How to Get Linux to Suspend a Monitor

Power conservation is important for computers, especially if you are using a laptop. In general, you can get Linux to suspend a monitor in a way that is similar to the Windows stand-by mode. Here are a few different ways to suspend a monitor exhibited by the most popular versions of Linux.

Step1 Boot up your Linux machine if you have not already done so. To suspend your monitor in the Debian version, remember that this version comes with suspend applications embedded in the operating system.

Step2 Open the setup panel from the menu on your desktop. Click on the “XScreenSaver” options and choose a period of time you would like your screensaver to kick in. Your monitor will enter the screensaver mode after a period of inactivity and will suspend shortly thereafter.

Step3 Suspend your monitor by locking your desktop. Click the “Lock Desktop” icon. The icon will usually look like a key or a lock. The Linux kernel will turn off the video feed from the graphics card after the amount of time you set up in the previous steps.

Step4 Suspend a monitor using Advanced Configuration and Power Interface for power management. This is a different type of Linux interface.

Step5 Type “cat /sys/power/state” in the command prompt to verify if the suspend feature is supported by your computer. If it is supported the response, “mem” will appear in the command prompt.

Step6 Type “echo -n mem > /sys/power/state” in the command prompt to suspend your monitor. This will make it so the only thing not running in a low power state is your RAM.

Step7 Suspend a monitor using the VESA suspend modes. This is another option for the Linx system that you can try if you follow the next two steps

Step8 Type “powersave on|vsync” into the command prompt to send the monitor into the VESA vsync mode. This begins the process of running in the lower power state.

Step9 Type “powersave hsync” into the command prompt to suspend the monitor in the VESA hsync mode. This ends the process and your computer monitor will run in the lower power state.