Is it ok to use Laptop Suspend?

[Ben Briggs]

On my Dell Latitude I can suspend the computer to use less power and turn off the CPU fan. In Windows, information about the current open programs is saved to a temporary file before suspend. Then when a key is pressed, the computer resumes and the file is reopened and restores the system.

But will this work safely in Linux? I already know it works, but safetly?

Thanks in advance,
Ben

[Molecule Man]

If it works then it works safely. It also sounds like you are confusing hibernate and suspend.

Suspend is when your computer goes into a low power saving mode. HDD spin down, monitor (or lcd panel) turn off, cpu "sleeps", and so on so the battery will last a very long time. When it comes up, everything is like it was when it went to suspend, but it was never off and active memory was still there. If you had powered off the notebook, any unsaved work would be lost.

Hibernate is where the contents of Active memory is stored to a file and the notebook is powered off. Useful when you are on battery power and the juice is about to run out. After the computer enters hibernate, power can be totally diconnected from notebook and not affect the contents of what is open. When the notebook is powered on again, it boots to exactly how it was when it entered hibernate.

I know depending on hardware, Linux can suspend just fine. I am not sure about hibernate.

[Ben Briggs]

Thanks Shad!

Just for the record... I do have 'Suspend', but it's different than I thought (I thought it was the 'Hibernate' you were talking about).

Thanks again!

[spreelanka]

hibernate is possible, so i hear, but it varies in difficulty to implement for diff models/brands

check
http://www.linux-laptop.net
for your model

[mdwatts]

Just noticed http://www.geocities.com/bofn1001/ posted on freshmeat.net this morning for fan control on Dell laptops.