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World desk19 min

asusctl – control aspects of ASUS laptops

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asusctl is a Linux control utility for many ASUS and ROG laptops, giving users access to hardware features that are often exposed only through ASUS software on Windows. It can manage performance profiles, fan behavior, keyboard lighting, battery charge limits, GPU switching modes, and other platform-specific controls depending on the model and kernel support.

For Linux users on supported ASUS laptops, asusctl helps bridge the gap between basic hardware compatibility and practical day-to-day tuning. Whether you want quieter fans, better thermals while gaming, a battery health charge cap, custom RGB effects, or integration with a graphical desktop tool such as rog-control-center, it provides a focused way to configure these features without relying on vendor Windows utilities.

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What asusctl Is and When You Need It

asusctl is a Linux control utility for many ASUS laptops, especially ROG, TUF, Zephyrus, Strix, Flow, and some Vivobook or ProArt models that expose vendor-specific controls through the Linux kernel. It works with companion services from the asus-linux project to let users manage hardware features that are often handled by Armoury Crate or MyASUS on Windows. On Linux, those controls are not always available through standard desktop settings, so asusctl fills the gap with command-line tools, a background daemon, and optional graphical integration.

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You need asusctl when your laptop has ASUS-specific features that Linux can see but your desktop environment cannot fully manage. Common examples include switching between balanced and performance thermal profiles, setting a battery charge limit to reduce long-term wear, adjusting AniMe Matrix or Aura keyboard lighting, changing GPU power modes on hybrid graphics models, or selecting fan curves where supported. Without asusctl, these features may remain stuck at firmware defaults, require manual writes to /sys, or only partially work through generic tools such as power-profiles-daemon.

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Where asusctl fits in the Linux stack

asusctl is not just a standalone command that tweaks settings once. In a typical setup, asusd runs as a system service and communicates with the kernel interfaces exposed by ASUS WMI, platform profile, LED, battery, and graphics-related drivers. The asusctl command talks to that service, while rog-control-center provides a graphical front end on supported desktops. This design lets regular users change laptop settings without running every command as root, provided the service, D-Bus permissions, and user groups are configured correctly by the package.

  • Use asusctl if you want terminal control over ASUS laptop hardware settings.
  • Use rog-control-center if you prefer a graphical panel for profiles, lighting, battery limits, and GPU modes.
  • Use both if you want a desktop-friendly workflow with scriptable command-line access.

asusctl is most useful on gaming and creator laptops where thermal, power, and graphics behavior strongly affects day-to-day use. For example, a Zephyrus user may run a quiet profile on battery, switch to performance mode when plugged in, cap charging at 80 percent while docked, and disable the discrete GPU for travel. A TUF or Strix user may use it to control keyboard RGB and confirm that the laptop is in the expected platform profile before launching a game. These are practical controls that affect noise, battery life, heat, and component longevity.

It is less necessary on ASUS laptops that only expose standard Linux features, or on systems where the relevant hardware is not supported by current kernel drivers. asusctl cannot create firmware capabilities that the laptop does not provide, and feature availability varies by model, BIOS version, kernel version, and distribution packaging. Before relying on it, check whether your model appears in asus-linux community reports, whether your kernel includes recent ASUS WMI support, and whether the features you care about are listed by the installed tools. In short, asusctl is the right tool when your ASUS laptop has controllable vendor hardware and you want Linux to manage it cleanly rather than leaving those controls to Windows-only utilities.

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Supported ASUS Laptop Features and Hardware Requirements

asusctl targets ASUS laptops that expose vendor-specific controls through the Linux kernel, mainly recent ROG, TUF, Zephyrus, Strix, Flow, and some ProArt or VivoBook models. Support depends less on the marketing name and more on the embedded controller, ACPI interfaces, GPU layout, and whether the kernel can see the relevant ASUS WMI devices. On a supported machine, asusctl acts as a user-facing layer for controls that would otherwise require manual sysfs access, kernel parameters, or vendor-specific scripts.

The most commonly supported features are performance profiles, fan behavior, keyboard lighting, battery charge thresholds, panel overdrive or display-related toggles on selected models, and GPU mode switching on hybrid graphics laptops. Availability varies by model year. For example, a 2023 ROG Zephyrus may expose mulle Aura RGB zones, charge limiting, MUX switching, and balanced/performance thermal profiles, while an older TUF model may only expose fan profiles and a single keyboard backlight brightness control.

Typical feature coverage

  • Fan and thermal profiles: many models support predefined modes such as quiet, balanced, and performance. Some devices also support custom fan curves through related ASUS platform tooling.
  • Keyboard lighting: support can include brightness levels, static colors, breathing effects, rainbow modes, per-zone RGB, or simple white backlight control, depending on the keyboard hardware.
  • Battery charge limits: many ASUS laptops can stop charging at a chosen threshold, commonly used to reduce battery wear during docked use.
  • GPU modes: hybrid AMD/NVIDIA or Intel/NVIDIA laptops may support integrated-only, hybrid, dedicated, or VFIO-oriented modes, especially where a MUX switch is present.
  • Platform toggles: selected systems expose panel overdrive, mini-LED modes, AniMe Matrix controls, or other chassis-specific options.

Hardware requirements start with a reasonably current Linux kernel. Newer ASUS laptops often need recent kernel support because the required asus-wmi, asus-nb-wmi, platform profile, LED, and power-management interfaces evolve over time. Rolling distributions usually receive this support earlier, while stable distributions may need a hardware enablement kernel or a backported package. Firmware also matters: updating the BIOS or UEFI from ASUS can add, remove, or change ACPI behavior exposed to Linux.

Feature Common requirement What may limit support
Fan profiles ASUS platform profile support in kernel Older firmware or unsupported embedded controller
RGB keyboard Aura-compatible lighting device Single-color keyboard or unexposed lighting zones
Battery limit Charge threshold exposed through ASUS WMI Model lacks firmware charge control
GPU switching Hybrid graphics setup and compatible drivers No MUX, unsupported dGPU path, or display manager constraints

Before relying on asusctl for a purchase or deployment, users should check the project documentation, distribution package s, and community reports for the exact model number, such as GA402, G14, FA507, or GX650. The same retail laptop family can ship with different keyboards, GPUs, panels, and firmware revisions across regions. If Linux already shows ASUS platform devices under /sys/devices/platform/ and exposes power profiles through desktop power settings, there is a good chance that asusctl can provide additional controls on top.

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Installing asusctl on Common Linux Distributions

asusctl is available on several Linux distributions, but the installation path depends on how fresh your distribution packages are and whether your laptop needs the latest ASUS platform support. For many users, the best experience comes from using the distribution package when available, because it installs the systemd service, udev rules, D-Bus policy, and command-line tools in the expected locations.

Arch Linux and Arch-based distributions

On Arch Linux, EndeavourOS, Garuda, and other Arch-based systems, asusctl is commonly available from the official repositories or the AUR, depending on the current packaging state. Start by checking the standard package database:

  • sudo pacman -Syu
  • sudo pacman -S asusctl

If your distribution does not provide a current package, use an AUR helper such as paru or yay to install asusctl or a related development package. After installation, enable and start the service with sudo systemctl enable --now asusd. Rebooting after installation is often the simplest way to make sure kernel modules, udev permissions, and desktop sessions all see the ASUS device interfaces correctly.

Fedora and RPM-based distributions

Fedora users can often install asusctl from COPR repositories maintained by the ASUS Linux community or distribution contributors. The exact repository name can change, so check the current ASUS Linux documentation for the active COPR before enabling it. A typical flow is to enable the repository, install the package, then start the daemon:

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  • sudo dnf copr enable <repo-name>
  • sudo dnf install asusctl
  • sudo systemctl enable --now asusd

On Fedora Silverblue, Kinoite, or other immutable variants, install asusctl with rpm-ostree install asusctl after enabling the relevant repository, then reboot into the new deployment. Desktop front ends may require an additional package, commonly named rog-control-center or similar, depending on the repository.

Ubuntu, Debian, and derivatives

Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, and related distributions may not always ship the newest asusctl release in their default repositories. If a packaged version is available for your release, install it through apt and enable the service afterward:

  • sudo apt update
  • sudo apt install asusctl
  • sudo systemctl enable --now asusd

If your repositories do not include asusctl, avoid random binary downloads. Prefer an official repository from the project, a trusted community package, or building from source only after reading the project’s current build instructions. Source builds usually require Rust tooling, systemd development files, D-Bus support, and matching install paths, so they are better suited to users comfortable maintaining local packages.

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Post-install checks

After installing, verify that the daemon is running with systemctl status asusd. Then test the command-line client with asusctl --help and, if supported on your model, inspect available profiles or features with the relevant subcommands. If the command exists but returns permission errors, log out and back in, reboot, or confirm that the package installed its D-Bus and udev rules. If no ASUS features appear, update your kernel and firmware first; many controls depend on recent kernel support for ASUS WMI interfaces.

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Managing Fan Profiles, Performance Modes, and Thermals

asusctl is commonly used to switch ASUS laptop thermal behavior between quiet daily use, balanced performance, and maximum cooling for gaming or rendering. On supported ROG, TUF, and some Zephyrus models, these controls map to platform profiles exposed by the firmware and Linux kernel, then managed through the asusd service. The exact profile names vary by model, but they often include options such as Quiet, Balanced, and Performance, with some machines also offering an aggressive Turbo mode.

After installation, check the available profiles before changing anything. A typical workflow is to query supported modes, apply one, and verify that the change took effect. Depending on your asusctl version, the command syntax may differ slightly, so use the built-in help if a subcommand is not recognized. Common usage looks like this:

  • asusctl profile -l or asusctl profile list to show available platform profiles.
  • asusctl profile -P Balanced or a similar profile command to select a balanced thermal mode.
  • asusctl profile -P Quiet for low-noise work such as browsing, writing, or video playback.
  • asusctl profile -P Performance for heavier CPU and GPU workloads.

Fan behavior is tied closely to these performance modes. In Quiet mode, the laptop usually allows higher temperatures before increasing fan speed, which reduces noise but can limit sustained performance. Balanced mode is the safest default for most users because it adjusts fan speed and power limits without being overly loud. Performance or Turbo mode raises cooling capacity and may increase CPU or GPU power limits, making it better for games, compiling large projects, 3D workloads, or long video exports.

Some ASUS models support custom fan curves through asusctl, while others only expose preset profiles. If custom curves are available, configure them cautiously: setting fans too low can cause thermal throttling, sudden shutdowns, or uncomfortable chassis temperatures. A practical approach is to start from a preset, make small changes, then test under load with tools such as sensors, watch sensors, stress-ng, a game benchmark, or your normal production workload. Monitor CPU package temperature, GPU temperature, fan RPM if reported, and whether clocks drop sharply after a few minutes.

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Mode Best for Trade-off
Quiet Battery use, meetings, writing, web browsing Lower sustained performance and warmer chassis
Balanced General desktop use, development, light gaming Moderate fan noise under load
Performance Gaming, compiling, rendering, GPU workloads Higher fan noise and power draw
Turbo Maximum cooling on supported models Loud fans and reduced battery runtime

Thermal tuning works best when combined with sensible Linux power management. If you use tools such as TLP, power-profiles-daemon, auto-cpufreq, tuned, or desktop power settings, avoid conflicting profile changes. For example, a desktop environment might switch to a power-saver profile on battery while asusctl remains in Performance mode. If temperatures or clocks behave unpredictably, test with only one power-management stack active, confirm that asusd is running, and then reintroduce other tools one at a time.

Controlling Keyboard RGB, Battery Limits, and GPU Modes

Beyond fan curves and performance profiles, asusctl is commonly used to manage the day-to-day laptop features that ASUS exposes through firmware: keyboard lighting, battery charge thresholds, and graphics switching. The exact commands and available options vary by model, so it is worth checking what your machine reports before changing settings. A good first step is to query supported controls with asusctl -h, asusctl aura -h, asusctl profile -h, and, on systems using the newer graphics stack, supergfxctl -h.

For keyboard RGB, asusctl can usually control brightness, static colors, and built-in effects such as breathing, strobing, rainbow, or color cycle on ROG and TUF models with supported Aura hardware. Single-zone keyboards typically expose fewer options than per-key RGB models, and some laptops only allow brightness control. For example, users commonly adjust lighting with commands under the aura subcommand, selecting a mode, color, speed, or direction where supported. If the keyboard backlight keys still work in Linux but asusctl reports no Aura device, the laptop may use a simpler WMI backlight interface rather than the Aura controller.

  • Static lighting: useful for a fixed color, often set with RGB values such as red, green, blue, or hex-style equivalents depending on the installed version.
  • Animated effects: available on many ROG models, with speed and direction options on compatible firmware.
  • Brightness levels: often controllable even when advanced RGB effects are unavailable.
  • Persistence: lighting settings may be saved by the ASUS firmware, by the asusd daemon, or reset after shutdown depending on model behavior.

Battery charge limits are another practical feature, especially for laptops that stay plugged in at a desk. Setting a maximum charge such as 60%, 80%, or 90% can reduce battery wear over time by avoiding long periods at 100%. With asusctl, this is usually handled through a battery charge control command that writes the limit to the ASUS platform driver. A common desktop setup is to keep the limit at 60% or 80% for normal AC use, then temporarily raise it to 100% before travel. After setting a limit, confirm it through asusctl, your desktop power panel, or files under /sys/class/power_supply/ if you are comfortable checking kernel power-supply attributes.

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GPU mode control is slightly different because modern ASUS hybrid-graphics handling is often delegated to supergfxctl, which is maintained alongside the ASUS Linux tooling. On supported laptops, it can switch between modes such as integrated, hybrid, dedicated, and compute-oriented configurations. Integrated mode favors battery life by using the iGPU; hybrid mode allows the dGPU to wake for demanding applications; dedicated mode routes graphics through the NVIDIA or AMD dGPU where the hardware supports it. Some mode changes require logging out or rebooting because the display server, kernel driver, and firmware need to reinitialize the graphics path cleanly.

Feature Typical Tool Common Use
Keyboard RGB asusctl aura Set color, effect, speed, direction, or brightness
Battery charge cap asusctl battery controls Limit charging to 60-90% for battery longevity
GPU switching supergfxctl Choose integrated, hybrid, or dedicated graphics mode

When combining these features, make one change at a time and verify it before moving on. For example, set the battery limit first, then adjust Aura lighting, then switch GPU mode and reboot if prompted. This makes it easier to identify whether a problem comes from unsupported firmware, a missing daemon, an NVIDIA driver issue, or a desktop session that has not refreshed its hardware state.

Using rog-control-center and Desktop Integration

rog-control-center is the graphical companion to asusctl. While asusctl is useful from a terminal or scripts, rog-control-center gives ASUS laptop users a desktop-friendly way to change common settings without memorizing commands. It is especially helpful on ROG, TUF, Zephyrus, Strix, Flow, and similar ASUS models where users frequently switch between quiet operation, gaming performance, battery saving, external monitors, and different lighting profiles.

Most installations provide rog-control-center as a separate package from the command-line tools, though both depend on the same background service. After installing it, launch it from your application menu, or run rog-control-center from a terminal. The interface usually exposes panels for performance profiles, fan behavior, AniMe Matrix or slash lighting where supported, keyboard RGB, GPU mode switching, battery charge limits, and device-specific toggles. The exact controls shown depend on your laptop firmware, kernel support, and the version of asusd running in the background.

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Common desktop workflows

  • Switching performance profiles: Move between quiet, balanced, and performance-oriented modes before gaming, compiling code, rendering video, or joining a meeting on battery power.
  • Changing keyboard lighting: Select static colors, brightness levels, breathing effects, strobing, or per-zone options if your keyboard firmware exposes them.
  • Setting a battery charge limit: Choose a maximum charge such as 60%, 80%, or 100% to reduce battery wear when the laptop is docked most of the day.
  • Managing GPU mode: On supported hybrid graphics laptops, select modes such as integrated, hybrid, dedicated, or compute-oriented behavior, then log out or reboot if required.
  • Checking device status: Confirm which platform profile, charge threshold, lighting mode, and GPU state are currently active.

Desktop integration also depends on the session environment. On KDE Plasma, GNOME, Cinnamon, and other modern desktops, rog-control-center normally works as a regular graphical application as long as the asusd service is active and the user has permission to talk to it over D-Bus. Some changes apply immediately, such as keyboard brightness or charge limits. Others may require a session restart, display manager restart, or full reboot, especially GPU mode changes involving NVIDIA dGPU power states, MUX switching, or display routing.

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Working with power-management tools

If you also use tools such as power-profiles-daemon, TLP, auto-cpufreq, tuned, or vendor-specific GNOME extensions, avoid configuring mulle utilities to fight over the same settings. For example, one tool may set a quiet platform profile while another immediately changes CPU boost, fan curves, or power limits. A stable setup usually assigns each tool a clear role: rog-control-center for ASUS-specific controls, the desktop power menu for general power profiles, and one additional power manager only if you understand which settings it changes.

Desktop task Best tool Typical restart needed
Keyboard brightness or RGB effect rog-control-center No
Battery charge cap rog-control-center or asusctl No
Quiet, balanced, or performance profile rog-control-center or desktop power menu Usually no
Hybrid or dedicated GPU mode rog-control-center Often yes

For a smoother experience, keep asusctl, asusd, rog-control-center, your kernel, and NVIDIA or Mesa graphics drivers reasonably current. If a control disappears after an update, check whether the service is running and whether your laptop model still reports that feature through the kernel interfaces used by asusctl. On rolling distributions, occasional interface changes can make the graphical tool temporarily lag behind the service package, so updating both packages together is usually the cleanest fix.

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Troubleshooting Permissions, Services, and Unsupported Features

Most asusctl problems fall into three groups: the daemon is not running, the user does not have permission to talk to it, or the laptop firmware does not expose the feature being requested. Start by checking the service state, because the command-line tool and desktop front ends depend on the system daemon. On systemd-based distributions, run systemctl status asusd to confirm that the service is active. If it is stopped or failed, try sudo systemctl enable --now asusd, then inspect recent logs with journalctl -u asusd -b.

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If asusctl reports an access, D-Bus, or permission error, verify that the installed package created the expected policy files and that your session has been restarted since installation. Logging out and back in is often enough after installing asusctl or rog-control-center, because group membership, D-Bus permissions, and desktop session services are loaded at login. Avoid running graphical tools with sudo; the daemon is designed to expose controlled actions through D-Bus rather than requiring root for every user-facing operation.

Common checks

  • Daemon status: confirm asusd is enabled and running with systemctl status asusd.
  • Kernel support: use a recent kernel, especially on newer ROG, TUF, Zephyrus, and Flow models.
  • Package match: install matching versions of asusctl, asusd, and rog-control-center when your distribution packages them separately.
  • Session refresh: log out and back in after installation or permission changes.
  • Conflicting tools: avoid running multiple laptop-control utilities that write to the same platform, fan, power, or RGB interfaces.

Unsupported features are also common, even on otherwise compatible ASUS laptops. For example, a model may support battery charge limits but not AniMe Matrix, or keyboard brightness but not per-key RGB. Some AMD models expose different platform interfaces than Intel models, and firmware updates can change behavior. If a command such as asusctl aura, asusctl profile, or asusctl bios returns an unsupported-device message, treat that as a hardware or firmware limitation unless the project documentation lists your exact model as supported.

Symptom Likely cause Practical fix
asusctl cannot connect to the daemon asusd is not running or D-Bus is unavailable Enable the service, reboot or log in again, then check journalctl -u asusd -b
Fan or profile changes do nothing Unsupported platform profile interface or conflicting power tool Update the kernel, stop conflicting tools, and test built-in profiles first
RGB options are missing The keyboard only supports limited brightness or zone control Use the modes shown by asusctl aura rather than assuming full RGB support
Battery limit is ignored after reboot Firmware resets the threshold or the service starts too late Confirm the configured limit, keep asusd enabled, and test after a full restart
GPU mode switch fails Active graphical session, driver issue, or unsupported MUX mode Close GPU-using apps, ensure NVIDIA/AMD drivers are installed, then reboot after switching

When troubleshooting GPU switching, be conservative. Hybrid, integrated, dedicated, and VFIO-oriented modes can require a reboot, and switching while external monitors, games, CUDA jobs, or compositors are active may fail or leave the system in an inconsistent state. Confirm that the correct proprietary or open driver stack is installed for your hardware, then test one mode change at a time. On laptops with a hardware MUX, firmware setup options may also affect what asusctl can expose from Linux.

For persistent or model-specific failures, collect useful diagnostics before filing a bug or asking for help: the laptop model name, distribution, kernel version, asusctl version, output from the failing command, and relevant asusd journal entries. Also mention whether Secure Boot is enabled, which desktop environment is in use, and whether rog-control-center shows the same limitation as the command line. Clear hardware and log details make it much easier to distinguish a packaging issue from a feature the laptop simply does not provide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does asusctl work on every ASUS laptop, or only ROG models?

asusctl is mainly built for ASUS ROG, TUF, and some newer ASUS gaming laptops that expose supported firmware interfaces on Linux. Feature support varies by model, so one laptop may support fan profiles and battery limits while another may not support RGB zones or GPU switching. Check your model against the asus-linux project documentation and test available commands with asusctl after installation.

How do I change fan or performance modes with asusctl?

You can switch platform profiles such as quiet, balanced, and performance using asusctl commands or through rog-control-center if your laptop supports them. These modes affect fan behavior, power limits, and thermals depending on the firmware. If a profile does not appear to change anything, make sure the asusd service is running and that your kernel exposes platform profile support for your model.

Can asusctl set a battery charge limit to improve battery health?

Yes, on supported ASUS laptops asusctl can set a battery charge limit, such as stopping charging at 60%, 80%, or another supported threshold. This is useful if you keep the laptop plugged in most of the time. If the setting does not persist after reboot, check that the asusd service is enabled and that your distribution is not overriding power settings with another battery management tool.

Can I use asusctl to switch between integrated, hybrid, and dedicated GPU modes?

On supported models, asusctl can manage GPU modes such as integrated, hybrid, dedicated, or VFIO-oriented modes, but the exact options depend on the laptop hardware and Linux graphics stack. Some GPU mode changes require a reboot or logout before they take effect. If you use NVIDIA drivers, make sure the driver, kernel modules, and display manager configuration are compatible with the selected mode.

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What should I do if rog-control-center opens but shows missing or disabled features?

Missing controls usually mean the feature is not supported by your laptop firmware, the asusd service is not running, or required kernel interfaces are unavailable. Start by checking the service status with systemd, updating to a recent kernel, and confirming that your user has permission to communicate with asusd. If only some features are missing, your model may support partial functionality rather than the full asusctl feature set.

Bottom Line

asusctl gives Linux users a practical way to manage many ASUS laptop features that are often locked behind Windows utilities, including fan profiles, keyboard lighting, GPU behavior, and battery charge limits. When paired with the right kernel support, services, and desktop integrations, it can make an ASUS laptop feel much more complete on Linux.

Your best next step is to install asusctl from your distribution’s recommended source, confirm the service is running, then test one feature at a time—fans, lighting, GPU mode, and charge limits—so troubleshooting stays simple. If something does not work, check your model support, kernel version, permissions, and logs before assuming the hardware is unsupported.

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