Energy-hogging Linux, what to do?

[dhml at comcast.net (David Hummel)]

On Sun, Oct 23, 2005 at 01:07:29PM -0400, Nicholas Bodley wrote:
> 
> Wondering: Are the critical factors cooling, and HD platter bearing life?  

My Dell Inspiron 8000 laptop has no problems cooling itself, even under
heavy loads and closed clamshell operation.  Granted this is an older
behemoth of a model with a slow PIII.  Some of the newer models are too
hot to handle.

> I'd love to have my HD spin down after some extended period of
> inactivity!  Maybe that can be configured; I don't know. Afaik, the
> commands to HDs do  include spin down while power is applied.

The -S flag to hdparm is what you're looking for.

-David