Examining power consumption in Linux
Green IT
How much power is your system really using? And how much can you actually save with the new generation of energy-conserving techniques and components? This month we study the phenomenon known as Green IT.
The new mobile work life and the rising cost of energy have caused a flurry of innovations to promote efficiency and reduce consumption. Laptop users want more life in a single charge, and IT managers want lower electricity bills for the server room. Much of the story with the power-saving movement is about virtualization, which we have already covered in several previous issues – and will surely cover again. This month, we decided to study some other pieces of the puzzle. Our primary focus is on energy use in the life of an everyday PC, however, we do return to the virtualization topic with our study of the phenomenon known as cloud computing.
In the leadoff article, Karsten Reich looks at some techniques for reducing power use. You'll learn which components use the most power, and we'll show you some tips for minimizing power usage.
Our next article turns to the server room for a look at cloud computing with Amazon's Elastic Computer Cloud (EC2). The recent phenomenon of cloud computing is causing a stir throughout the world of IT. By leasing virtual server space on an as-needed basis, you can operate your home network with fewer resources, thus saving power and equipment costs, and still provide the capacity for peak usage moments. Dan Frost offers a practical look at how to get started with creating and uploading a Linux image for Amazon's Elastic Cloud.
In the final article of the series, our monthly Q&A columnist Klaus Knopper runs some tests to study the power consumption of three common computers. Klaus also offers a few tricks for saving power, and he shows why the advertised energy-saving products might not really make a dent in your energy bill.
If you're looking for simple ways to save energy, or if you just want a solid methodology for understanding which components of your computer system use the most power, you're sure to find something useful in this month's Green IT cover story.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.
-
ZorinOS 17.1 Released, Includes Improved Windows App Support
If you need or desire to run Windows applications on Linux, there's one distribution intent on making that easier for you and its new release further improves that feature.
-
Linux Market Share Surpasses 4% for the First Time
Look out Windows and macOS, Linux is on the rise and has even topped ChromeOS to become the fourth most widely used OS around the globe.
-
KDE’s Plasma 6 Officially Available
KDE’s Plasma 6.0 "Megarelease" has happened, and it's brimming with new features, polish, and performance.
-
Latest Version of Tails Unleashed
Tails 6.0 is based on Debian 12 and includes GNOME 43.
-
KDE Announces New Slimbook V with Plenty of Power and KDE’s Plasma 6
If you're a fan of KDE Plasma, you'll be thrilled to hear they've announced a new Slimbook with an AMD CPU and the latest version of KDE Plasma desktop.
-
Monthly Sponsorship Includes Early Access to elementary OS 8
If you want to get a glimpse of what's in the pipeline for elementary OS 8, just set up a monthly sponsorship to help fund its continued existence.