PC shuts down if monitor isn't plugged in

homer_3 · 09-03-2013, 08:38 AM

Is there some setting in Fedora that will shut down your computer if a monitor isn't plugged in? I have a Fedora machine I connect to remotely and if I turn it on without a monitor plugged in, it will just shut itself down after a few minutes.

frankbell · 09-03-2013, 07:21 PM

I have never heard of such a thing on a software level, but I haven't messed with Fedora in over a year and have no way to look. Given the extent to which Linux users rely on tools such as ssh and scp, I would find it mildly surprising to find such a setting. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will set us straight.

I think it's more likely that there might be a BIOS setting that needs to be changed to allow headless/keyboardless operation. I have seen such settings in BIOS.

antonmax · 09-04-2013, 02:33 AM

I used to use Fedora11-13 without a monitor and there was no such issue. I beleive that this could be an issue with BIOS or hardware. And if you have access to it's log files you probably can find possible root of the problem.
Are you a sinle user on that host? Is it possible that anybody configures cron/at job to shut host down?

brilyant · 09-04-2013, 03:12 AM

There may not be a BIOS setting to prevent this.

It is possible to solder a wire across a 15-pin VGA connector that plugs in to the pc, in such a way as to fool the PC into thinking it has a monitor plugged in.

Try Googling vga monitor spoof or similar.