Turn off monitor via CLI ??

jchambers · 01-05-2008, 12:26 AM

Hello all --

Seems like just about anything is possible on Linux so I will try my luck at this one...

I would like to run a command that disables the monitor temporarily during the boot process. Then enable it again once a program has started. I am think of adding it to the rc.local as I believe it is read early in the boot process (don't quote me on that though).

I know how to check if a the program is started but I have no idea how to disable/enable the monitor.

Has anyone tried to do this before?

Thank you.

Drakeo · 01-05-2008, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchambers

Hello all --

Seems like just about anything is possible on Linux so I will try my luck at this one...

I would like to run a command that disables the monitor temporarily during the boot process. Then enable it again once a program has started. I am think of adding it to the rc.local as I believe it is read early in the boot process (don't quote me on that though).

I know how to check if a the program is started but I have no idea how to disable/enable the monitor.

Has anyone tried to do this before?

Thank you.

well I used to push the power button on mine.It was blank then come back and push the button agian. good luck.

jchambers · 01-05-2008, 02:50 PM

I think I have the power button under control...

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks.

pixellany · 01-05-2008, 03:00 PM

Since you can setup power management in the GUI, one would assume that there is a command somewhere.

The first thing to try is a Google search.
The second might be the X-Windows docs.

The last resort might be to change your power management setup and then search to see what files were changed.

Matir · 01-05-2008, 03:14 PM

I think it's something like 'xset dpms force off'.

pixellany · 01-05-2008, 03:51 PM

Well, I'll be darned.....

I just did "xset dpms force standby" and it worked.

Just for kicks where are commands like xset documented (other than the man pages)?

jchambers · 01-05-2008, 04:44 PM

Thank you for the tip!

My monitor does not turn off when I type it in?
I must be missing an application since it works for others.

I installed x11 / gnome after the initial install.

apt-get -y --force-yes install xserver-xorg-core xfonts-base gnome-desktop-environment

Matir · 01-05-2008, 05:39 PM

I'm not aware of any documentation for xset other than the manpages.

jchambers, what happens when you run the xset command?

I have a button on my gnome toolbar I setup to turn off the monitor for night time since my computer is in my bedroom (yes, I could just hit the power button, but this allows me to wake it up with just a mouse movement)

jchambers · 01-05-2008, 05:59 PM

Nothing really, it accepts the command without any errors but nothing happens.

I tried various commands with xset and used xset q to view them with no results. Not sure where to go from here.

One more question.
Is there a command I can use from the terminal (beofre X starts) to turn off the monitor.