System standby based on Sage recording sched.

[benjanet]

I had another thought, is there anyone, or any way that can put a computer to sleep while its not use, automatically, while its running sage TV? And can a computer wake up for a recording event? I know there are some bios implementations that can schedule on off events...

And could a system wake up for infrared events any way?

Thanks,

Ben

[trini0]

Your results may vary.
I have my Sage Server go into Stand by mode after 30 mins, and Hibernation another 30 minutes after it goes into Stand by.
I also set the NIC that streams TV/Movies/etc to wake the server from any network activity.
For the most part it works as advertised, but its a very thin line to walk.
i.e. Last week, I ran a windows update on the box, so it would get the correct patches for DST/EST time change. And for some reason its not going to sleep when its supposed to.
I'm currently investigating....

[tomfisk]

OK...I've wanted the same feature too and here is where I am headed.

1. I run Auto Power-on and Shutdown. This provides the ability to set shutdown and startup times and schedule other tasks...basically any program can be run. The latest version also provides the capability to export/import the schedule of events from a text file.

2. I can get the schedule of upcoming recordings from the web server interface as an XML file.

3. Given these two things, I plan on writing a script language that will get the XML schedule file, parse it, and generate a text file, and then import it into Auto Power-on and Shutdown. Of course it will have to handle multiple recordings, time between recordings (does it make sense to shutdown for a 1/2 hour?), and my personal perferences of when Sage should always be on for watching live TV (during my morning exercise routine, etc).

I've thought about going down the STVi route, but that seems pretty heavy-weight and most of the functions already existing in other programs (as above).

I'll let you know how this progresses...

Tom

[bluenote]

Why is this necessary? I'm under the impression that sage already does this. (And has even worked on my setup, however I've had to turn it off because some other apps (IR.remote) dont wake up properly).

I'm sure I've seen many others comment that they have a fully hibernating box that wakes up.

Cory

[tomfisk]

Do tell...I am not aware of this functionality in Sage.

[thomaszoo]

Originally Posted by benjanet

I had another thought, is there anyone, or any way that can put a computer to sleep while its not use, automatically, while its running sage TV? And can a computer wake up for a recording event? I know there are some bios implementations that can schedule on off events...

And could a system wake up for infrared events any way?

Thanks,

Ben

I put my PC in standby when not in use. Back in the days of Sage 2.2 there was a utility called SageWake that seemed to do a great job. I did a search of the forums but couldn't find SageWake, but there were many references to it.

I am currently using the power management in Windows and Sage and having good, but not perfect success. It typically won't go into standby after watching programming recorded by Sage. But this usually isn't a problem since I just push the power button on my Gyration MCE mouse remote, which can also wake it from standby. The only program that I was having problems with the HTPC not waking to record was Survivor. I had set it to record the digital SD version (4:3) instead of the HD (16:9, with side pillars) to reduce any possible burn in on my 16:9 CRT-based RPTV. I stopped doing that when the station broadcast a message advising viewers to call a certain number if they could see the channel over cableTV (I was recording OTA). Other than that it has been very reliable at waking, recording and going back into standby.

I also have a USB-UIRT that I have set to wake the PC when it recieves a particular code. This too has been very reliable.

Wayne

[tomfisk]

In the past I've had issues with Sage after mutliple days of cycling...it eventually erred out. Maybe that problem has been fixed. What I do now is shutdown sage 2 minutes after recording and then hibernate 3 minutes after. I power-on the system 4 minutes before a recording, start sage 2 minutes later. Never had a problem since I've started doing this. Today it is all by hand...but that is what I am trying to automate.

I have a dedicated sage server and HTPC and extenders. So an MCE remote with wake is not a real good option.

[trini0]

All that needs to be done, is setup your hardware & Windows for power management.
Once that is set, Sage will wake the server/PC when its time to record on its own. No need for additional software.
Then in my case since I run a server/client setup, I have the NIC on the server that streams content setup to wake the server on any network activity directed to the NIC. In essence, when the client starts up, it also starts up the server....

[tomfisk]

OK...you've convinced me to give it a look!

I've tried the wake on lan function before without much success, but I'll give it another go.

[logsvp]

A very timely thread as this is what I am trying to achieve at the moment

Using Windows Power Management and Sage, I can get Sage to startup when a program has to be recorded. What I am not sure about is how to get the HTPC to go back into standby once the program has been recorded if Sage isn't being used at that point?

Also, trini0 said earlier "I have my Sage Server go into Stand by mode after 30 mins, and Hibernation another 30 minutes after it goes into Stand by." - What is the benefit of doing this - is it a power saving benefit?

[trini0]

Originally Posted by tomfisk

OK...you've convinced me to give it a look!

I've tried the wake on lan function before without much success, but I'll give it another go.

For me, the server has 2 NICs. The onboard Realtek NIC only works with Wake On Lan packets. It does not work with network activity directed to the NIC to wake the server.
I added another Intel NIC that does have capabilities to wake the server from standby/hibernation.

So bottom line is that it depends on your hardware.

[trini0]

Originally Posted by logsvp

A very timely thread as this is what I am trying to achieve at the moment

Using Windows Power Management and Sage, I can get Sage to startup when a program has to be recorded. What I am not sure about is how to get the HTPC to go back into standby once the program has been recorded if Sage isn't being used at that point?

Also, trini0 said earlier "I have my Sage Server go into Stand by mode after 30 mins, and Hibernation another 30 minutes after it goes into Stand by." - What is the benefit of doing this - is it a power saving benefit?

Yeah. It all depends on your situation (as in what does the server do).
For me, I rather it go into hibernation than standby. But its not working too well (mostly because of how I have the data disks setup). For the past couple days, I've disabled hibernation, and have it only go into standby

[tomfisk]

Like you said trini0...it is a very fine line to walk. I am just trying to get the system to go into standby or hibernate when Sage isn't doing anything but found that Norton Antivirus (AppSvc.exe) is keeping the system too active. It bumps the CPU to just over 10% activity 2-4 times per minute...arrrgh!

I did make some progress on the Wake on Lan with my Realtek NIC (installed the Realtek driver rather than the generic MS one) but it really doesn't matter if I can get the system to standby/hibernate.

Is there an option to run a command in Sage if there isn't an upcoming recording (in the next x minutes of course!)?

[trini0]

Originally Posted by tomfisk

Is there an option to run a command in Sage if there isn't an upcoming recording (in the next x minutes of course!)?

No. Its all up to windows...

[tomfisk]

Just a follow-up FYI. I've written a KiXtart script that watches typical Sage Server system activity and hibernates the system when the system goes quiescent. Right now the script checks 5 parameters (using data obtained from WMI) every 5 seconds and if all is quiet for 5 minutes, it hibernates the system.

1. Disk activity (98% idle or above)
2. Sage CPU usage (.10 seconds per interval or less)
3. Network datagrams (125 per second or less)
4. Disk defragmenter usage (.10 seconds per interval or less)
5. Commercial skip process not running

So far everything appears to be working great. The KiXtart script shuts the comptuer down and Sage wakes it up before a scheduled recording.

If you are interested in the script let me know.

[trini0]

A dirty workaround, but if it works, hey...

[jamesmadrid]

I'm also having problems with another program running preventing Windows from going into Standby. May I have your script? Don't know how to contact you. Thanks. If you'd rather email to me: sagetv.calbears@xoxy.net

Originally Posted by tomfisk

Just a follow-up FYI. I've written a KiXtart script that watches typical Sage Server system activity and hibernates the system when the system goes quiescent. Right now the script checks 5 parameters (using data obtained from WMI) every 5 seconds and if all is quiet for 5 minutes, it hibernates the system.

1. Disk activity (98% idle or above)
2. Sage CPU usage (.10 seconds per interval or less)
3. Network datagrams (125 per second or less)
4. Disk defragmenter usage (.10 seconds per interval or less)
5. Commercial skip process not running

So far everything appears to be working great. The KiXtart script shuts the comptuer down and Sage wakes it up before a scheduled recording.

If you are interested in the script let me know.