10.6: Use wake-on-demand to help conserve energy

Dec 28, '09 07:30:00AM

Contributed by: Anonymous

Snow Leopard only hintWhen using a desktop Mac under Mac OS X, I have had trouble (in the past) saving energy (by sleeping the computer and display after ten minutes of inactivity) because there are many iPhone applications, along with sharing applications, that I use which require that my desktop Mac be awake and available on the local wireless network. I have found a perfect, yet simple solution to my troubles: Snow Leopard's new "wake for network access" feature.

One example of an app for my iPhone that I use is FileMaker's Bento. It syncs wirelessly (on my local network) with my Bento database on my desktop Mac. With this app, I can view and edit my entire business database, all from my iPhone. Anyhow, in order to sync the changes I make on my iPhone back to my Mac, the same wireless network needs to be active on both my iPhone and desktop Mac, which both need to be on and running.

However, for years I have been using the option (in the Energy Saver section of System Preferences) to sleep my Mac after 10 minutes of inactivity. If my Mac (not necessarily my Mac's display, however) is asleep, it cannot accept incoming network connections (which the Bento iPhone app needs to sync). I have always had to move my Mac's mouse to awaken it, so I could make the connection. Another example is my iPhone's 2Do app. It's a wonderful app, however, to properly sync connections with iCal and Mail's To Do function on my Mac, it also needs to make a network connection with my Mac via my local wireless network.

My solution: One new and relatively unpublicized feature of Snow Leopard: "Wake on Demand." Wake on Demand it allows your Mac, using your Airport or Time Capsule Base Station and Bonjour, to wake for network access. Just check the "Wake for network access" button in the Energy Saver panel of System Preferences.

Not only does this help with my iPhone app synchronization problems, but it works beautifully for iTunes music sharing, printer sharing, Back to My Mac (MobileMe), screen and file sharing, and more, all using just your local AirPort or Time Capsule Base Station. I am disappointed that Apple has not made this function more popular with the release of Snow Leopard, but it's there, and it works.

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