Changing the Idleness Definition

You can change the idleness definition for a system from the default by adding entries to the /etc/power.conf file. These entries change the thresholds for certain system operations that could occur on a system that was still considered inactive:

• ttychars changes the number of TTY characters that can be input or output before the system is considered active (the default is no characters)

• diskreads changes the number of disk reads that can occur before the system is considered active (the default is no disk reads)

• nfsreqs changes the number of NFS requests that can occur before the system is considered active (the default is no NFS requests)

• loadaverage changes the 1-minute load average that is reached before the system is considered active (the default is 0.04)

You cannot, however, change the threshold for keyboard or mouse activity. Any activity with these devices ends the period of idleness for a system.

For example, you can revise your power.conf file to change the idleness definition for a system so that it is still considered idle if:

• No more than 400 TTY characters are input or output

• No more than 10 disk reads occur

• No more than 5 NFS requests occur

• The 1-minute load average hasn't exceeded 0.1

The resulting /etc/power.conf file appears like the following:

# Power Management Configuration File
#
# Putting an entry in this file will only be effective if the 
# driver for the device supports device power management. 
# After the file is modified, pmconfig(1M) command must be
# executed to activate the new change.
#
# Fields must be separated by white space or semicolons.
# Note that physical dependents are automatically considered
# by the power management framework.

# Name           Threshold(s)       Logical Dependent(s)
/dev/kbd         1800
/dev/mouse       1800

# NOTE: The entries below are only used when no window
# system is running. When running the window system, monitor
# power management is done by the screen saver functions.

/dev/fb          0 0         /dev/kbd     /dev/mouse

# Auto-Shutdown  Idle(min)  Start/finish(hh:mm)  Behavior
autoshutdown     30          15:00 8:00           default

statefile        /.CPR

ttychars            400
diskreads           10
nfsreqs             5
loadaverage         0.1