How do I put monitor on standby?

hussar · 06-13-2004, 09:51 AM

Hello,

I am running a Slackware 9.1 install regularly updated to current using swaret. The machine this slackware system is on is connected to a KVM switch and shares a Cornerstone Color 45/101sf monitor with another box I have running SuSE Linux 8.0. The SuSE box will switch the monitor to standby after a period of inactivity, but the Slackware box won't.

I tried adding the lines 'Option "dpms"', 'Option "standby time" "20"' and 'Option "suspend time" "30"' to the monitor section of /etc/X11/XF86Config, but that did not have the desired result.

What do I need to do to get this monitor to go into standby mode?

r_jensen11 · 06-13-2004, 10:17 AM

Have you edited the Power Management settings for the WM's and DE's? I know KDE has settings, so does XFce, and Gnome. Have you changed whichever ones you use? Does the monitor blank at all when NOT using X?

hussar · 06-13-2004, 10:23 AM

The monitor blanks when I am not using X.

I use Xfce4, but I did not realize that it had power settings. Where are they set?

hussar · 06-13-2004, 12:31 PM

I need to correct what I said here. When not in X, after a period of inactivity, the monitor will blank, but it does not go into standby. It simply shows a blank screen. I would prefer that the monitor go into standby mode, that is when I move the mouse again after period of inactivity, the monitor warms back up and shows an image (login prompt, etc.).

elp · 06-13-2004, 04:00 PM

In my XF86Config-4 under Section "Monitor" add :

Option "dpms"

Shade · 06-13-2004, 08:12 PM

To see if it will work at all, try these in an xterm:

Code:

xset +dpms
xset dpms force off
xset dpms force standby

In addition, post up the relevant portion of your XF86Config, and we'll see if we can catch any oddities.

--Shade

hussar · 06-14-2004, 12:18 PM

Shade,

After giving the 'xset +dpms' command (as root), both the following commands to force off and force standby have the desired effect. The monitor goes blank, briefly flashes the message "Invalid sync" and then goes into standby (CRT not powered; power button blinking steady). So, we know the monitor is capable of taking the dpms instructions.

Here is the Monitor portion of my /etc/X11/XF86Config: (Note: I don't have a XF86Config-4, and the mesages I receive on the console when X starts tell me that it is using XF86Config.)

# **********************************************************************
# Monitor section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of monitor sections may be present

Section "Monitor"

Identifier "Color 45/101sf"

# HorizSync is in kHz unless units are specified.
# HorizSync may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY. REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

HorizSync 31-101

# HorizSync 30-64 # multisync
# HorizSync 31.5, 35.2 # multiple fixed sync frequencies
# HorizSync 15-25, 30-50 # multiple ranges of sync frequencies

# VertRefresh is in Hz unless units are specified.
# VertRefresh may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY. REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

VertRefresh 50-160
Option "dpms"
Option "standby time" "20"
Option "suspend time" "30"

EndSection