How can I enable the power button on my server?

Question

The power button on my headless 11.10 server appears to do nothing unless I hold it in for 5 seconds or so, in which case it switches the machine off instantly.

What I'd like it to do if I press it briefly is a normal shutdown (shutdown -P now). How can I allow this?

I have seen this question but it is for desktop installations.

Solution 1

I believe you might need acpi-support. Check out the links below for more info on how to manipulate the power button press event.

http://blog.metalight.dk/2010/07/ubuntu-lucid-custom-power-button-event/

http://test.z13media.com/2010/03/disable-power-button-on-ubuntu-server.html

Solution 2

You just need to install acpid package (sudo apt-get install acpid), its just one package, nothing more and it will handle all powerbutton events (acpi-support contains more additional packages). Tested on ubuntu server 11.10

https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-users/2011-November/253766.html

Comments

[Kent Boogaart]

I don't have an /etc/acpi/ directory, even after running sudo apt-get install acpi. Or am I supposed to just create it myself?

[mikewhatever]

That's because you need the 'acpi-support' package, as said above. Don't think any of the acpi related ones are included in the server edition.

[Kent Boogaart]

Perfect - thanks. Sorry, I misread your post initially.

[mikewhatever]

Glad I could help. :)

[itsols]

@mikewhatever I presume you've implemented this power off feature. Does the server ask for user passwords or any such question or does it jsut shutdown directly?