What is Xorg's server DPMS module for? And how to
use it to reduce your computer power consumption
As I'm manually configuring a Xserver via
xorg.conf I have
noticed a block of code in:
Section "Monitor"
Identified "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection
That
triggered my curiousity to research
further what is DPMS . A very quick google search revealed that
DPMS's purpose is to communicate to communicate between the
monitor and the computer, to make the computer turn off the (CRT or
LED) based monitor if the computer is not used
Thus in short to rephrase
DPMS is a power saving handy Xorg
feature. I many custom configured xorg.conf like the mine I'm
building right now does not include DPMS as many people doesn't
have idea what DPMS is and how to enable it.
DPMS is also an interface to the
Energy start power-saving
capability if not all, most of the modern day monitor
screens.
DPMS enables the Xserver to control automatically the computer
screen and thus reduces the overall computer power
consumption.
To enable the use of DPMS on my Linux, all I had to do is place a
couple of configuration directives in my
xorg.conf .:
Here is how I enabled DPMS in my Xorg server:
1. Edit with a text editor /etc/X11/xorg.conf
2. Find the Monitor Section , e.g.:
Section "Monitor"
....
EndSection
3. Add inside the Monitor Section Options "DPMS"
"true"
4. Lookup for the ServeryLayout section , e.g.:
Section "ServerLayout"
...
EndSection
5. Place inside the ServerLayout section For instance the
following options:
Option "StandbyTime" "20"
Option "SuspendTime" "10"
Option "OffTime "25"
You might like to change the options StandbyTime, SuspendTIme or
OffTime to match your likings.
6. As a last step restart the Xorg server.
Press Ctrl+Alt+BackSpace or by issuing:
host:~# pkill -HUP X
Test that DPMS is loaded properly by reviewing /var/log/Xorg.0.log
for example:
host:~# grep -i /var/log/Xorg.0.log
(II) Loading extensions DPMS