using power saving
 

hello,
i am using a dell laptop and i would like to keep it on all the time, but it gets really hot and i need to shut it down from time to time. Is there way to using power saving apps in linux, mainly slackware 10.1???? I heard of apci, but i don't know if i have it in my stock 2.4.29 kernel?? if so how to i put my laptop on standby or suspend everything to ram or hard drive????

thanks,

djgerbavor3

What processor do you have?

Pentium M and (I think) Pentium 4 processors have throttling which can reduce heat drastically when idling.

Some AMD models have this too, and there may be others.

You will need acpi, but it's not available in the 2.4 kernel. I think it was first introduced in the 2.6.2 kernel. There is a backport patch for the 2.4 kernel somewhere (google for it), but it might be easier to install a newer kernel if you're not comfortable patching your kernel and recompiling it.

Most distros now come with the 2.6 kernel, but slackware isn't one of them. You will also need a program like cpufreqd or cpudyn to handle the throttling if you install the new kernel manually(or patch your existing kernel). This will have to be installed and added to the default runlevel so they will start at boot time, but I don't remember how to do this with Slackware.

Keep in mind some laptops (like mine) suggesst you completely discharge the battery at least once a month to preserve battery life, so leaving it plugged in all the time may not be good for the battery. Removing the battery when you don't need it might help prevent this, might not..

I have Slackware 10.1 with ACPI on a upgraded 2.6.11.6 kernel. Everything works! Adjusting the CPU speed helps increase batt life and keeps the machine cool. It is easy to upgrade the kernel in Slack, on the extras disk is a slack packages for 2.6.7. See the instructions on kernel upgrades in the Slackware forum.

i upgraded to a new 2.6.10.11 kernel, and include acpi support. What commands adjust the cpu??? also is there a way with acpi to put it in standby and/or move everything to ram?

thanks,'
djgerbavore