Corsair Commander Pro on Debian 11 Linux

An update to my post on monitoring fan speeds, temperatures and PSU voltages using a Corsair Commander Pro. Much easier on Debian 11!

Corsair do not currently provide software for the Corsair Commander Pro on Linux. This post details how I achieve nearly all of the functionality provided by Corsair Link using a Linux based CLI.

These features are now part of the Debian 11 repository, making the whole process much simpler.


Install LiquidCtl

Liquidctl is a cross-platform tool and drivers for liquid coolers and other devices (Corsair Commander-Pro & certain Corsair PSUs).

apt install liquidctl

LiquidCtl is now installed, we can use the following commands to initialize it and monitor the temperature sensors and fan speeds:

liquidctl initialize all
liquidctl status

Here is the sample output from the status command on my server:

Corsair Commander Pro (experimental)
├── 12 volt rail     12.06  V
├── 5 volt rail       4.97  V
├── 3.3 volt rail     3.34  V
├── Temp sensor 1     22.7  °C
├── Temp sensor 2     20.0  °C
├── Temp sensor 3     20.2  °C
├── Temp sensor 4     19.8  °C
├── Fan 1 speed       1325  rpm
├── Fan 2 speed       1246  rpm
├── Fan 3 speed       1290  rpm
├── Fan 4 speed          0  rpm
├── Fan 5 speed          0  rpm
└── Fan 6 speed          0  rpm

WARNING: reading the +12V OCP mode is an experimental feature
Corsair HX1200i
├── Current uptime                  5:18:57  
├── Total uptime            2 days, 6:18:57  
├── Temperature 1                      42.0  °C
├── Temperature 2                      31.8  °C
├── Fan control mode               Hardware  
├── Fan speed                             0  rpm
├── Input voltage                    115.00  V
├── Total power                       90.00  W
├── +12V OCP mode                Multi rail  
├── +12V output voltage               12.02  V
├── +12V output current                6.00  A
├── +12V output power                 74.00  W
├── +5V output voltage                 4.97  V
├── +5V output current                 2.00  A
├── +5V output power                   9.50  W
├── +3.3V output voltage               3.28  V
├── +3.3V output current               1.06  A
└── +3.3V output power                 3.00  W

Finally, we can control fan speeds (if desired) using the following command:

liquidctl --match "Commander Pro" set fan1 speed 100

Installing Sensors

In addition to monitoring your Corsair Commander Pro, you will probably also want to monitor the CPU & GPU temperatures. This can be easily achieved by installing Sensors:

apt install lm-sensors

You can now get a command line output of motherboard & GPU based sensors by using the simple command sensors:

sensors

Here is a sample output from sensors:

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Package id 0:  +27.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 0:        +20.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 1:        +24.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 2:        +23.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 3:        +17.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 4:        +23.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 5:        +21.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 6:        +17.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 7:        +18.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 8:        +20.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 9:        +23.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 10:       +21.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 11:       +19.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 12:       +20.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 13:       +19.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 14:       +20.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 15:       +22.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)

power_meter-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
power1:        4.29 MW (interval =   1.00 s)

coretemp-isa-0001
Adapter: ISA adapter
Package id 1:  +29.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 0:        +20.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 1:        +20.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 2:        +23.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 3:        +22.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 4:        +22.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 5:        +20.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 6:        +19.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 7:        +19.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 8:        +23.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 9:        +20.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 10:       +21.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 11:       +19.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 12:       +20.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 13:       +23.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 14:       +18.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)
Core 15:       +22.0°C  (high = +80.0°C, crit = +98.0°C)

nouveau-pci-0300
Adapter: PCI adapter
GPU core:     +1.01 V  (min =  +0.60 V, max =  +1.20 V)
fan1:         960 RPM
temp1:        +34.0°C  (high = +95.0°C, hyst =  +3.0°C)
                       (crit = +105.0°C, hyst =  +5.0°C)
                       (emerg = +135.0°C, hyst =  +5.0°C)

Installing Glances

Glances is a cross-platform curses-based monitoring tool which aims to present a maximum of information in a minimum of space, ideally to fit in a classical 80×24 terminal or higher to have additional information. It can adapt dynamically the displayed information depending on the terminal size. It can also work in client/server mode.  Remote monitoring could be done via terminal or web interface.

To install Glances you need to have a python development environment, which can be install using the following command-

apt install python3 python3-dev python3-jinja2 python3-psutil python3-setuptools hddtemp python3-pip lm-sensors -y

Glances can now be installed-

pip3 install glances

You can now run glances. Sadly, Glances my does not display the output from LiquidCtl.

glances

As glances is a captive process, you will need to exit when done by typing “Q”. Alternatively, leave it permanently running in a separate terminal process!


Job done.

References:
1. How to Install Glances System Monitor on Debian – https://www.linuxcapable.com/how-to-install-glances-system-monitor-on-debian-11/

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