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Using CPUOff Latest Version: 5.1 Size: 475KB Released 03-April-2008

CPUOff operates by checking the average CPU load once a second and comparing it with a preset threshold, each time the average CPU load exceeds the preset limit the countdown timer is reset until the countdown time is reached and shutdown is initiated. The time before the program activates, the period over which the CPU load is averaged and the shutdown time are configurable to suit particular circumstances. The program consumes very little system resources but it does run with high priority. CPUOff supports the following types of shut down: Hibernate, Power Off, Reboot, Shutdown and Standby (some computers will not support all shut down modes). Shutdown, Power Off and Reboot have been configured to force all running applications to close. For information about logging see Log Files and for information about configuring CPUOff see Configuration.

Averaging works by adding the CPU load measured every second over the averaging period and dividing it by the averaging period. This does mean that the average load can increase after the instantaneous CPU load has decreased due to previous values. This is especially noticeable with long averaging periods and wide variations in CPU load. If the time the program has been active is less than the averaging period the time active is used as the averaging period.

The optional slave program installed on a second computer monitors communications from the main program, which occur twice a second and initiates shutdown when the master program enters shutdown. There is no communication back to the main program. The slave program display shows communications status.

Click on the Test button to enable Test Mode which sets the activation delay to 2 seconds and the monitoring period to 5 seconds and puts up a pop up rather than powering off the computer. Clicking the Test button while in Test Mode will restart Test Mode. If the CPUOff Slave is used clicking Test will also put the Slave into test mode. Click the Reset button to exit Test Mode or Reset the program in Operational Mode (this will also reset the slave program if used).

Program operation is inhibited while either the About or Configuration screens are open. The program is reset when the configuration screen is closed if any changes have been made, if no changes are made the program will resume from where it was stopped when the configuration screen is closed. The configuration can only be changed by users with administrative privileges. If CPUOff is changed to run minimised closing the Configuration screen will put the program back in the System Tray. Communications to the Slave, if used, are not inhibited when the configuration screen of the main program is open.

When set to run minimised (the default) CPUOff runs in the System Tray (the program can be reactivated by double clicking on the tray icon). Once shutdown is initiated CPUOff always switches to visible 'run on top' and the About, Exit, Test and Configuration buttons are disabled. Shutdown can be cancelled by clicking the Cancel button which will put the program back in the System Tray if CPUOff is set to run minimised.