---
name: "powercap-set"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "powercap-utils"
version: "0.6.0-1+b2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/powercap-set"
---

# powercap-set(1)

manage power capping devices with the Linux power capping framework

## NAME

powercap-set - manage power capping devices with the Linux power capping framework

## SYNPOSIS

**powercap-set** *NAME* \[*OPTION*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

Sets configurations for a powercap control type.

The control type *NAME* must not be empty or contain a '.' or '/'.

## OPTIONS

- **-h,** **--help**

  Prints the help screen

- **-p,** **--control-type**=*NAME*

  Deprecated, provide *NAME* as the first positional argument instead.

- **-z,** **--zone=***ZONE(S)*

  The zone/subzone numbers in the control type's powercap tree. Separate zones/subzones with a colon. E.g., for zone 0, subzone 2:\
   **-z 0:2**

- **-c,** **--constraint**=*CONSTRAINT*

  The constraint number (none by default)

- **-E,** **--enabled=1\|0**

  Enable/disable a control type

The following zone-level arguments may be used together and require -z/--zone:

- **-j,** **--z-energy**

  Reset zone energy counter

- **-e,** **--z-enabled=1\|0**

  Enable/disable a zone

The following constraint-level arguments may be used together and require -z/--zone and -c/--constraint:

- **-l,** **--c-power-limit=UW**

  Set constraint power limit

- **-s,** **--c-time-window=US**

  Set constraint time window

## EXAMPLES

- **powercap-set intel-rapl -z 0 -e 1**

  Enable zone 0 for the *intel-rapl* control type.

- **powercap-set intel-rapl -z 0:1 -e 1**

  Enable zone 0, subzone 1 for the *intel-rapl* control type.

- **powercap-set intel-rapl -z 0 -c 1 -l 25000000**

  Set a power cap of 25 Watts (25000000 uW) on zone 0, constraint 1 for the *intel-rapl* control type.

- **powercap-set intel-rapl -z 1:0 -c 0 -l 15000000 -s 976**

  Set a power cap of 15 Watts (15000000 uW) and time window of 976 microseconds on zone 1, subzone 0, constraint 0 for the *intel-rapl* control type.

## REMARKS

Administrative (root) privileges are usually needed to use **powercap-set**.

Setting constraint power cap and/or time limit values may not enable or disable a zone/subzone - set the -e/--z-enabled flag explicitly.

The kernel may round power limits and time windows to discrete values supported by the hardware, e.g., 28 seconds might round to 27983872 microseconds.

Power units: microwatts (uW)\
 Time units: microseconds (us)

## BUGS

Report bugs upstream at \<https://github.com/powercap/powercap\>

## FILES

```
/sys/devices/virtual/powercap/*
/sys/class/powercap/*
```

## AUTHORS

```
Connor Imes <connor.k.imes@gmail.com>
```

## SEE ALSO

[**powercap-info**(1)](/powercap-info/1.md)