How To
By default, the kernel decides when to make the console go blank / black (usually 10 minutes / 600 seconds).
To check the current value:
$ cat /sys/module/kernel/parameters/consoleblank
To temporarily update the value:
$ setterm -blank <value>
Note: If the value is 0, blanking will be disabled entirely.
To permanently update the value, use one of the following methods:
- Edit the Grub configuration files to include this kernel parameter:
consoleblank=0 - Create a startup script that contains:
setterm -blank <value>
CentOS 7
Changes to the kernel parameters can be made within the /etc/default/grub file, within the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX entry.
Example:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="[...] consoleblank=0"
To make this change effective:
# grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
Note: If using EFI instead of MBR, use the following to make the change effective:
# grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/efi/EFI/centos/grub.cfg
CentOS 6
Changes to the kernel parameters can be made within the /etc/grub.conf file, within the kernel entry.
Example:
kernel [...] consoleblank=0
To make this change effective:
# grub-install <device/partition>
Note: Most of the time the device will be /dev/sda but always double check.
Ubuntu
Changes to the kernel parameters can be made within the /etc/default/grub file, within the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT entry.
Example:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="[...] consoleblank=0"
To make this change effective:
# update-grub > /boot/grub/grub.cfg