The Thermal Framework in the Linux Kernel

Anish Kumar

Abstract: The thermal framework in the Linux kernel provides a flexible and extensible architecture for managing temperature - related issues in computer systems. This paper provides an overview of the thermal framework?s key components, including thermal zones, trip points, cooling devices, and thermal governors. We examine how the framework enables temperature monitoring, implements thermal policies, and coordinates cooling actions across hardware devices. The device tree bindings, sysfs interfaces, and various thermal governors are discussed in detail, along with their pros and cons. Case studies on different SoCs are presented to illustrate the performance of different governors.

Keywords: Thermal framework, Linux kernel, cooling devices, thermal governors