How to have computer sleep at night (to save power) then wake in the morning.

[FuzzyReets]

Hi folks. I have about 3 computers in my house that currently run 24/7. I'm thinking this is probably not good for power saving so I'm trying to figure out a way to have those computers only on during certain hours. I'm looking for a way to have them sleep and wake on a schedule I set so they are available during the day but not at night when I'm sleeping. Help would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Yuriman]

Move the mouse in the morning? It takes something like 2-3 seconds to have a usable machine after waking from sleep.

 

[FuzzyReets]

Move the mouse in the morning? It takes something like 2-3 seconds to have a usable machine after waking from sleep.

Yes believe it or not I thought of that. I guess you didn't completely read the question. I'm looking to do it on a scheduled basis.

 

[Yuriman]

I did read your question, and I apologize for the sarcasm. I just don't see the use for scheduling the computer to wake from sleep when nobody is around, when waking it from sleep is as simple as grabbing the mouse and waiting 2 seconds.

I keep my own computers on an aggressive sleep timer, something like 10-15 minutes, because they wake so quickly that the computer is often ready before the monitor has finished powering back on.

As a serious answer to your question, it's possible to schedule your computer to start up at certain times in bios. I don't know if it'll wake from sleep or if the computer needs to be completely powered down, you'll have to try it and find out.

 

[OlyAR15]

I go even further. I shut my computers down at night, start them when I need to use them, then let them sleep during the day when they're idle.

Thought about doing the scheduled sleep/wake thing but it just seemed to be a waste of effort.

 

[tortillasoup]

There is a function in various PC bios that allows for the computer to "turn on" a specific schedule. However, there is no purpose to this because having a computer automatically go into standby when not in use is a better idea. Set the computer to go into standby after 15 minutes of inactivity. If you increase the duration any longer, there is a chance the computer won't voluntarily go into standby on its own. Leaving web browsers open with moving video content/advertisements or any web pages with heavy javascript that uses lots of CPU cycles and the like can also prevent a system from going into standby.


The only other idea is to make sure you have a computer keyboard with the standby button on it that the user can press when they're done with the machine.

 

[Ken g6]

As a serious answer to your question, it's possible to schedule your computer to start up at certain times in bios. I don't know if it'll wake from sleep or if the computer needs to be completely powered down, you'll have to try it and find out.

Well, hibernation is basically "completely powered down", with a different startup sequence. So you should be able to hibernate and then wake up automatically. Assuming hibernation works.

 

[bradly1101]

http://www.groovypost.com/howto/schedule-wake-sleep-windows-automatically/

 

[JeffMD]

Yes believe it or not I thought of that. I guess you didn't completely read the question. I'm looking to do it on a scheduled basis.

Why?

I go even further. I shut my computers down at night, start them when I need to use them, then let them sleep during the day when they're idle.

Thought about doing the scheduled sleep/wake thing but it just seemed to be a waste of effort.

Don't shut them down, just let sleep handle everything. The amount of power used during sleep is nothing you would notice in a power bill.

 

[FuzzyReets]

Why?



Don't shut them down, just let sleep handle everything. The amount of power used during sleep is nothing you would notice in a power bill.

I want to do this because I have a workstation in my home that does a lot of things such as file server, plex server, media shares, etc. I don't need this machine on at night sucking power but like to make sure it's available during the day for any of the services I have it setup to provide to my network and externally for streaming movies/music. It is located in my basement and not really in an area I would be in until night time so I'd like to save power by having it sleep when I'm sleeping yet automatically available during the day. maybe my explanation will make more sense as to why I'm looking to do this. Thanks.

 

[JeffMD]

Ahh, I have my plex on all the time. Its just a cpu and an ssd so not much power draw. The Usb data drives are usually sleeping. So anyways, if times boots are not built into the mother board bios, using an old fasion timer and setting the bios to boot after power loss will work.

 

[WackyWRZ]

I want to do this because I have a workstation in my home that does a lot of things such as file server, plex server, media shares, etc. I don't need this machine on at night sucking power but like to make sure it's available during the day for any of the services I have it setup to provide to my network and externally for streaming movies/music. It is located in my basement and not really in an area I would be in until night time so I'd like to save power by having it sleep when I'm sleeping yet automatically available during the day. maybe my explanation will make more sense as to why I'm looking to do this. Thanks.

I have a machine at home that serves the same purpose. Here's what you're looking for: https://www.green-it-software.com/lights-out/ The paid version even has a client that can be installed on client PCs that allow it to sleep during the day and wake up when you turn one on.

 

[FuzzyReets]

I have a machine at home that serves the same purpose. Here's what you're looking for: https://www.green-it-software.com/lights-out/ The paid version even has a client that can be installed on client PCs that allow it to sleep during the day and wake up when you turn one on.

I just tried this. Worked great. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!