[Bug 869017] Re: Ubuntu server enables screenblanking, concealing crashdumps (DPMS is not used)

[David Rankin]

The console should blank and powerdown, with defaults of 10 min (600s)
and 12 min, respectively. Servers are NOT headless - that is a
boneheaded assumption to justify crippling
/sys/module/kernel/parameters/consoleblank to mask other problems that
should be fixed instead of swept-under-the-rug by disabling default
behavior that is relied upon -- and has worked for the past 15 years.

What kind of defect in reasoning makes it OK to break default behavior?
None. If there is a problem with X due to some change in X or vt
reordering that now makes blanking /dev/tty0 a problem for X users --
then fix X, don't break default vt blanking and powerdown.

The type of backwards reasoning that suggests breaking defaults instead
of fixing the actual problem is what leads to a proliferation of
unnecessary kernel parameters passed at boot or forces the creation of
unnecessary startup services.

Fix the problem, don't break default behavior.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/869017

Title:
  Ubuntu server enables screenblanking, concealing crashdumps (DPMS is
  not used)

Status in kbd package in Ubuntu:
  Invalid
Status in linux package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in kbd source package in Zesty:
  Invalid
Status in linux source package in Zesty:
  Fix Released
Status in kbd package in Debian:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  James Rice of Jump Networks noticed that there is a screen-blanker
  enabled on Ubuntu Server.

  James notes that this blanking is not enabling DPMS power saving
  (thereby negating any power-saving benefit), and is simply turning the
  screen content blank.   This means that the crash output is invisible
  which is unhelpful on a server (virtual or otherwise).

  Ideally the screen should (at a minimum) be turned on and unblanked at
  the point of an OOPs/crash being printed.

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