Bug 721166

Paul, what laptop are you running? Mine is a Thinkpad X201 and there are two bugs in Xfce's bugtracker that could be related:
https://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=7071 and 
https://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=7541

Thanks, Christoph. Mine is a Compaq Presario CQ60.

Paul

Let me add that, without gnome-power-manager installed, trying to change the brightness through the xfce desktop manager produces no effects at all.

Paul

I have the same issue on a Dell XPS M1330.
With GNOME the [Fn]+[Up] changes the brightness. In Xfce it does not work.
I installed :
# yum list installed | grep xfce4
libxfce4ui.i686                4.8.0-4.fc15         @fedora                     
libxfce4util.i686              4.8.1-2.fc15         @fedora                     
xfce4-appfinder.i686           4.8.0-2.fc15         @fedora                     
xfce4-battery-plugin.i686      1.0.0-2.fc15         @fedora                     
xfce4-cpugraph-plugin.i686     1.0.1-3.fc15         @fedora                     
xfce4-datetime-plugin.i686     0.6.1-7.fc15         @fedora                     
xfce4-doc.noarch               4.8.2-1.fc15         @updates                    
xfce4-icon-theme.noarch        4.4.3-5.fc15         @fedora                     
xfce4-mixer.i686               4.8.0-1.fc15         @fedora                     
xfce4-netload-plugin.i686      1.0.0-3.fc15         @fedora                     
xfce4-panel.i686               4.8.5-1.fc15         @updates                    
xfce4-power-manager.i686       1.0.3-1.fc15         @fedora                     
xfce4-sensors-plugin.i686      1.0.0-3.fc15         @fedora                     
xfce4-session.i686             4.8.1-5.fc15         @updates                    
xfce4-session-engines.i686     4.8.1-5.fc15         @updates                    
xfce4-settings.i686            4.8.2-1.fc15         @updates                    
xfce4-weather-plugin.i686      0.7.4-2.fc15         @fedora

Also I added the plugin brightness in the panel and it changes the brightness but it is not very interested to always use the mouse...

Still the same in F16!

#  yum list installed | grep xfce4
libxfce4ui.i686                     4.8.0-4.fc16                     @anaconda-0
libxfce4util.i686                   4.8.2-1.fc16                     @anaconda-0
xfce4-appfinder.i686                4.8.0-2.fc15                     @fedora    
xfce4-battery-plugin.i686           1.0.0-2.fc15                     @fedora    
xfce4-cpufreq-plugin.i686           1.0.0-1.fc16                     @fedora    
xfce4-cpugraph-plugin.i686          1.0.1-3.fc15                     @fedora    
xfce4-datetime-plugin.i686          0.6.1-7.fc15                     @fedora    
xfce4-doc.noarch                    4.8.3-1.fc16                     @anaconda-0
xfce4-icon-theme.noarch             4.4.3-5.fc15                     @fedora    
xfce4-mixer.i686                    4.8.0-1.fc16                     @anaconda-0
xfce4-netload-plugin.i686           1.0.0-3.fc15                     @fedora    
xfce4-panel.i686                    4.8.6-3.fc16                     @anaconda-0
xfce4-power-manager.i686            1.0.10-1.fc16                    @anaconda-0
xfce4-sensors-plugin.i686           1.2.3-1.fc16                     @anaconda-0
xfce4-session.i686                  4.8.2-1.fc16                     @anaconda-0
xfce4-session-engines.i686          4.8.2-1.fc16                     @anaconda-0
xfce4-settings.i686                 4.8.3-1.fc16                     @anaconda-0
xfce4-weather-plugin.i686           0.7.4-2.fc15                     @fedora

Created attachment 533789 [details]
pkexec complains about setuid root when running xfpm-power-backlight-helper

It seems that brightness stopped working at all recently (I think it's not
related to the upgrade xfce power manager to
xfce4-power-manager-1.0.10-2.fc16.i686).

I've attached a strace log from xfce-power-manager. What's interesting is that
pkexec (policykit anyone??) complains about not being run with setuid root,
hence xfpm-power-backlight-helper --set-brightness fails.

That's weird:
[maciek@corsair:~]$ stat /usr/bin/pkexec
  File: `/usr/bin/pkexec'
  Size: 18096     	Blocks: 40         IO Block: 4096   regular file
Device: 805h/2053d	Inode: 149085      Links: 1
Access: (4755/-rwsr-xr-x)  Uid: (    0/    root)   Gid: (    0/    root)
Context: system_u:object_r:bin_t:s0
Access: 2011-11-15 17:26:23.096734957 +0100
Modify: 2011-10-27 05:45:36.000000000 +0200
Change: 2011-11-15 17:24:50.778001721 +0100
 Birth: -

running xfce4-power-manager --debug I found this:
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:114] xfpm_button_filter_x_events(): Key press: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)
** (xfce4-power-manager:2681): DEBUG: executed /usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper --get-brightness; retval: 0
** (xfce4-power-manager:2681): DEBUG: xfpm_brightness_helper_get_level: get-brightness returned 7
The value for the SHELL variable was not found the /etc/shells file

This incident has been reported.

Apparently bash was not listed in /etc/shells. Possibly a recent bash update to bash.i686 0:4.2.10-5.fc16 is the culprit here. Readding /bin/bash to shells solved the problem for me.

Confirmed on Fedora 16, but it worked before.
Kernel: 3.1.1-1.fc16.x86_64
Package: xfce4-power-manager-1.0.10-2.fc16.x86_64

** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): WARNING **: could not get output property
** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: executed /usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper --get-max-brightness; retval: 0
** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: xfpm_brightness_setup_helper: get-max-brightness returned 10
** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: xrandr not available, brightness controlled by sysfs helper; min_level=0 max_level=10
** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: executed /usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper --get-brightness; retval: 0
** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: xfpm_brightness_helper_get_level: get-brightness returned 5
TRACE[xfpm-backlight.c:324] xfpm_backlight_brightness_on_ac_settings_changed(): Alarm on ac timeout changed 9
TRACE[xfpm-backlight.c:345] xfpm_backlight_brightness_on_battery_settings_changed(): Alarm on battery timeout changed 120
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:114] xfpm_button_filter_x_events(): Key press: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)
** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: executed /usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper --get-brightness; retval: 0
** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: xfpm_brightness_helper_get_level: get-brightness returned 5
The value for the SHELL variable was not found the /etc/shells file

This incident has been reported.
** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: executed pkexec /usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper --set-brightness 4; retval: 32512

** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): WARNING **: (xfpm-brightness.c:458):xfpm_brightness_helper_down: runtime check failed: (xfpm_brightness_helper_set_level (brightness, set_level))
** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: executed /usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper --get-brightness; retval: 0
** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: xfpm_brightness_helper_get_level: get-brightness returned 5

** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): WARNING **: xfpm_brightness_helper_down did not change the hw level to 4
TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:259] xfpm_manager_button_pressed_cb(): Received button press event: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)

(In reply to comment #10)
> TRACE[xfpm-button.c:114] xfpm_button_filter_x_events(): Key press:
> ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)
> ** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: executed
> /usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper --get-brightness; retval: 0
> ** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: xfpm_brightness_helper_get_level:
> get-brightness returned 5
> The value for the SHELL variable was not found the /etc/shells file
> 
> This incident has been reported.
> ** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: executed pkexec
> /usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper --set-brightness 4; retval: 32512

Your $SHELL is missing from /etc/shells as a result of https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=752827. Run yum reinstall bash

(In reply to comment #11)
> (In reply to comment #10)
> > TRACE[xfpm-button.c:114] xfpm_button_filter_x_events(): Key press:
> > ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)
> > ** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: executed
> > /usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper --get-brightness; retval: 0
> > ** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: xfpm_brightness_helper_get_level:
> > get-brightness returned 5
> > The value for the SHELL variable was not found the /etc/shells file
> > 
> > This incident has been reported.
> > ** (xfce4-power-manager:2764): DEBUG: executed pkexec
> > /usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper --set-brightness 4; retval: 32512
> 
> Your $SHELL is missing from /etc/shells as a result of
> https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=752827. Run yum reinstall bash

Thanks, it works now.

We are having two different bugs here: This bug was filed against F15 and there are some laptops that work and other don't. This has not changed in F16, but there was an additional problem (bug 752827) outside of this package. Basically all comments from comment 6 to 12 can be ignored, they have nothing to do with the bug that depends on the hardware.

I'm on F16 and was having this problem.

I can confirm that my shell, /bin/bash (this is also root's shell), not being in /etc/shells is what causes xfce4-power-manager's support of changing the brightness with the function keys not to work while logged in (however, this didn't keep the function keys from changing the brightness at the gdm login window).  So bug 752827 seems to apply.

I think I originally discovered this by hacking around pkexec to spawn xfpm-power-backlight-helper from the command line and finally seeing a message about my shell not being in /etc/shells.  This message, while useful, is getting consumed somehow and isn't showing up in any log I could see, like stuff in /var/log and ~/.xsession-errors, thereby making this an extra annoying headscratcher.

This message is a notice that Fedora 15 is now at end of life. Fedora
has stopped maintaining and issuing updates for Fedora 15. It is
Fedora's policy to close all bug reports from releases that are no
longer maintained. At this time, all open bugs with a Fedora 'version'
of '15' have been closed as WONTFIX.

(Please note: Our normal process is to give advanced warning of this
occurring, but we forgot to do that. A thousand apologies.)

Package Maintainer: If you wish for this bug to remain open because you
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this bug and simply change the 'version' to a later Fedora version.

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we were unable to fix it before Fedora 15 reached end of life. If you
would still like to see this bug fixed and are able to reproduce it
against a later version of Fedora, you are encouraged to click on
"Clone This Bug" (top right of this page) and open it against that
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Although we aim to fix as many bugs as possible during every release's
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The process we are following is described here:
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/BugZappers/HouseKeeping

Reopening - I see this problem with F20 on a Samsung NC110 netbook.

$ xfce4-power-manager --no-daemon --debug --dump
TRACE[xfpm-main.c:272] xfpm_start(): Starting the power manager
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for general-notification
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for lock-screen-suspend-hibernate
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for power-save-on-battery
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for enable-cpu-freq-control
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for critical-power-level
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for show-brightness-popup
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for change-brightness-on-key-events
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for show-tray-icon
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for power-button-action
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for hibernate-button-action
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for sleep-button-action
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-level-on-battery
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-enabled
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-on-ac-sleep
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-on-ac-off
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-on-battery-sleep
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-on-battery-off
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-sleep-mode
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for inactivity-on-ac
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for inactivity-on-battery
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for inactivity-sleep-mode
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-on-battery
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for spin-down-on-ac
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for spin-down-on-battery
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for spin-down-on-ac-timeout
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:156] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for spin-down-on-battery-timeout

(xfce4-power-manager:7840): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: Unable to create proxy for 'org.freedesktop.ConsoleKit'
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1097] xfpm_power_get_power_devices(): Power device detected at : /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_ADP1
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1044] xfpm_power_add_device():  device added: ((XfpmDeviceType) XFPM_DEVICE_TYPE_LINE_POWER)
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1097] xfpm_power_get_power_devices(): Power device detected at : /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1044] xfpm_power_add_device():  device added: ((XfpmDeviceType) XFPM_DEVICE_TYPE_BATTERY)
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1055] xfpm_power_add_device(): Battery device detected at : /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1: ((XfpmDeviceType) XFPM_DEVICE_TYPE_BATTERY)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:179] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 124 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_POWER_OFF)

(xfce4-power-manager:7840): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: could not map keysym 1008ffa8 to keycode

TRACE[xfpm-button.c:179] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 213 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_HIBERNATE)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:179] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 150 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_SLEEP)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:179] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 233 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_UP)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:179] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 232 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:179] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 244 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_BATTERY)
TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:150] xfpm_battery_refresh_visible(): visible=TRUE: ((XfpmShowIcon) SHOW_ICON_WHEN_BATTERY_PRESENT)
TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:286] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 1
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1190] xfpm_power_refresh_adaptor_visible(): Tray icon configuration: : ((XfpmShowIcon) SHOW_ICON_WHEN_BATTERY_PRESENT)
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1155] xfpm_power_hide_adapter_icon(): Hide adaptor icon
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:368] xfpm_polkit_init_data(): Using unix session polkit subject
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:455] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.suspend is authorized=TRUE
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:455] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate is authorized=TRUE
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1190] xfpm_power_refresh_adaptor_visible(): Tray icon configuration: : ((XfpmShowIcon) SHOW_ICON_WHEN_BATTERY_PRESENT)
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1155] xfpm_power_hide_adapter_icon(): Hide adaptor icon
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:455] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.udisks.drive-set-spindown is authorized=TRUE
TRACE[xfpm-disks.c:170] xfpm_disks_get_is_auth_to_spin(): Is auth to spin down disks : 1
TRACE[xfpm-disks.c:147] xfpm_disks_set_spin_timeouts(): On Battery=0 spin_down_enabled=0 timeout=800

TRACE[xfpm-backlight.c:324] xfpm_backlight_brightness_on_ac_settings_changed(): Alarm on ac timeout changed 90
TRACE[xfpm-backlight.c:345] xfpm_backlight_brightness_on_battery_settings_changed(): Alarm on battery timeout changed 120
---------------------------------------------------
       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
Authorised to suspend: True
Authorised to hibernate: True
Authorised to shutdown: False
Authorised to spin down hard disks: True
Has battery: True
Has brightness panel: True
Has power button: True
Has hibernate button: True
Has sleep button: True
Has LID: True
TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:286] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 1
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1190] xfpm_power_refresh_adaptor_visible(): Tray icon configuration: : ((XfpmShowIcon) SHOW_ICON_WHEN_BATTERY_PRESENT)
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1155] xfpm_power_hide_adapter_icon(): Hide adaptor icon


Now if I press the brightness up key :

TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:238] xfpm_polkit_free_data(): Destroying Polkit data
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:114] xfpm_button_filter_x_events(): Key press: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_UP)
TRACE[xfpm-backlight.c:219] xfpm_backlight_show(): Level 7
TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:259] xfpm_manager_button_pressed_cb(): Received button press event: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_UP)
TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:286] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 1
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1190] xfpm_power_refresh_adaptor_visible(): Tray icon configuration: : ((XfpmShowIcon) SHOW_ICON_WHEN_BATTERY_PRESENT)
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1155] xfpm_power_hide_adapter_icon(): Hide adaptor icon

And if I press the brightness down key:

TRACE[xfpm-button.c:114] xfpm_button_filter_x_events(): Key press: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)

** (xfce4-power-manager:7840): WARNING **: xfpm_brightness_xrand_down did not change the hw level to 6
TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:259] xfpm_manager_button_pressed_cb(): Received button press event: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)
TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:286] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 1
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1190] xfpm_power_refresh_adaptor_visible(): Tray icon configuration: : ((XfpmShowIcon) SHOW_ICON_WHEN_BATTERY_PRESENT)
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1155] xfpm_power_hide_adapter_icon(): Hide adaptor icon

Works for me at a Lenovo Ideapad G505s.

xfce4-power-manager-1.3.2-1.fc20.x86_64
kernel-3.16.1-300.fc21.x86_64

$ grep -c bash /etc/shells
2

xfce4-power-manager-1.4.1-3.fc21 has been submitted as an update for Fedora 21.
https://admin.fedoraproject.org/updates/xfce4-power-manager-1.4.1-3.fc21

xfce4-power-manager-1.4.1-3.fc21 has been pushed to the Fedora 21 stable repository.  If problems still persist, please make note of it in this bug report.