HOWTO Enabling Monitor Power Saver

From Gentoo Linux Wiki

[edit] Intro

Many distros already have "Monitor Power Saver" features enabled by default. Gentoo linux does not. So this it how you do it.

[edit] Preparation

The following describes how to set up your system for use with apm. Depending on your hardware you may be able to work with acpi instead.

In genkernel, Automatic Power Management is compiled as module 'apm' which needs to be loaded. You will want to load this module at boot time:

• Edit the /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.x file (where x is 4 or 6) and add the line:

apm 

Alternatively you can have apm permanently compiled into your kernel.

The Automatic Power Management Daemon also needs to be installed:

• emerge apmd

#emerge apmd

• add apmd to default runlevel so it will start automatically

#rc-update add apmd default 

• If necessary edit the file /etc/conf.d/apmd and remove the "proxy-timeout 30" clause from the line in that file. (This option does not work at least in the 2.4 kernel it does not work.) (As of =apmd-3.2.2-p5, this line is no longer present.)

# proxy-timeout 30

• Load the apm kernel module and start apmd

#modprobe apm
#/etc/init.d/apmd start

• Alternatively, reboot and watch the bootup text for the loading of the "apm" kernel module and the "apmd" daemon.

[edit] Configuration

[edit] Global

• Make sure /etc/X11/XF86Config or /etc/X11/xorg.conf contains the line:

Option "DPMS"

within "Section Device" below the "Driver ..." line - note your video card driver may be different from the illustrated example.

Section "ServerFlags" 
    Option "StandbyTime" "15" 
    Option "SuspendTime" "20" 
    Option "OffTime" "30" 
    Option "Dont Zoom" 
EndSection
Section "Device" 
    Identifier  "9180SE" 
    Driver      "nvidia" 
    Option      "DigitalVibrance" "150" 
    Option      "CursorShadow"  "on" 
    Option      "NoLogo"        "on" 
    Option      "NvAgp"         "3" 
    Option      "RenderAccel"   "on" 
    Option      "IgnoreDisplayDevices" "DFP, TV" 
    Option      "ConnectedMonitor"      "CRT" 
    Option      "DPMS" 
    #VideoRam    65536 
    # Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate 
EndSection

It will be sufficient.

[edit] KDE users

• Go into the "K" button, "Settings" selector, "Control Center" selector. Expand the "Power Control" plus sign and select "Display Power Control".
• Check the check box marked "Enable Display Power Management".
• Slide the Sliders for "Standby", "Suspend", or "Power Off" to the desired times and click the "Apply" button.

[edit] Gnome users

1. Click on "Gnome Button" (or "Application" if you have the panel menu) -->Desktop Preferences-->Advanced-->Screensaver
2. At this point click on Advanced TAB in the Screensaver Window preferences and set "on" the check box " Power Management Enabled"
3. Now set your desidered value for the Stanby, Suspend and Off time.
4. Select "File"-->"Restart Daemon" from the menu to restart the daemon.

[edit] *box users

Open up a shell and type: xscreensaver-demo and click the Advanced tab.

#xscreensaver-demo

[edit] Credits

BarryMead
amittp
scoon