Debian Bug report logs - #473308
gnome-power-manager: idle detection stomps over active sessions

version graph

Package: gnome-power-manager; Maintainer for gnome-power-manager is Debian GNOME Maintainers <pkg-gnome-maintainers@lists.alioth.debian.org>; Source for gnome-power-manager is src:gnome-power-manager (PTS, buildd, popcon).

Reported by: Nikolaus Schulz <microschulz@web.de>

Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:39:02 UTC

Severity: important

Tags: fixed-upstream

Found in version gnome-power-manager/2.22.0-1

Done: Jeremy Bícha <jbicha@debian.org>

Bug is archived. No further changes may be made.

Forwarded to http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=348218

View this report as an mbox folder, status mbox, maintainer mbox


Report forwarded to debian-bugs-dist@lists.debian.org, Riccardo Setti <giskard@debian.org>:
Bug#473308; Package gnome-power-manager. (full text, mbox, link).


Acknowledgement sent to Nikolaus Schulz <microschulz@web.de>:
New Bug report received and forwarded. Copy sent to Riccardo Setti <giskard@debian.org>. (full text, mbox, link).


Message #5 received at submit@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Nikolaus Schulz <microschulz@web.de>
To: Debian Bug Tracking System <submit@bugs.debian.org>
Subject: gnome-power-manager: idle detection stomps over active sessions
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:36:45 +0100
Package: gnome-power-manager
Version: 2.22.0-1
Severity: important

Hi, 

the algorithms used by gnome-power-manager/gnome-screensaver to
determine if a system is idle do not detect at least two common
scenarios: remote ssh logins, and the computer playing music, with
nobody between chair and keyboard. 

This means that, if gnome-power-manager is configured to suspend my
computer when it's idle, it cuts off active ssh sessions, and kills my
jukebox as well.

Nikolaus

-- System Information:
Debian Release: lenny/sid
  APT prefers unstable
  APT policy: (500, 'unstable')
Architecture: i386 (i686)

Kernel: Linux 2.6.24-1-686 (SMP w/1 CPU core)
Locale: LANG=de_DE@euro, LC_CTYPE=de_DE@euro (charmap=ISO-8859-15)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/bash

Versions of packages gnome-power-manager depends on:
ii  gconf2                 2.22.0-1          GNOME configuration database syste
ii  hal                    0.5.11~rc2-1      Hardware Abstraction Layer
ii  libart-2.0-2           2.3.20-1          Library of functions for 2D graphi
ii  libatk1.0-0            1.22.0-1          The ATK accessibility toolkit
ii  libbonobo2-0           2.22.0-1          Bonobo CORBA interfaces library
ii  libbonoboui2-0         2.22.0-1          The Bonobo UI library
ii  libc6                  2.7-9             GNU C Library: Shared libraries
ii  libcairo2              1.4.14-1          The Cairo 2D vector graphics libra
ii  libdbus-1-3            1.1.20-1          simple interprocess messaging syst
ii  libdbus-glib-1-2       0.74-1            simple interprocess messaging syst
ii  libfontconfig1         2.5.0-2           generic font configuration library
ii  libfreetype6           2.3.5-1+b1        FreeType 2 font engine, shared lib
ii  libgconf2-4            2.22.0-1          GNOME configuration database syste
ii  libglade2-0            1:2.6.2-1         library to load .glade files at ru
ii  libglib2.0-0           2.16.1-2          The GLib library of C routines
ii  libgnome-keyring0      2.22.0-2          GNOME keyring services library
ii  libgnome2-0            2.20.1.1-1        The GNOME 2 library - runtime file
ii  libgnomecanvas2-0      2.20.1.1-1        A powerful object-oriented display
ii  libgnomeui-0           2.20.1.1-1        The GNOME 2 libraries (User Interf
ii  libgnomevfs2-0         1:2.22.0-2        GNOME Virtual File System (runtime
ii  libgstreamer0.10-0     0.10.18-4         Core GStreamer libraries and eleme
ii  libgtk2.0-0            2.12.9-2          The GTK+ graphical user interface 
ii  libhal1                0.5.11~rc2-1      Hardware Abstraction Layer - share
ii  libice6                2:1.0.4-1         X11 Inter-Client Exchange library
ii  libnotify1 [libnotify1 0.4.4-3           sends desktop notifications to a n
ii  liborbit2              1:2.14.12-0.1     libraries for ORBit2 - a CORBA ORB
ii  libpanel-applet2-0     2.20.3-3          library for GNOME Panel applets
ii  libpango1.0-0          1.20.0-1          Layout and rendering of internatio
ii  libpng12-0             1.2.15~beta5-3    PNG library - runtime
ii  libpopt0               1.10-3            lib for parsing cmdline parameters
ii  libsm6                 2:1.0.3-1+b1      X11 Session Management library
ii  libwnck22              2.22.0-1          Window Navigator Construction Kit 
ii  libx11-6               2:1.0.3-7         X11 client-side library
ii  libxcursor1            1:1.1.9-1         X cursor management library
ii  libxext6               2:1.0.4-1         X11 miscellaneous extension librar
ii  libxfixes3             1:4.0.3-2         X11 miscellaneous 'fixes' extensio
ii  libxi6                 2:1.1.3-1         X11 Input extension library
ii  libxinerama1           2:1.0.3-1         X11 Xinerama extension library
ii  libxml2                2.6.31.dfsg-2     GNOME XML library
ii  libxrandr2             2:1.2.2-1         X11 RandR extension library
ii  libxrender1            1:0.9.4-1         X Rendering Extension client libra
ii  notification-daemon    0.3.7-1+b1        a daemon that displays passive pop
ii  zlib1g                 1:1.2.3.3.dfsg-11 compression library - runtime

gnome-power-manager recommends no packages.

-- no debconf information




Information forwarded to debian-bugs-dist@lists.debian.org, Debian GNOME Maintainers <pkg-gnome-maintainers@lists.alioth.debian.org>:
Bug#473308; Package gnome-power-manager. (full text, mbox, link).


Acknowledgement sent to Sven Arvidsson <sa@whiz.se>:
Extra info received and forwarded to list. Copy sent to Debian GNOME Maintainers <pkg-gnome-maintainers@lists.alioth.debian.org>. (full text, mbox, link).


Message #10 received at 473308@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Sven Arvidsson <sa@whiz.se>
To: Nikolaus Schulz <microschulz@web.de>, 473308@bugs.debian.org
Subject: Re: Bug#473308: gnome-power-manager: idle detection stomps over active sessions
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:15:48 +0200
[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]
On Sat, 2008-03-29 at 22:36 +0100, Nikolaus Schulz wrote:
> the algorithms used by gnome-power-manager/gnome-screensaver to
> determine if a system is idle do not detect at least two common
> scenarios: remote ssh logins, and the computer playing music, with
> nobody between chair and keyboard. 
> 
> This means that, if gnome-power-manager is configured to suspend my
> computer when it's idle, it cuts off active ssh sessions, and kills my
> jukebox as well.

Hi,

At the moment, the multi user scenario doesn't work very well in
gnome-power-manager. Not for two users locally sharing the desktop, and
not for remote logins.

See http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=348218 and
http://live.gnome.org/BetterPowerManager


Music playback should be handled better by g-p-m, Rhythmbox for example
inhibits g-p-m from suspending. I guess your music player lacks this
functionality. You could use the Inhibit Applet to work around this.

-- 
Cheers,
Sven Arvidsson
http://www.whiz.se
PGP Key ID 760BDD22
[signature.asc (application/pgp-signature, inline)]

Noted your statement that Bug has been forwarded to http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=348218. Request was from Sven Arvidsson <sa@whiz.se> to control@bugs.debian.org. (Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:25:22 GMT) (full text, mbox, link).


Information forwarded to debian-bugs-dist@lists.debian.org, Debian GNOME Maintainers <pkg-gnome-maintainers@lists.alioth.debian.org>:
Bug#473308; Package gnome-power-manager. (full text, mbox, link).


Message #15 received at 473308@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Nikolaus Schulz <microschulz@web.de>
To: Sven Arvidsson <sa@whiz.se>
Cc: 473308@bugs.debian.org
Subject: Re: Bug#473308: gnome-power-manager: idle detection stomps over active sessions
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:06:22 +0200
Hi Sven, 

thanks for your reply. 

On Sun, Mar 30, 2008 at 07:15:48PM +0200, Sven Arvidsson wrote:
> On Sat, 2008-03-29 at 22:36 +0100, Nikolaus Schulz wrote:
> > the algorithms used by gnome-power-manager/gnome-screensaver to
> > determine if a system is idle do not detect at least two common
> > scenarios: remote ssh logins, and the computer playing music, with
> > nobody between chair and keyboard. 
> > 
> > This means that, if gnome-power-manager is configured to suspend my
> > computer when it's idle, it cuts off active ssh sessions, and kills my
> > jukebox as well.
> 
> Hi,
> 
> At the moment, the multi user scenario doesn't work very well in
> gnome-power-manager. Not for two users locally sharing the desktop, and
> not for remote logins.
>
> See http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=348218 and
> http://live.gnome.org/BetterPowerManager

I am aware of the upstream bug, and to be honest, I've seen the
BetterPowerManager page, too, but forgot about it.  

My impression was, that most people were talking about the
fast-user-switching scenario; which may be more common, but doesn't
cover the situation with no one 'physically' using the machine.  And
especially the g-p-m developer saying "Until [we have policykit] there
is no way we can have temp session authority over one monitor" made me
worry that PolicyKit might address the typical desktop use case only,
ignoring old school ssh logins. :-)  To my relief, the wiki indeed
suggests this will be properly solved.

Now, this wiki reads like it is still discussed how to approach these
problems, while I hear that Gnome 2.22 started 'integrating' PolicyKit,
whatever that means.  What's the current state of affairs with the
general multi user scenario?  Any pointer how to track the progress
here?  

> Music playback should be handled better by g-p-m, Rhythmbox for example
> inhibits g-p-m from suspending. I guess your music player lacks this
> functionality. 

Interesting.  I generally use audacious (since xmms has died, somewhat
:-). 

> You could use the Inhibit Applet to work around this.

Ah, that's much better than manually killing g-p-m entirely. :-)
Doesn't seem to be in Etch, though.  

Nikolaus




Information forwarded to debian-bugs-dist@lists.debian.org, Debian GNOME Maintainers <pkg-gnome-maintainers@lists.alioth.debian.org>:
Bug#473308; Package gnome-power-manager. (full text, mbox, link).


Acknowledgement sent to Sven Arvidsson <sa@whiz.se>:
Extra info received and forwarded to list. Copy sent to Debian GNOME Maintainers <pkg-gnome-maintainers@lists.alioth.debian.org>. (full text, mbox, link).


Message #20 received at 473308@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Sven Arvidsson <sa@whiz.se>
To: Nikolaus Schulz <microschulz@web.de>
Cc: 473308@bugs.debian.org
Subject: Re: Bug#473308: gnome-power-manager: idle detection stomps over active sessions
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:24:52 +0200
[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]
On Mon, 2008-03-31 at 04:06 +0200, Nikolaus Schulz wrote:
> Now, this wiki reads like it is still discussed how to approach these
> problems, while I hear that Gnome 2.22 started 'integrating' PolicyKit,
> whatever that means.  What's the current state of affairs with the
> general multi user scenario?  Any pointer how to track the progress
> here?  

Hi,

I'm not really sure actually, but you could probably ask for a status
update on the gnome-power-manager mailing list. 
http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-power-manager-list


> Ah, that's much better than manually killing g-p-m entirely. :-)
> Doesn't seem to be in Etch, though.  

AFAIK, all it takes (and all the inhibit applet does) is a simple dbus
call to inhibit/uninhibit g-p-m, so it would probably not be hard to
write a script to do this, or even backport the applet.

-- 
Cheers,
Sven Arvidsson
http://www.whiz.se
PGP Key ID 760BDD22
[signature.asc (application/pgp-signature, inline)]

Added tag(s) fixed-upstream. Request was from debian-bts-link@lists.debian.org to control@bugs.debian.org. (Mon, 09 Nov 2020 17:45:17 GMT) (full text, mbox, link).


Reply sent to Jeremy Bícha <jbicha@debian.org>:
You have taken responsibility. (Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:43:07 GMT) (full text, mbox, link).


Notification sent to Nikolaus Schulz <microschulz@web.de>:
Bug acknowledged by developer. (Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:43:07 GMT) (full text, mbox, link).


Message #27 received at 473308-done@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Jeremy Bícha <jbicha@debian.org>
To: 829877-done@bugs.debian.org, 837449-done@bugs.debian.org, 855528-done@bugs.debian.org, 883420-done@bugs.debian.org, 428122-done@bugs.debian.org, 401313-done@bugs.debian.org, 466666-done@bugs.debian.org, 568215-done@bugs.debian.org, 573480-done@bugs.debian.org, 601097-done@bugs.debian.org, 624557-done@bugs.debian.org, 624567-done@bugs.debian.org, 629991-done@bugs.debian.org, 630039-done@bugs.debian.org, 722247-done@bugs.debian.org, 383872-done@bugs.debian.org, 460830-done@bugs.debian.org, 631226-done@bugs.debian.org, 893947-done@bugs.debian.org, 467264-done@bugs.debian.org, 473308-done@bugs.debian.org, 504691-done@bugs.debian.org, 437997-done@bugs.debian.org, 445527-done@bugs.debian.org, 605483-done@bugs.debian.org, 460233-done@bugs.debian.org, 450495-done@bugs.debian.org, 458223-done@bugs.debian.org
Subject: closing old gnome-power-manager bugs
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2025 19:41:08 -0500
There have been many changes to Debian since this bug was originally
reported. If you are still experiencing this issue with Debian 13 (or
with Debian 12 or Testing or Unstable), please report a new bug.

Thank you,
Jeremy Bícha



Bug archived. Request was from Debbugs Internal Request <owner@bugs.debian.org> to internal_control@bugs.debian.org. (Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:27:19 GMT) (full text, mbox, link).


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