Messages in this thread |  | | Date | Wed, 25 Dec 1996 21:27:48 -0600 (CST) | From | Jason Burrell <> | Subject | Re: Powersaving Monitor (DPMS) |
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On Thu, 26 Dec 1996, Bryn Paul Arnold Jones wrote:
> On Wed, 25 Dec 1996, Jason Burrell wrote: > > [...] > > Of course, the monitor has a power switch, but I > > don't really like reaching behind it all the time, and besides, the > > blinking lights when in standby mode look cool. ;) > > > > Ahh, ever seen a busy 5 port UTP hub ? 13 coloured LED's flashing away ...
Actually I have seen network hubs flashing away. ;) This monitor blinks them in a centripetal sequence which is kind of interesting when it's the only thing in the dark room at 2AM and you walk in, though. ;)
> > What I want is for the VC screen blanker to pop my monitor into standby > > mode when it blanks the screen, and perhaps turn it "off" after 20 > > minutes. Then, when activity wakes the VC blanker up and it releases its > > blank, it turns the monitor back on. > > > > Well it's not a very good blanker in that it only has blanked, or not > blanked ...
I was refering to maybe altering it to be "two stage," in that after it blanks the first time it sets a memory flag, as I'm sure it already does. When the timer expires again, it sets that flag (which would be two bits at least) to something else. But really, such a thing is fairly pointless considering the low power-up time of newer monitors.
> > I went into linux/drivers/char/vesa_blank.c, snipped the utility, and > > tried to use it to perform the various functions. Nada. Nothing. I've > > tried with APM enabled and disabled in the CMOS, and compiled the kernel > > with and without APM support. If I have APM support compiled into the > > kernel and APM support enabled in the CMOS, the Linux boot hoses with a > > General Protection 000, and a message about the kernel stack. > > > > Hmm, I get the impression your looking for instant results, it dosn't work > like that. What the utility does is make the blanker drop which ever sync > line you told it to (with the params). X is much better in that you can > set timeouts for blank, sleep, suspend, and off ...
Actually, after I wrote this, I noted that something did pop the monitor into standby mode after a fashion. Actually, after 20 minutes as I wanted in the first place, if I remember.
Thanks for the clarification on this one.
> > > I know the functions work with the hardware I have because Windoze 95 uses > > them fine. The "suspend" option on the start menu suspends the machine, > > and then, about two seconds later, drops the monitor into one of its > > standby modes. I'm rather curious as to why Linux hoses the boot when APM > > is enabled in the CMOS, too. > > > > Most odd, is your hardware mentioned in the APM stuff as problematic ? It > worked fine with my APM bios when I messed with it (tho why a PC that only > takes AC should need an APM bios is beyond me ...)
Yeah, I'm fairly sure it's my BIOS. I don't know why they included the APM stuff in the system, unless it's to get the tree-hugger attracting "Green PC" logo. The APM stuff working really isn't important, seeing as this is an AC system, and even if I wanted to "save the planet," so to speak, I assume enabling APM in the BIOS but not the kernel might work.
> > I'm perfectly willing to start hacking the kernel to get this to work like > > it should, and willing to hack the VC screen blanker to behave as I > > described, provided it's needed and that someone will point me towards the > > DPMS spec. > >
Forget this comment of mine. Apparently, my brain was offline and I didn't wait long enough after blanking. (My monitor takes a while. Seems to be a design decision)
Merry (What's left of) Christmas ;)
-- Good government. Good government. Sit. Stay.
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