I am running Xfce 4.12 on Fedora 22 and update to xfpm-1.4.4 this morning. I noticed that I have lost the ability to use Fn keys to adjust brightness on my laptop now. Running with --debug gives me this - $ xfce4-power-manager --debug TRACE[xfpm-main.c:192] xfpm_start(): Starting the power manager TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for general-notification TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for lock-screen-suspend-hibernate TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for critical-power-level TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for show-brightness-popup TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for handle-brightness-keys TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for show-tray-icon TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-level-on-ac TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-level-on-battery TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-slider-min-level TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-enabled TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-sleep-mode TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for inactivity-sleep-mode-on-ac TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-on-ac TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-on-battery TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for network-manager-sleep TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for logind-handle-power-key TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for logind-handle-suspend-key TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:164] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for logind-handle-hibernate-key TRACE[xfpm-dpms.c:75] xfpm_dpms_set_timeouts(): Settings dpms: standby=0 suspend=0 off=180 TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:314] xfpm_polkit_init_data(): Using unix session polkit subject TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:406] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.power-off is authorized=TRUE TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:406] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.reboot is authorized=TRUE TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:406] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.suspend is authorized=TRUE TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:406] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate is authorized=TRUE TRACE[xfpm-power.c:958] xfpm_power_get_power_devices(): Power device detected at : /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_AC TRACE[xfpm-power.c:916] xfpm_power_add_device(): 'line-power' device added TRACE[xfpm-power.c:958] xfpm_power_get_power_devices(): Power device detected at : /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT0 TRACE[xfpm-power.c:916] xfpm_power_add_device(): 'battery' device added TRACE[xfpm-power.c:926] xfpm_power_add_device(): Battery device type 'battery' detected at: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT0 TRACE[xfpm-button.c:183] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 124 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_POWER_OFF) (xfce4-power-manager:3666): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: could not map keysym 1008ffa8 to keycode TRACE[xfpm-button.c:183] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 213 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_HIBERNATE) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:183] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 150 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_SLEEP) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:183] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 233 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_UP) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:183] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 232 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:183] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 244 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_BATTERY) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:183] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 238 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_KBD_BRIGHTNESS_UP) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:183] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 237 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_KBD_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN) TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-dpms.c:348] xfpm_dpms_set_on_battery(): dpms on battery TRUE TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1449] xfpm_update_blank_time(): Timeout: 10 TRACE[xfpm-power.c:214] xfpm_power_check_polkit_auth(): using logind suspend backend TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:406] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.suspend is authorized=TRUE TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:406] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate is authorized=TRUE TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1449] xfpm_update_blank_time(): Timeout: 10 TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1449] xfpm_update_blank_time(): Timeout: 10 TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1449] xfpm_update_blank_time(): Timeout: 0 TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1449] xfpm_update_blank_time(): Timeout: 0 TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:643] xfpm_manager_inhibit_sleep_systemd(): Inhibiting systemd sleep: handle-power-key:handle-suspend-key:handle-hibernate-key:handle-lid-switch (xfce4-power-manager:3666): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: Unable to set the kernel brightness switch parameter to 0. TRACE[xfpm-backlight.c:259] xfpm_backlight_brightness_on_ac_settings_changed(): Alarm on ac timeout changed 9 TRACE[xfpm-backlight.c:280] xfpm_backlight_brightness_on_battery_settings_changed(): Alarm on battery timeout changed 120 (xfce4-power-manager:3666): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: Failed to get keyboard max brightness level : Method "GetMaxBrightness" with signature "" on interface "org.freedesktop.UPower.KbdBacklight" doesn't exist TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:251] xfpm_polkit_free_data(): Destroying Polkit data TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:189] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 2 TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:240] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery icon xfpm-primary-100 $ rpm -qa upower upower-0.99.2-4.fc22.x86_64 Downgrading to 1.4.3 restores the ability to use the Fn keys again. Also, the lowest brightness between 1.4.3 and 1.4.4 is very different. 1.4.3 almost completely switches off the screen while 1.4.4 does not.
How did you upgrade? In case you compiled 1.4.4 yourself, it's possible that the power manager didn't get the right permissions. Nothing was changed in the brightness key handling since 1.4.3.
Both packages have the exact same permissions on all files. However, xfpm works fine now. I have not changed anything. Very strange. :( I will close the bug now and report back if I see this again. Thanks for the quick response.
Ok, I have been testing this for a few more days now and I definitely see this behavior but very very inconsistent. To explain further - Fn+Brightness keys doesn't work on boot the system every now and then - but certainly not always. Additional observation (perhaps important) - xfpm does not recognize change of status from A/C power connected to battery and vice versa - which seems to coincide with teh loss of brightness functionality. xfce4-power-manager -q and restarting does not help ... :( I have no idea where to begin even. :(
With respect to the state changes, one thing I have noticed (and that is unrelated to the 1.4.4 release) is that UPower0.99 is much slower in notifying about those state changes. So xfpm will notice/report the state change a lot more slowly, while before it was quite immediate. I'm not sure whether this is really something we're doing wrong, I'll check with UPower upstream at some point. I presume you don't have any other daemons installed/running that would grab the brightness keys as well? What happens when you switch back to 1.4.3 from the Fedora repositories? Also, you didn't really answer my question as to how you installed 1.4.3 and 1.4.4 respectively, so I have practically nothing to go on here.
(In reply to Simon Steinbeiss from comment #4) > Also, you didn't really answer my question as to > how you installed 1.4.3 and 1.4.4 respectively, so I have practically > nothing to go on here. I am one of the comaintainers of xfpm in Fedora. So, I built both xfpm-1.4.3 and xfpm-1.4.4. Both releases were compiled from upstream source tarball (built on fedora buildsystem (koji)) and the built rpm was installed. xfpm-1.4.3 was updated by installing 1.4.4. And, as far as I can tell, there are no differences in the installed file permissions on either version. Thanks for looking into this.
(In reply to Mukundan Ragavan from comment #5) > I am one of the comaintainers of xfpm in Fedora. So, I built both xfpm-1.4.3 > and xfpm-1.4.4. Both releases were compiled from upstream source tarball > (built on fedora buildsystem (koji)) and the built rpm was installed. > > xfpm-1.4.3 was updated by installing 1.4.4. And, as far as I can tell, there > are no differences in the installed file permissions on either version. Wouldn't have hurt to state that in the first place. Talking to a distro maintainer is quite different from talking to a user... Also: I presume you don't have any other daemons installed/running that would grab the brightness keys as well? What happens when you switch back to 1.4.3 from the Fedora repositories?
(In reply to Simon Steinbeiss from comment #6) > > Wouldn't have hurt to state that in the first place. Talking to a distro > maintainer is quite different from talking to a user... > I guess. > Also: > I presume you don't have any other daemons installed/running that would grab > the brightness keys as well? That's correct. I do not even have any other DE installed on the same system. > What happens when you switch back to 1.4.3 from > the Fedora repositories? With 1.4.3, I have never seen this problems. Here is the issue really - even with 1.4.4, majority of system boots has a functioning xfpm. Every now and then though, xfpm does not recognize brightness changes (comment 3). Unfortunately, it's very random and hard to reproduce ..
I'd add that I've just noticed this on my Xfce 4.12 running xfpm-1.4.4 in Debian testing (fully upgraded). I don't normally use the built-in keyboard on this laptop, so I don't know when the behavior started. I do know that it used to work fine. Normally I use an external keyboard on which I haven't mapped this function, so normally use the scroll wheel while the mouse pointer is positioned over the xfpm applet in the panel to control brightness. I saw this bug report and decided to test this to see if I could confirm the behavior. I can. What's more, the behavior is absolutely 100% reproducible on this system (Thinkpad T520i). Side Notes: If xfpm is set to use the notification area feature, the mouse scroll wheel has no effect on brightness. In order for the scroll wheel to work in setting brightness the xfpm applet has to be shown out on the panel. System also has problem with extremely dim login screen brightness and console screen brightness on each new session unless I use an /etc/X11/xorg.conf file with following contents: Section "Device" Identifier "Intel Graphics" Driver "intel" Option "AccelMethod" "sna" Option "Backlight" "intel_backlight" Driver "intel" BusID "PCI:0:2:0" EndSection Will try to be helpful by providing any requested information.