January 8, 2009

Turn off LCD Display Backlight from Linux command line

Posted by Paul S at 08:32

Use vbetool to turn off the backlight in an LCD display from the Linux command line. This is useful if using Linux on a laptop computer in text mode. The normal screen blanking utilities do not turn off the backlight, leaving a dull glow and using power unnecessarily. The vbetool utility can manipulate the VESA DPMS (Display Power Management Signaling) features of the display. DPMS can turn off the backlight. Use vbetool dpms off to turn it off, vbetool dpms on to turn it on.

This is not a screensaver, the display will not turn back on by using the keyboard, it has to be turned back on with vbetool or reboot the computer. Remotely accessing the computer with ssh can be used to turn the display on or blind typing on the console can be used. The vbetool command could be put in a startup script like rc.local to boot with the display off.

This was tested on a Toshiba Satellite 2455 Series laptop running CentOS. Power consumption dropped from 30W to 20W.

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13 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 15, 2009 at 7:27 AM

    Thanks a lot, I have a notebook server and it was quite annoying that it still has backlight on even if it has closed lid.

    Cheeers

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 15, 2009 at 7:31 AM

    Tested on Acer Extensa 5200 with Ubuntu and also on dell d600 ubuntu server. Both works well. If you combine it with ACPI - /etc/acpi/event/lid, you can turn off lid in closed state and turn on when opened.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 7, 2009 at 3:51 PM

    Thank you, thank you , thank you!! I've been looking everywhere for a command that worked with my ubuntu photo frame.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 9, 2009 at 5:13 AM

    Wonderful. Just got a new Dell Inspiron 1521 and my previous notebook had screen managed in BIOS so never thought this would need taking care of... Anw, brilliant sollution.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousSeptember 5, 2009 at 5:40 AM

    At last found! Thanks a lot! Exactly what I've needed.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousOctober 21, 2009 at 2:42 PM

    works on a 20 inch iMac

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sergio KviatoFebruary 25, 2010 at 12:07 PM

    Thanks a bunch.
    Works fine with Dell Latitude C600 Arch Linux server.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousMay 11, 2010 at 9:00 AM

    Thank you - this worked perfectly with my MSI Wind running Ubuntu 10.04 Server.

    ReplyDelete
  9. calamariJune 5, 2011 at 1:45 AM

    Worked perfectly on my Compaq Evo N600c under Debian stable. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  10. MauriceJuly 22, 2011 at 5:06 AM

    Looks great, but where do I get the tool? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  11. MauriceJuly 22, 2011 at 5:16 AM

    Ok, got it, but how do I install it?

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousOctober 28, 2011 at 10:46 PM

    Works fine with 11.10 on HP Omnibook 6000

    ReplyDelete
  13. PajosJanuary 2, 2012 at 5:52 PM

    Work with HP Omnibook 6000 (Debian)

    ReplyDelete

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