Under 4.1.x you invoke screenblank in /etc/rc.local, but there's no screenblank in Solaris 2.x. Sun recommends that you have everybody put `xset s on' in their .xinitrc, but this may be hard to police, and in any event it won't work when nobody is logged in. The simplest workaround is to copy /usr/bin/screenblank from 4.1.x and run it in binary compatibility mode. See ``What happened to /etc/rc and /etc/rc.local?'' for how to invoke it.
Another possibility is to use xdm or dtlogin. That way the X server will continue to run and the screen will be blanked by it.
The 4.1.x screenblank didn't work for us. We use Jef Poskanzer's freeware screenblank.
Because of a bug in Solaris 2.3, you'll may to specify -DHAVE_POLL=0 when compiling this version.
Solaris 2.4 comes with power management software for those systems with a soft-switchable power supply. That may suit your needs better than screenblank. In Solaris 2.5 the software can remove the sync signal from your monitor causing newer monitors to go in energy saving standby mode. The Solaris 2.4 version had problems reenabling the monitor or graphics card.
The power-management software is on the SMCC Updates CD [2.4 2.5]
The power-management software can be used to switch off just the screen, by putting the following in the power.conf file:
# Name Threshold(s) Logical Dependent(s) /dev/kbd 600 /dev/mouse 600 /dev/fb 0 0 /dev/kbd /dev/mouse
Make sure you mark the "autoshutdown" line with "noshutdown" if you want keep your machine running.
The /usr/openwin/bin/dtpower utility can change these settings for you. (Solaris 2.5)