys/class/backlight/*; do echo -e "\n $interface"; cat $interface/{brightness,max_brightness,actual_brightness}; done

5. The list of your currently loaded kernel modules:

lsmod

Ryu945 · 2014-09-10 23:28:57

I have found no way to control brightness yet. The option to dim when away in the power manager doesn't even work.

1) Battalion 101 W650SR . I don't know the actual type of computer

2) BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic root=UUID=898a68e8-3bdd-4405-9daf-1ef84226de67 ro quiet splash

3) 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 06)
Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device 6565
Kernel driver in use: i915

4) /sys/class/backlight/acpi_video0
0
100
0

/sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight
1054
1054
1054

5) Module Size Used by
ctr 13049 1
ccm 17773 1
bbswitch 13943 0
pci_stub 12622 1
vboxpci 23194 0
vboxnetadp 25670 0
vboxnetflt 27613 0
vboxdrv 339502 3 vboxnetadp,vboxnetflt,vboxpci
rfcomm 69160 8
bnep 19624 2
binfmt_misc 17468 1
snd_usb_audio 153411 2
snd_usbmidi_lib 29215 1 snd_usb_audio
ip6t_REJECT 12939 1
xt_hl 12521 6
ip6t_rt 13537 3
nf_conntrack_ipv6 18894 8
nf_defrag_ipv6 34768 1 nf_conntrack_ipv6
ipt_REJECT 12541 1
xt_LOG 17717 10
xt_limit 12711 13
xt_tcpudp 12884 18
xt_addrtype 12635 4
nf_conntrack_ipv4 15012 8
nf_defrag_ipv4 12758 1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
xt_conntrack 12760 16
ip6table_filter 12815 1
ip6_tables 27025 1 ip6table_filter
nf_conntrack_netbios_ns 12665 0
nf_conntrack_broadcast 12589 1 nf_conntrack_netbios_ns
nf_nat_ftp 12770 0
nf_nat 21798 1 nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack_ftp 18638 1 nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack 96976 8 nf_nat_ftp,nf_conntrack_netbios_ns,nf_nat,xt_conntrack,nf_conntrack_broadcast,nf_conntrack_ftp,nf_conntrack_ipv4,nf_conntrack_ipv6
iptable_filter 12810 1
ip_tables 27239 1 iptable_filter
x_tables 34059 13 ip6table_filter,xt_hl,ip_tables,xt_tcpudp,xt_limit,xt_conntrack,xt_LOG,iptable_filter,ip6t_rt,ipt_REJECT,ip6_tables,xt_addrtype,ip6t_REJECT
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 46207 1
snd_hda_codec_via 27860 1
mxm_wmi 13021 0
x86_pkg_temp_thermal 14205 0
intel_powerclamp 14705 0
coretemp 13435 0
kvm_intel 143060 0
kvm 451511 1 kvm_intel
snd_hda_intel 52355 5
crct10dif_pclmul 14289 0
arc4 12608 2
crc32_pclmul 13113 0
ghash_clmulni_intel 13259 0
snd_hda_codec 192906 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_via,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 13602 2 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm 102099 4 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
aesni_intel 55624 2
ath3k 13318 0
btusb 32412 0
ath9k 164164 0
aes_x86_64 17131 1 aesni_intel
snd_page_alloc 18710 2 snd_pcm,snd_hda_intel
lrw 13286 1 aesni_intel
bluetooth 395423 23 bnep,ath3k,btusb,rfcomm
gf128mul 14951 1 lrw
ath9k_common 13551 1 ath9k
glue_helper 13990 1 aesni_intel
ath9k_hw 453856 2 ath9k_common,ath9k
ablk_helper 13597 1 aesni_intel
dm_multipath 22873 0
snd_seq_midi 13324 0
cryptd 20359 3 ghash_clmulni_intel,aesni_intel,ablk_helper
snd_seq_midi_event 14899 1 snd_seq_midi
scsi_dh 14882 1 dm_multipath
snd_rawmidi 30144 2 snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_seq_midi
ath 28698 3 ath9k_common,ath9k,ath9k_hw
joydev 17381 0
mac80211 626489 1 ath9k
serio_raw 13462 0
snd_seq 61560 2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
cfg80211 484040 3 ath,ath9k,mac80211
snd_seq_device 14497 3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
lpc_ich 21080 0
snd_timer 29482 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
mei_me 18627 0
rtsx_pci_ms 18151 0
mei 82274 1 mei_me
memstick 16966 1 rtsx_pci_ms
snd 69238 27 snd_usb_audio,snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_via,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_device,snd_seq_midi
soundcore 12680 1 snd
mac_hid 13205 0
wmi 19177 1 mxm_wmi
parport_pc 32701 0
ppdev 17671 0
lp 17759 0
parport 42348 3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
dm_mirror 22135 0
dm_region_hash 20862 1 dm_mirror
dm_log 18411 2 dm_region_hash,dm_mirror
hid_generic 12548 0
usbhid 52616 0
hid 106148 2 hid_generic,usbhid
rtsx_pci_sdmmc 23274 0
i915 783485 5
psmouse 102222 0
i2c_algo_bit 13413 1 i915
ahci 25819 2
r8169 67581 0
drm_kms_helper 52758 1 i915
libahci 32168 1 ahci
rtsx_pci 45956 2 rtsx_pci_ms,rtsx_pci_sdmmc
mii 13934 1 r8169
drm 302817 4 i915,drm_kms_helper
video 19476 1 i915

Other useful information: I have a dual graphics card. My interface is ran on the intel one. On certain programs, I tell it to run with primusrun to use the Nvidia GeForce GT 740M

ToZ · 2014-09-11 01:02:02

The dual video cards may complicate matters.

As a first suggestion, try this 20-intel.conf adjustment. It will force X to use the intel_backlight interface.

If that doesn't work, then try temporarily booting your computer with the video.use_native_backlight=1 kernel parameter as detailed in the "Temporarily Add a Kernel Boot Parameter for Testing" section of the KernelBootParameters wiki page. If it works, you can make the change permanent by following the "Permanently Add a Kernel Boot Parameter" section of the same wiki article.

Ryu945 · 2014-09-11 14:57:53

video.use_native_backlight=1 is what ended up working.

ljharp · 2014-10-09 19:48:02

I need to start this thread back up.

I've downloaded the "power manager plug-in" and added it to my panel. But....... it is dimmed out, with a red "x" at the bottom. When I hover over, it says "no device found". Am I doing something wrong? Or possibly, I've not done enough??

Thanks for any help in advance.

Video card info -

prepress@pc1:~$ lspci -k | grep -iA2 VGA
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] RV516 [Radeon X1300/X1550 Series]
Subsystem: Dell Device 0402
Kernel driver in use: radeon

Last edited by ljharp (2014-10-09 19:50:37)

ToZ · 2014-10-09 22:26:05

Which backlight interfaces are identified?

for interface in /sys/class/backlight/*; do echo -e "\n $interface"; cat $interface/{brightness,max_brightness,actual_brightness}; done

EDIT: And also:

xfce4-power-manager --dump

ljharp · 2014-10-10 12:54:28

/sys/class/backlight/*
cat: /sys/class/backlight/*/brightness: No such file or directory
cat: /sys/class/backlight/*/max_brightness: No such file or directory
cat: /sys/class/backlight/*/actual_brightness: No such file or directory

ToZ wrote:

EDIT: And also:
xfce4-power-manager --dump

---------------------------------------------------
Xfce power manager version 1.2.0
With policykit support
With network manager support
With DPMS support
---------------------------------------------------
Can suspend: True
Can hibernate: True
Can spin down hard disks: True
Authorized to suspend: True
Authorized to hibernate: False
Authorized to shutdown: True
Authorized to spin down hard disks: False
Has battery: False
Has brightness panel: False
Has power button: True
Has hibernate button: True
Has sleep button: True
Has LID: False

ToZ · 2014-10-10 14:00:03

The reason why its not working is that you don't have any defined backlight interfaces in your system.

Are you using any kernel parameters?:

cat /proc/cmdline

Have you tried the video.use_native_backlight=1 kernel parameter as noted in my post #16?

Have you tried installing the catalyst drivers (if they still support your card)?
Nevermind, it doesn't look like ATi supports this card anymore (http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Hardware). Looks like your stuck with using the radeon driver.

Last edited by ToZ (2014-10-10 14:05:14)

ljharp · 2014-10-10 14:05:35

ToZ wrote:

The reason why its not working is that you don't have any defined backlight interfaces in your system.
Are you using any kernel parameters?:
cat /proc/cmdline
Have you tried the video.use_native_backlight=1 kernel parameter as noted in my post #16?
Have you tried installing the catalyst drivers (if they still support your card)?

Output in Terminal:

BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-37-generic root=UUID=e735b252-f4c6-499e-bf13-9a6fbea093a7 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7

I will fumble around with the native backlight suggestion later today, and shall keep you updated. Thanks ToZ smile

ljharp · 2014-10-10 17:07:40

No dice..... grub config didn't work. Got any other thoughts?

ToZ · 2014-10-10 17:11:19

If that kernel parameter fails to create a backlight interface, then please try these others one at a time:

- acpi_osi=
- acpi_osi=Linux

Hopefully you can get your acpi subsystem to provide a backlight interface.

It also looks like you have a dell system of some sort. If so, do you have an dell wmi kernel modules loaded:

lsmod

...as one of them may be able to assist.

ljharp · 2014-10-10 18:14:45

No dice.... still no brightness control.

Actually ToZ, I'm running a HP both at home and here at work.

Module Size Used by
bnep 19624 2
rfcomm 69160 4
bluetooth 391136 10 bnep,rfcomm
snd_hda_codec_realtek 65580 1
snd_hda_intel 56451 3
snd_hda_codec 192906 2 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 13602 1 snd_hda_codec
hp_wmi 14062 0
sparse_keymap 13948 1 hp_wmi
snd_pcm 102099 2 snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
snd_page_alloc 18710 2 snd_pcm,snd_hda_intel
snd_seq_midi 13324 0
snd_seq_midi_event 14899 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi 30144 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 61560 2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
kvm 451552 0
snd_seq_device 14497 3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
snd_timer 29482 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
radeon 1522526 3
serio_raw 13462 0
joydev 17381 0
snd 69322 16 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_device,snd_seq_midi
edac_core 62291 0
edac_mce_amd 22617 0
k8temp 12978 0
soundcore 12680 1 snd
ttm 85150 1 radeon
sp5100_tco 13979 0
i2c_piix4 22155 0
drm_kms_helper 55071 1 radeon
drm 303102 5 ttm,drm_kms_helper,radeon
i2c_algo_bit 13413 1 radeon
wmi 19177 1 hp_wmi
mac_hid 13205 0
parport_pc 32701 1
ppdev 17671 0
lp 17759 0
parport 42348 3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
pata_acpi 13038 0
hid_generic 12548 0
usbhid 52659 0
hid 106148 2 hid_generic,usbhid
tg3 166442 0
psmouse 106678 0
pata_atiixp 13271 0
ahci 25819 2
ptp 18933 1 tg3
pps_core 19382 1 ptp
floppy 69418 0
libahci 32716 1 ahci

Last edited by ljharp (2014-10-10 18:16:23)

Xfce Forum

Sub domains

#1 2014-09-09 11:41:06

GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#2 2014-09-09 12:19:29

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#3 2014-09-09 13:51:14

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#4 2014-09-09 16:05:29

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#5 2014-09-09 18:37:15

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#6 2014-09-09 19:10:46

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#7 2014-09-09 20:15:04

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#8 2014-09-09 22:45:06

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#9 2014-09-10 03:41:15

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#10 2014-09-10 10:24:33

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#11 2014-09-10 11:31:38

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#12 2014-09-10 12:40:43

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#13 2014-09-10 22:16:29

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#14 2014-09-10 23:02:22

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#15 2014-09-10 23:28:57

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#16 2014-09-11 01:02:02

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#17 2014-09-11 14:57:53

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#18 2014-10-09 19:48:02

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#19 2014-10-09 22:26:05

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#20 2014-10-10 12:54:28

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#21 2014-10-10 14:00:03

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#22 2014-10-10 14:05:35

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#23 2014-10-10 17:07:40

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#24 2014-10-10 17:11:19

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

#25 2014-10-10 18:14:45

Re: GUI Brightness Control missing on new XFCE

Board footer