How-to: Linux Temps and System Monitors - Overclock.net

Caedis · 05-14-09

So you've got your hardware, you've got your games ready, your just about to Overclock... but wait, somethings missing here. System monitors!

As most of you may know, Linux is designed to be a server environment. As such any good server needs to have monitors to achieve this goal. Fortunately Linux is loaded with tons of free monitors to help us out.

This is what were looking to accomplish

The process below is described for Ubuntu and other Debian-like Linux distributions.

First we need to get the temp monitoring daemons running.

Code:

sudo apt-get install lm-sensors sensors-applet conky

Then we add the temps to the tray (as I have in the pic above) by right clicking any panel and clicking "Add to panel..."

In the box at the top, type "sensors"

Click "Hardware Sensors Monitor" and click the [Add] button at the bottom.

You can now play around with what sensors you want by just right clicking the applet and going to "Preferences" it's all personal preference from there.

Now for the second half, conky. It's the program that writes information to the background. You can run it in it's default state if you like, but since the panel above has all the info I need in several areas, i think it's a waste of cpu cycles to display information twice. So in my case I like a minimalist clean transparent look.

So for this you need 2 files.

Download them to your home directory. (/home/user-name/)

Fonts Setup

Create a folder named .fonts in your home directory
Extract the conkyfonts.zip into that directory
So it should look like this:

/home/your-name/.fonts/openlogos.ttf
And all the rest of the fonts included.

If you have a laptop

rename conkyrc.pdf to .conkyrc

If you have a desktop

Rename conkyrc.pdf to conkyrc.txt
Open it in a text editor like gedit (just double click the file)
Find the following lines near the bottom and delete them

Code:

${color F8DF58}${font StyleBats:size=16}8${font}  Battery: 
${battery_percent}% ${battery_bar}

Save the file, close the text editor
Rename conkyrc.pdf to .conkyrc

Make note of the dot at the beginning of the .conkyrc file. That is important, don't leave it out.

In your Gnome menu go to: System > Preferences > Sessions
or for Ubuntu 9.04 and above: System > Preferences > Startup Applications

Click [Add] on the right side

Name: Start Conky
Command: conky

lastly, hit [Alt]+[F2] type "conky" into the box and hit [Run]

Enjoy!

If you are feeling adventurous the .conkyrc file (now hidden in your home directory) is relatively simple to edit. You can change colors, fonts, locations. List goes on.

This guide was inspired by this guide.

MetalheadGautham · 05-15-09

Thanks for the link to that fonts file. I can definitely see myself using it more often on my desktop

Caedis · 05-15-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

Thanks for the link to that fonts file. I can definitely see myself using it more often on my desktop

no problem

pow3rtr1p · 07-23-09

Caedis, you make some great threads. I just wish I could get all of my Linux gaming running as smoothly as you. I may have to fresh install Jaunty tonight, and see if I can get all of this working.

I don't really need pr0nz anyway...

jaxjoe · 1 Week Ago

Gents:

Attempting to install LM-sensors results in an <error> message informing lusr the relevant MSI temp-chip driver has not yet been written.

I can bop-to-BIOS after each SUPER-PI run, but that does get old.

GodofGrunts · 1 Week Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxjoe

Gents:

Attempting to install LM-sensors results in an <error> message informing lusr the relevant MSI temp-chip driver has not yet been written.

I can bop-to-BIOS after each SUPER-PI run, but that does get old.

What??

Melcar · 1 Week Ago

Just as a heads up to some. Lm-sensors will no longer work on kernels 2.6.30 and up (this means distros like Karmic) on certain hardware. Read through the bug report here. Supposedly it was broken to prevent possible hardware damage and stuff. Not all boards are affected, but many are. There is a solution here, but I guess I should echo the warning given out in the bug report that it "may" kill your hardware. Still, all that "fix" does is revert to the old lm-sensors behavior (basically it "unbrakes" it), so if lm-sensors did not kill your hardware before I very much doubt it will kill it now.

GodofGrunts · 1 Week Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melcar

Just as a heads up to some. Lm-sensors will no longer work on kernels 2.6.30 and up (this means distros like Karmic) on certain hardware. Read through the bug report here. Supposedly it was broken to prevent possible hardware damage and stuff. Not all boards are affected, but many are. There is a solution here, but I guess I should echo the warning given out in the bug report that it "may" kill your hardware. Still, all that "fix" does is revert to the old lm-sensors behavior (basically it "unbrakes" it), so if lm-sensors did not kill your hardware before I very much doubt it will kill it now.

? Really? I was just using Conky with Lm-sensors in 2.6.30

Melcar · 1 Week Ago

Depends on your board. And I think the actual "breaking" was not introduced until 2.6.31 in most cases (it will depend on how your distro prepares their kernels).

GodofGrunts · 1 Week Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melcar

Depends on your board. And I think the actual "breaking" was not introduced until 2.6.31 in most cases (it will depend on how your distro prepares their kernels).

Hmm, I will have to see. I haven't seen any uproar from the Arch Forums though and I know a lot of us use Conky.

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How-to: Linux Temps and System Monitors

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