The intel-speed-select tool that lives within the Linux kernel source tree for allowing some control over Intel Speed Select Technology (SST) and managing of clock frequencies / performance behavior will finally allow limited non-root usage.

Ahead of the Linux 6.20~7.0 kernel cycle, a [1]pull request to the x86 platform driver maintainers has been submitted with updates to the intel-speed-select tool.

Most notable with the intel-speed-select tool update is beginning to allow for non-root use. Rather than just always bailing out if detecting a non-root user, intel-speed-select tool will now see if the /dev/isst_interface device can be opened by the current user. If /dev/isst_interface can at least be opened, intel-speed-select will now at least run and allow for read-only commands to be properly handled.

Obviously non-root users can't alter the Intel SST state but at least useful for those wanting to query various attributes via intel-speed-select without having to launch the program as root. Barring no last minute issues, that intel-speed-select update will be merged for the next Linux kernel merge window in February.



[1] https://lore.kernel.org/platform-driver-x86/ffe8dca9514f0ddc1135840644b0986b48972cd0.camel@intel.com/