Display not turning off when using xrandr --output <display> --off. Instead it just turns black.

bluesk · 07-16-2020, 05:47 AM

I have installed debian 10 on my surface 3. I am trying to turn it into a webserver so I don't need the display at all. I was previously using arch linux and using the command "xrandr --output <display> --off" turned it off as expected.
For some reason with debian, if I run that command the display turns black, but it's not actually off, it still emits a dim light. That is a problem for me since it increases power consumption of the device.
Please let me know it you software or hardware details.
Thank you in advance

ondoho · 07-17-2020, 04:37 AM

I think that's what "off" does.
You should look at DPMS energy features ('man xrandr', 'man xset') that might work better for you.

bluesk · 07-17-2020, 05:42 AM

I read man xset and man xrandr. I have already tried several ways, among which:
- xset dpms force off
- decreasing the brightness to 0, both with xset and with xrandr

But then again it was used to work on arch so I don't think that is what xrandr or xset are supposed to do.

ondoho · 07-17-2020, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluesk

xset dpms force off

So what does that one do?

bluesk · 07-17-2020, 08:42 AM

same as xrandr --off. All of the stuff I tried does that.

ondoho · 07-18-2020, 10:24 AM

Does it eventually turn off completely, after a few minutes or so?

Some ACPI stuff might be wrong. In 2 minutes, I could not find anything relevant on the net, but apparently people use a special kernel.

Why do you even use Xorg if you use this as a server, wouldn't a CLI install be better suited?