How to use the command `tlp-stat` (with examples)

The tlp-stat command is a tool used to generate TLP (power management) status reports. It provides information about the current TLP configuration, active settings, and the battery status. This is useful for monitoring and optimizing power usage on laptops running Linux.

Use case 1: Generate status report with configuration and all active settings

Code:

sudo tlp-stat

Motivation: By running sudo tlp-stat without any additional options, you can generate a comprehensive status report that includes the current TLP configuration and all active settings. This can be useful for troubleshooting or getting an overview of the power management settings on your laptop.

Explanation: The sudo tlp-stat command is executed with elevated privileges (sudo) to ensure the necessary permissions are granted. This allows the command to access system information and provide a detailed status report. No additional arguments are required for this use case.

Example output:

--- TLP 1.4.0 --------------------------------------------

+++ Configured Settings: /etc/tlp.conf
TLP_ENABLE=1
RESTORE_DEVICE_STATE_ON_STARTUP=0
...

+++ System Info
System         = Dell XPS 13 9370
BIOS           = 1.12.2
...

+++ ThinkPad Extended Battery Functions
tp-smapi   = inactive (kernel module 'tp_smapi' not installed)
tpacpi-bat = inactive (kernel module 'acpi_call' not installed)

+++ Battery Status
/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/manufacturer                   = SANYO
/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/model_name                     = DELL RRCGW67
...

Use case 2: Show battery information

Code:

sudo tlp-stat -b

Motivation: If you want to specifically view information about the battery on your laptop, you can use the -b option with tlp-stat. This allows you to get detailed insights into battery health, status, and other related information.

Explanation: By appending the -b option to the tlp-stat command, it focuses on providing battery-specific information. This includes battery manufacturer, model, technology, charge status, capacity, and more.

Example output:

+++ Battery Status 
/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/manufacturer                = SANYO
/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/model_name                  = DELL RRCGW67
...
/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/status                      = Charging
...
/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/energy_full                 = 59320 [mWh]
/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/energy_full_design          = 60500 [mWh]
...
/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/cycle_count                 = 641
...
/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/energy_now                  = 23499 [mWh]
...

Use case 3: Show configuration

Code:

sudo tlp-stat -c

Motivation: By utilizing the -c option with tlp-stat, you can view the current TLP configuration settings without generating a full status report. This is useful for quickly checking the current configuration or verifying changes made to the TLP settings.

Explanation: The -c option instructs tlp-stat to only display the TLP configuration settings. This includes various parameters such as TLP_ENABLE (whether TLP is enabled or disabled), CPU_SCALING_GOVERNOR (current CPU scaling governor), and many more.

Example output:

--- TLP 1.4.0 --------------------------------------------

+++ Configured Settings: /etc/tlp.conf
TLP_ENABLE=1
RESTORE_DEVICE_STATE_ON_STARTUP=0
START_CHARGE_THRESH_BAT0=75
...

Conclusion:

The tlp-stat command is a versatile tool for generating TLP status reports and gaining insights into power management settings on Linux laptops. It provides detailed information about the current configuration, active settings, and battery status. By utilizing different options like -b and -c, you can focus on specific aspects of power management and make informed decisions about power usage.