PWMCONFIG(8) System Manager's Manual PWMCONFIG(8)
NAME
pwmconfig - tests the PWM outputs of sensors and configures fancontrol
SYNOPSIS
pwmconfig
WARNING
pwmconfig will attempt to stop your fans, one at a time, for approximately 5 seconds each. This may cause your processor temperature to
rise. Verify that all fans are running at normal speed after this program has exited. pwmconfig does its best to check that the fans are
spinning when they are supposed to, but due to the diversity of available motherboards and fans, it shouldn't be blindly trusted. Always
verify by yourself.
It is strongly recommended to run pwmconfig at a time when there is no significant system load, to minimize the risk of overheating.
DESCRIPTION
pwmconfig searches your sensors for pulse width modulation (PWM) controls, and tests each one to see if it controls a fan on your mother-
board. Note that many motherboards do not have PWM circuitry installed, even if your sensor chip supports PWM.
When a connection is established between a PWM control and a fan, pwmconfig can generate a detailed correlation, to show how a given fan is
responding to various PWM duty cycles.
Lastly, pwmconfig will enter in fancontrol configuration mode (unless you decide to skip that part.) In this mode, you are invited to enter
several parameters which will determine how the fancontrol daemon regulates the speed of one or more fans in your system based on tempera-
ture measurements. In particular, you will have the opportunity to establish mappings between fans and temperature inputs, define the tem-
perature range over which the speed of the fan should be adjusted dynamically, the minimum speed at which the fan should spin, etc. See
fancontrol(8) for additional information.
BUGS
The term "PWM" is used because most fan control systems in computers are based on pulse width modulation. Some motherboards however use DC
variation instead. So, the term "PWM" should be seen as a generic term for "fan speed control", regardless of the actual method used.
SEE ALSO
fancontrol(8), sensors(1).
AUTHORS
Marius Reiner <marius.reiner@hdev.de>, Jean Delvare <khali@linux-fr.org>
lm-sensors 3 September 28, 2008 PWMCONFIG(8)