Reducing CPU Usage

This section describes preferences that you can set to reduce CPU usage by the Oracle Solaris Desktop system. These preferences are described in the following sections:

• Using Theme Options

• Turning Off the Display of Icons in Menus

• Turning Off Panel Animation

• Using a Solid Color for the Desktop Background

• Improving File Manager Performance

• Using the Appropriate Window Manager

Using Theme Options

Some window border theme options load image files to draw the window border. Other options use simpler techniques to draw the window border.

The Crux window border option loads image files and can be slow on systems with limited CPU resources. To reduce CPU usage, use one of the following window border options:

• Atlanta

• Esco

• AgingGorilla

• Bright

• Metabox

To change the window border theme option, type the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type string \
--set /apps/metacity/general/theme option-name

For example, to use Atlanta, type the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type string \
--set /apps/metacity/general/theme Atlanta

Alternatively, you can use the Theme preference tool to select the appropriate option.

# metacity-theme-viewer option-name

# metacity-theme-viewer Atlanta

Turning Off the Display of Icons in Menus

Some items in menus display an icon beside the item. To turn off this feature, type the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool \
--set /desktop/gnome/interface/menus_have_icons false

Turning Off Panel Animation

Panels can be shown or hidden in an animated style. Panel animation can be enabled or disabled by using the Properties dialog.

If the panel has hide buttons at both ends, then clicking one of the hide buttons will cause it to slide in or out of view. If the panel is set to Autohide, then the panel slides into view when you move your mouse to the edge of the screen, and slide out of view again when you move the mouse away. If panel animations are disabled, then there will be no sliding effect. Panels just abruptly appear or disappear from view.

To turn off panel animation, type the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool \
--set /apps/panel/global/enable_animations false

Using a Solid Color for the Desktop Background

Using a solid color for the desktop background reduces the number of colors used by the Oracle Solaris Desktop system.

To set a solid color for the desktop background, type the following commands:

# gconftool-2 --type string \
--set /desktop/gnome/background/picture_options none

# gconftool-2 --type string \
--set /desktop/gnome/background/color_shading_type solid

# gconftool-2 --type string \
--set /desktop/gnome/background/primary_color #hexadecimal-color

Alternatively, you can use the Background preference tool to choose a solid color for the background.

Improving File Manager Performance

The file manager includes performance-related preferences. Each performance preference can take one of the three values described in the following table.

To set the performance preference, use the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type string \
--set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_icon_text value

The following table describes the performance preferences for the file manager. To improve performance, set the value of the preferences to never.

Turning Off the Side Pane

To improve file manager performance, turn off the side pane by typing the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool \
--set /apps/nautilus/preferences/start_with_sidebar false

Turning Off the Toolbar

To improve file manager performance, turn off the toolbar by typing the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool \
--set /apps/nautilus/preferences/start_with_toolbar false

Turning Off the Location Bar

To improve file manager performance, turn off the location bar by typing the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool \
--set /apps/nautilus/preferences/start_with_location_bar false

Locking the Desktop Background and Hiding Desktop Icons

The file manager contains a preference that enables users to lock the desktop background and hide desktop icons. To improve performance, disable the desktop background and hide desktop icons by typing the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool \
--set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop false

Any existing colors or wallpapers that were applied to your desktop background remain unchanged. For example, if you had a solid green background before you turn this option off, you will still have a solid green background later. However, once the desktop background is turned off, you cannot make further changes to background colors or wallpapers until you turn on this option back again.

Note that if you disable the desktop background, you cannot do the following:

• Use the file manager to change the pattern or color of the desktop background.

• Use desktop objects, such as the Trash. The desktop objects are not displayed on the desktop.

Using the Appropriate Window Manager

By default, the Oracle Solaris Desktop selects one of two available window managers when you log in, depending on the capabilities of your graphics hardware:

• compiz – A compositing window manager that supports advanced graphical effects such as shading and translucency. When you log in, the system automatically checks whether your graphics card supports hardware acceleration with Oracle Solaris 11.

• metacity – A basic standards-compliant window manager. When you log in, the system automatically checks whether your graphics card supports hardware acceleration with Oracle Solaris 11.

To minimize CPU usage, you should manually select the Metacity Window Manager. You can do this in one of the following ways:

• Use the metacity command with the --replace option.

  $ metacity --replace &

• In the Visual Effects tab of the Appearance Preference tool, select None.

  This selection takes effect immediately, and is in effect the next time you log in.