Setting GL.iNet Slate AX Fan Temperature

Posted: 2024-01-15
Tags: GL.iNet

The default fan temperature threshold for GL.iNet devices can be set a bit high.

Lower temperatures will make the device last longer, but we should avoid running the fan so much that it fails prematurely.

For maximum longevity in a home router setup, consider using a small external USB powered fan to further cool the router.

• Setting Fan Temperature via Web Interface
• Setting Fan Temperature via SSH
  • Connecting to the Router
  • Option 1: Editing /etc/config/glfan Directly
  • Option 2: Using Universal Configuration Interface (UCI)
• Choosing a Temperature
• Useful Commands
  • Starting/Stopping/Restarting the gl_fan service
  • Set Fan Speed Manually
  • Checking Current Temperature

Setting Fan Temperature via Web Interface

GL.iNet’s web interface supports setting the fan temperature.

• Log into the router.
• From the navigation menu select SYSTEM and click Overview.
• Click the fan and gear wheel icon in the upper right corner of the CPU Average Load section.
• Set your desired temperature and click Apply to save.

The web interface is limited to setting temperatures between 70 and 90 Celcius, but temperatures lower than 70 C would be better for maximum longevity of the device.

Setting Fan Temperature via SSH

Connecting to the Router

At the command line on your computer:

• Run ssh root@192.168.8.1 (or whatever IP address you have set for your router).
• Login with the password you configured during initial setup of the router’s web interface.

Option 1: Editing /etc/config/glfan Directly

To do this:

• Run vi /etc/config/glfan
• Press i to enter edit mode.
• Edit the line option temperature '60' to the desired temperature.
• Press ESC to exit edit mode.
• Type :wq and hit Enter to save and quit.

Reboot the router or restart the gl_fan service with /etc/init.d/gl_fan restart.

Option 2: Using Universal Configuration Interface (UCI)

uci set glfan.@globals[0].temperature='60'
uci commit glfan

Reboot the router or restart the gl_fan service with /etc/init.d/gl_fan restart.

Choosing a Temperature

Using the settings mentioned in this GL.iNet forum post keeps the router at 60 C with a relatively low duty cycle.

There are instructions in the post, but I put the settings in my /etc/config/glfan file directly:

config globals 'globals'
	option enabled '1'
	option sysfs '/sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp'
	option div '1'
	option warn_temperature '75'
	option temperature '60'
	option integration '4'
	option differential '20'

Whatever settings used, try the fan monitoring script to see the resulting duty cycle.

Useful Commands

To use these, you must SSH into the router: ssh root@192.168.8.1

Starting/Stopping/Restarting the gl_fan service

• /etc/init.d/gl_fan start
• /etc/init.d/gl_fan stop
• /etc/init.d/gl_fan restart

The gl_fan service starts on bootup by default, but you can stop it and set fan speeds manually.

Set Fan Speed Manually

echo 255 > /sys/class/thermal/cooling_device0/cur_state

This directly sets the fan speed. A value of 255 corresponds to the maximum setting of 6000rpm.

Checking Current Temperature

cat /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp