SUSE Linux Enterprise Server features innovative power saving and power management capabilities that let you get maximum performance per watt.

Tickless Idle

Tickless idle is a new kernel feature that eliminates periodic timer ticks when system CPUs are idle. The Linux kernel uses periodic timer events, called timer ticks, for each CPU. These ticks facilitate process accounting, scheduler load balancing, and maintaining per-CPU timer events. The one drawback, however, has been that when systems are idle, these periodic ticks wake up the system and bring it out of its power-saving "sleep" state-roughly every millisecond for newer kernels operating at 1000Hz. This causes unnecessary power consumption. With tickless idle in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, the periodic timer tick has been eliminated when the CPU is idle. This allows the CPU to remain in power-saving states for longer periods of time. The result is lower system power consumption and reduced costs.

Improved Power Profiles

Also included in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 are enhancements to eliminate unnecessary timer events, as well as improved, more granular power profiles which are file-based and can be more easily used for enterprise-wide power management.

New for Service Pack 1

More of the power saving capabilities of the latest hardware are exposed with Service Pack 1. Working with our hardware OEMs, we have implemented a Processor Clock Control (PCC) interface driver, to ensure that complete processor state information is shared between the operating system and supported hardware BIOS. Together with more efficient algorithms, enterprises now have better control of CPU speeds and can more optimally leverage hardware power management functionality.