Reducing CPU Usage

This section describes preferences that you can set to reduce CPU usage by the Java Desktop System.

To Use Control Theme Options Which Require Less CPU Resources

Some control theme options can be slow on systems with limited CPU resources. To reduce CPU usage, use one of the following control options:

• Crux

• Mist

• Simple

To change the control theme option, execute the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type string --set /desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_theme option-name

For example, to use Simple, execute the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type string --set /desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_theme Simple

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

To Use Window Frame Theme Options Which Require Less CPU Resources

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

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

• Atlanta

• Esco

• Mist

• Simple

The following window frame options also use less CPU resources than Crux:

• AgingGorilla

• Bright

• Metabox

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Note –

Metabox does not work well with inverse controls options such as HighContrastInverse. Use Atlanta with inverse controls options.

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To change the window frame theme option, execute the following command:

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

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

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

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

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Tip –

You can use the Metacity Theme Viewer to measure the performance of a window frame option, and to preview the option. To start Metacity Theme Viewer, execute the following command:

# metacity-theme-viewer option-name

For example, to measure the performance of Atlanta and preview Atlanta, execute the following command:

# metacity-theme-viewer Atlanta

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To Reduce CPU Usage by Turning Off Display of Icons in Menus

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

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

Alternatively, users can use the Menus & Toolbars preference tool to deselect the Show icons in menus option.

To Reduce CPU Usage by Turning Off the Splash Screen

By default, when users log in to the desktop environment, a splash screen is displayed. Icons are displayed on the splash screen while the user logs in. You can turn off the splash screen to reduce CPU usage during login.

To turn off the splash screen, execute the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/gnome-session/options/show_splash_screen false

Alternatively, users can use the Sessions preference tool to deselect the Show splash screen on login option.

To Reduce CPU Usage by Turning Off Panel Animation

When users show or hide panels, the panels can show or hide in an animated style. To turn off panel animation, execute the following command:

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

Alternatively, users can use the Panel preference tool to deselect the Drawer and panel animation option.

Improving File Manager Performance

The Nautilus file manager includes some features that you can modify to improve performance.

To Modify Performance Preferences

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

Value	Description
always	Performs the action for both local files, and files on other file systems.
local_only	Performs the action for local files only. When you set a performance preference to local_only, the CPU usage is reduced.
never	Never performs the action. When you set a performance preference to never, the CPU usage and the network traffic are reduced.

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

Preference	Description
show_icon_text	Specifies when to preview the content of text files in the icon that represents the file. To never preview the content of text files, execute the following command:   # gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/ show_icon_text never Alternatively, users can perform the following steps:  Choose Edit -> Preferences from a file manager window, then choose Preview. Select an option for the Show text in icons preference.
show_directory_item_counts	Specifies when to show the number of items in folders. To never show the number of items in folders, execute the following command:  # gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/ show_directory_item_counts never Alternatively, users can perform the following steps:  Choose Edit -> Preferences from a file manager window, then choose Preview. Select an option for the Count number of items preference.
show_image_thumbnails	Specifies when to show thumbnails of image files. To never show thumbnails, execute the following command:  # gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/ show_image_thumbnails never Alternatively, users can perform the following steps:  Choose Edit -> Preferences from a file manager window, then choose Preview. Select an option for the Show thumbnails preference.
preview_sound	Specifies when to preview the content of sound files. To never preview the content of sound files, execute the following command:  # gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/preview_sound never Alternatively, users can perform the following steps:  Choose Edit -> Preferences from a file manager window, then choose Preview. Select an option for the Preview sound files preference.

To Turn Off the Side Pane, Toolbar, and Location Bar

The file manager includes preferences that enable you to turn off the side pane and the toolbar. To improve file manager performance, turn off the side pane and the toolbar.

To turn off the side pane, execute the following command:

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

To turn off the toolbar, execute the following command:

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

You can also turn off the location bar. Users can use the Ctrl + L keyboard shortcut to display a location bar when required.

To turn off the location bar, execute the following command:

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

To Turn Off the Desktop Background

The file manager contains a preference that enables users to use the file manager to manage the desktop background. You can disable the desktop background to improve performance. However, if you disable the desktop background, you cannot do the following:

• Use the Desktop Background menu.

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

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

To disable the desktop background, execute the following command:

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

To Reduce CPU Usage by Enabling Reduced Resources Mode

The Metacity window manager has a reduced resources mode which renders windows as wireframes when you move and resize windows. When reduced resources mode is enabled, only the outline of windows is displayed when you move and resize windows. The contents of the window do not need to be updated during the move or resize. The contents of the window are displayed when the move or resize is complete. When reduced resources mode is enabled, windows are not animated when you move and resize the windows.

To enable reduced resources mode, execute the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/metacity/general/reduced_resources true

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Note –

On Linux systems, if the /desktop/gnome/interface/accessibility key is set to true, you cannot enable reduced resources mode.

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To Use the mediaLib Libraries on Solaris Systems

The mediaLib^TM libraries are a collection of functions that accelerate common multimedia operations. The Java Desktop System uses the mediaLib libraries if the libraries are installed on the system. The performance of the Java Desktop System, especially the file manager, improves significantly when the mediaLib libraries are installed. The Java Desktop System requires mediaLib version 2.0 or higher.

For information about how to obtain and install the mediaLib libraries, see the mediaLib website at the following URL:

http://www.sun.com/processors/vis/mlib.html