Is an ACPI GPE storm normal in an Ubuntu session?

Solution 1:

No, an ACPI GPE storm is not normal.

Here's a line-by-line explanation of the messages you saw, along with inline solutions which may help you:

1. ACPI FADT declares the system doesn't support PCIe ASPM, so disable it

   • The FADT is an ACPI table containing power management info.
   • All the message means is that your computer doesn't support PCI-Express Active State Power Management, one of the ways to slightly reduce power usage when a PCI-e device isn't being actively used.
   • This shouldn't cause stability problems.

2. [Firmware Bug]: ACPI: BIOS _OSI(Linux) query ignored

   • In trying to identify the OS, the BIOS asked the kernel "Are you Linux?" and the kernel did not respond (this is normal behavior).
   • BIOSes can use this query to enable or disable functionality based on the running operating system, but they shouldn't.
   • You can try adding the boot parameter acpi_osi=Linux to make the kernel respond with "Yes", and see if this helps your GPE storm problem. (More info)

3. ACPI: Deprecated procfs I/F for battery is loaded...

   • This is a harmless notification that the old, backwards-compatible /proc/acpi/... interface is also present, along with the new sysfs interface.
   • If you think that your manufacturer-specific kernel modules (e.g. sony-laptop, etc.) are somehow mis-handling the legacy /proc/acpi interface, you can try disabling it, but the only way to do so is to build a custom kernel with the ACPI_PROCFS_POWER option disabled.
   • Scroll down to the end for the complete description from the kernel docs.
   • Removing this may have some minor side effects, e.g. the powertop utility won't fully work.

4. ACPI(VGA) defines _DOD but not _DOS

   • The BIOS uses the _DOD to tell ACPI if it has more than one display, and if so, how many.
   • _DOS is used to tell ACPI that the BIOS supports video switching, i.e. from one display to the other.
   • So ACPI is confused when your computer tells it it has two or more displays, but that it can't switch between them!
   • This warning appears in varied contexts -- can you try these boot options and see if stability improves: acpi=off, noapic, nolapic?

Full description of ACPI_PROCFS_POWER

Deprecated power /proc/acpi directories (ACPI_PROCFS_POWER)

CONFIG_ACPI_PROCFS_POWER:

For backwards compatibility, this option allows
deprecated power /proc/acpi/ directories to exist, even when
they have been replaced by functions in /sys.
The deprecated directories (and their replacements) include:
/proc/acpi/battery/* (/sys/class/power_supply/*)
/proc/acpi/ac_adapter/* (sys/class/power_supply/*)
This option has no effect on /proc/acpi/ directories
and functions, which do not yet exist in /sys
This option, together with the proc directories, will be
deleted in 2.6.39.

Say N to delete power /proc/acpi/ directories that have moved to /sys/

Symbol: ACPI_PROCFS_POWER [=y]
Type : boolean
Prompt: Deprecated power /proc/acpi directories
Defined at drivers/acpi/Kconfig:59
Depends on: ACPI [=y] && PROC_FS [=y]
Location:
-> Power management and ACPI options
-> ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) Support (ACPI [=y])