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diff --git a/trunk/gnome2-system-admin-guide/C/performance.xml b/trunk/gnome2-system-admin-guide/C/performance.xml deleted file mode 100644 index 87be271..0000000 --- a/trunk/gnome2-system-admin-guide/C/performance.xml +++ /dev/null @@ -1,573 +0,0 @@ -<chapter id="performance-0"> - <title>Improving Performance</title> - <highlights> - <para>This chapter describes how to improve the performance of -the GNOME Desktop.</para> - </highlights> - <sect1 id="performance-1"> - <title>Introduction to Improving Performance</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>performance, improving</primary> - <secondary>introduction</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>This chapter lists several preferences whose -settings you can change to improve the performance of the GNOME Desktop. You -can use the <command>gconftool-2</command> command to set values for preferences -for users. The example commands in this chapter show how to set values in -the user configuration source.</para> - <para>You can also use the <literal>--direct</literal> and <literal>--config-source</literal> options to set mandatory values or default values for preferences. -You can also use the <command>gconftool-2</command> command in a script to -set the values of many preferences. For more information on the <command>gconftool-2</command> command and the options that are available with the -command, see <xref linkend="gconf-0"/>.</para> - </sect1> - <sect1 id="performance-8"> - <title>Reducing CPU Usage</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>performance, improving</primary> - <secondary>reducing CPU -usage</secondary> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>reducing</primary> - <secondary>CPU usage</secondary> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>CPU usage</primary> - <secondary>reducing</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>This section describes preferences that -you can set to reduce CPU usage by the GNOME Desktop. </para> - <sect2 id="performance-3"> - <title>To Use Theme Options Which Require Less CPU Resources</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>themes</primary> - <secondary>window frame options</secondary> - <tertiary>and CPU usage</tertiary> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>themes</primary> - <secondary>and CPU usage</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>Some window frame theme -options load image files to draw the window frame. Other options use simpler -techniques to draw the window frame.</para> - <para>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: </para> - <itemizedlist> - <listitem> - <para>Atlanta</para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Esco</para> - </listitem> - </itemizedlist> - <para>The following window frame options also use less CPU resources than -Crux:</para> - <itemizedlist> - <listitem> - <para>AgingGorilla</para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Bright</para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Metabox</para> - </listitem> - </itemizedlist> - <note> - <para>Metabox does not work well with inverse controls options such -as HighContrastInverse. Use Atlanta with inverse controls options.</para> - </note> - <para><indexterm><primary>themes</primary><secondary>window frame options</secondary><tertiary>changing</tertiary></indexterm>To change the window -frame theme option, run the following command: </para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type string \ ---set /apps/metacity/general/theme <replaceable>option-name</replaceable></userinput></screen> - <para>For example, to use Atlanta, run the following command:</para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type string \ ---set /apps/metacity/general/theme Atlanta</userinput></screen> - <para>Alternatively, users can use the <application>Theme</application> preference -tool to select the appropriate option.</para> - <tip> - <para>You can use the <application>Metacity Theme Viewer</application> -to measure the performance of a window frame option, and to preview the option. -To start <application>Metacity Theme Viewer</application>, use the following -command:</para> - <screen><userinput>metacity-theme-viewer <replaceable>option-name</replaceable></userinput></screen> - <para>For example, to measure the performance of Atlanta and preview Atlanta, -run the following command: </para> - <screen><userinput>metacity-theme-viewer Atlanta</userinput></screen> - </tip> - </sect2> - <sect2 id="performance-2"> - <title>To Reduce CPU Usage by Turning Off Display of Icons in Menus</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>icons, in menus</primary> - <see>menu icons</see> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>menu icons</primary> - <secondary>and CPU usage</secondary> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>menu icons</primary> - <secondary>turning off</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>Some items in menus display an icon beside the -item. To turn off this feature, run the following command: </para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type bool \ ---set /desktop/gnome/interface/menus_have_icons false</userinput></screen> - <para>Alternatively, users can use the <application>Menus & Toolbars</application> -preference tool to deselect the <guilabel>Show icons in menus</guilabel> option.</para> - </sect2> - <sect2 id="performance-6"> - <title>To Reduce CPU Usage by Turning Off the Splash Screen</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>splash screen</primary> - <secondary>and CPU usage</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>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. </para> - <para><indexterm><primary>splash screen</primary><secondary>turning off</secondary></indexterm>To turn off the splash screen, run the following command:</para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type bool \ ---set /apps/gnome-session/options/show_splash_screen false</userinput></screen> - <para>Alternatively, users can use the <application>Sessions</application> -preference tool to deselect the <guilabel>Show splash screen on login</guilabel> -option.</para> - </sect2> - <sect2 id="performance-4"> - <title>To Reduce CPU Usage by Turning Off Panel Animation</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>panels</primary> - <secondary>animation, turning off</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>When users show or hide panels, the panels can show or hide -in an animated style. To turn off panel animation, run the following command: </para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type bool \ ---set /apps/panel/global/enable_animations false</userinput></screen> - <para>Alternatively, users can use the <application>Panel</application> preference -tool to deselect the <guilabel>Drawer and panel animation</guilabel> option.</para> - </sect2> - <sect2 id="performance-7"> - <title>Improving File Manager Performance</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>Nautilus</primary> - <see>file manager</see> - </indexterm> - <para>The <application>Nautilus</application> file manager includes some features -that you can modify to improve performance.</para> - <sect3 id="performance-9"> - <title>To Modify Performance Preferences</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>file manager</primary> - <secondary>modifying performance -preferences</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>The file manager includes performance-related -preferences. Each performance preference can take one of three values. The -values are described in the following table:</para> - <informaltable frame="topbot"> - <tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0"> - <colspec colwidth="34.46*"/> - <colspec colwidth="65.54*"/> - <thead> - <row rowsep="1"> - <entry> - <para>Value</para> - </entry> - <entry> - <para>Description</para> - </entry> - </row> - </thead> - <tbody> - <row> - <entry valign="top"> - <para> - <literal>always</literal> - </para> - </entry> - <entry valign="top"> - <para>Performs the action for both local files, and files on -other file systems.</para> - </entry> - </row> - <row> - <entry valign="top"> - <para> - <literal>local_only</literal> - </para> - </entry> - <entry valign="top"> - <para>Performs the action for local files only. When you -set a performance preference to <literal>local_only</literal>, the CPU usage -is reduced.</para> - </entry> - </row> - <row> - <entry valign="top"> - <para> - <literal>never</literal> - </para> - </entry> - <entry valign="top"> - <para>Never performs the action. When you set a performance preference -to never, the CPU usage and the network traffic are reduced.</para> - </entry> - </row> - </tbody> - </tgroup> - </informaltable> - <para>The following table describes the performance preferences for the file -manager. For the fastest performance, set the value of the preferences to <literal>never</literal>.</para> - <informaltable frame="topbot"> - <tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0"> - <colspec colwidth="43.34*"/> - <colspec colwidth="56.66*"/> - <thead> - <row rowsep="1"> - <entry> - <para>Preference</para> - </entry> - <entry> - <para>Description</para> - </entry> - </row> - </thead> - <tbody> - <row> - <entry valign="top"> - <para> - <literal>show_icon_text</literal> - </para> - </entry> - <entry valign="top"> - <para>Specifies when to preview the content of text files -in the icon that represents the file. To never preview the content of text -files, run the following command: </para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type string \ ---set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_icon_text never</userinput></screen> - <para>Alternatively, users can perform -the following steps:</para> - <orderedlist> - <listitem> - <para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Edit</guimenu><guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from a file manager window, then choose <guilabel>Preview</guilabel>.</para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Select an option for the <guilabel>Show text in icons</guilabel> -preference.</para> - </listitem> - </orderedlist> - </entry> - </row> - <row> - <entry valign="top"> - <para> - <literal>show_directory_item_counts</literal> - </para> - </entry> - <entry valign="top"> - <para>Specifies when to show the number of items in folders. -To never show the number of items in folders, run the following command:</para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type string \ ---set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_directory_item_counts never</userinput></screen> - <para>Alternatively, users can perform the following steps:</para> - <orderedlist> - <listitem> - <para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Edit</guimenu><guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from a file manager window, then choose <guilabel>Preview</guilabel>.</para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Select an option for the <guilabel>Count number of items</guilabel> -preference.</para> - </listitem> - </orderedlist> - </entry> - </row> - <row> - <entry valign="top"> - <para> - <literal>show_image_thumbnails</literal> - </para> - </entry> - <entry valign="top"> - <para>Specifies when to show thumbnails of image files. -To never show thumbnails, run the following command:</para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type string \ ---set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_image_thumbnails never</userinput></screen> - <para>Alternatively, users can perform the following steps:</para> - <orderedlist> - <listitem> - <para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Edit</guimenu><guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from a file manager window, then choose <guilabel>Preview</guilabel>.</para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Select an option for the <guilabel>Show thumbnails</guilabel> -preference.</para> - </listitem> - </orderedlist> - </entry> - </row> - <row> - <entry valign="top"> - <para> - <literal>preview_sound</literal> - </para> - </entry> - <entry valign="top"> - <para>Specifies when to preview the content of sound files. -To never preview the content of sound files, run the following command:</para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type string \ ---set /apps/nautilus/preferences/preview_sound never</userinput></screen> - <para>Alternatively, users can perform the following -steps:</para> - <orderedlist> - <listitem> - <para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Edit</guimenu><guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from a file manager window, then choose <guilabel>Preview</guilabel>.</para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Select an option for the <guilabel>Preview sound files</guilabel> -preference.</para> - </listitem> - </orderedlist> - </entry> - </row> - </tbody> - </tgroup> - </informaltable> - </sect3> - <sect3 id="performance-10"> - <title>To Turn Off the Side Pane, Toolbar, and Location Bar</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>file manager</primary> - <secondary>side pane, turning off</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>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.</para> - <para>To turn off the side pane, run the following command: </para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type bool \ ---set /apps/nautilus/preferences/start_with_sidebar false</userinput></screen> - <para><indexterm><primary>file manager</primary><secondary>toolbar, turning -off</secondary></indexterm>To turn off the toolbar, run the following command: </para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type bool \ ---set /apps/nautilus/preferences/start_with_toolbar false</userinput></screen> - <para>You can also turn off the location bar. Users can use the <keycombo><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>L</keycap></keycombo> keyboard shortcut to display a location bar -when required. </para> - <para><indexterm><primary>file manager</primary><secondary>location bar, turning -off</secondary></indexterm>To turn off the location bar, run the following -command:</para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type bool \ ---set /apps/nautilus/preferences/start_with_location_bar false</userinput></screen> - </sect3> - <sect3 id="performance-11"> - <title>To Turn Off the Desktop</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>file manager</primary> - <secondary>desktop, turning off</secondary> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>desktop</primary> - <secondary>turning -off</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>The file manager contains a preference that -enables users to use <application>Nautilus</application> to manage the desktop. -You can disable the desktop to improve performance. However, if you disable -the desktop, you cannot do the following:</para> - <itemizedlist> - <listitem> - <para>Use the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu.</para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Use the file manager to change the pattern or color of the -desktop background. </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Use the desktop objects, such as <guilabel>Trash</guilabel>. -The desktop objects are not displayed on the desktop. </para> - </listitem> - </itemizedlist> - <para>To disable the desktop, run the following command: </para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type bool \ ---set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop false</userinput></screen> - </sect3> - </sect2> - </sect1> - <sect1 id="performance-12"> - <title>Reducing X Window System Network Traffic</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>reducing</primary> - <secondary>X Window System network traffic</secondary> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>X Window System network traffic, -reducing</primary> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>network traffic, reducing</primary> - </indexterm> - <para>This section describes preferences that you can -set to reduce X Window System network traffic on the GNOME Desktop. </para> - <sect2 id="performance-14"> - <title>To Use Theme Options Which Create Less Network Traffic</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>themes</primary> - <secondary>window frame options</secondary> - <tertiary>and network traffic</tertiary> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>themes</primary> - <secondary>and network traffic</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>Remote -display protocols do not transfer every pixel in a block of pixels if all -pixels in the block are the same color.</para> - <para>To reduce X Window System network traffic, use a window frame theme -option that uses solid colors. That is, use one of the following window frame -options:</para> - <itemizedlist> - <listitem> - <para>Atlanta</para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Esco</para> - </listitem> - </itemizedlist> - <para>For information on how to change theme options, see <xref linkend="performance-3"/>.</para> - </sect2> - <sect2 id="performance-15"> - <title>To Reduce Network Traffic by Turning Off Display of Icons in Menus</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>menu icons</primary> - <secondary>and network traffic</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>Some items in menus display an icon beside the item. If -the icon is located on another file system, this feature can increase X Window -System network traffic. This feature can also increase X Window System network -traffic if the panels are displayed on a remote host. </para> - <para>For information on how to turn off this feature, see <xref linkend="performance-2"/>.</para> - </sect2> - </sect1> - <sect1 id="performance-17"> - <title>Reducing Color Usage and Improving Display Quality</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>reducing</primary> - <secondary>color usage</secondary> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>color usage</primary> - <secondary>reducing</secondary> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>display quality, improving</primary> - </indexterm> - <para>Many modern computer systems support 24-bit color, that is, 16,777,216 colors. -However, many users still use systems that support 8-bit color, that is, 256 -colors. </para> - <para>The GNOME Desktop uses the <firstterm>websafe color palette</firstterm>. -This palette is a general-purpose palette of 216 colors, which is designed -to optimize the use of color on systems that support 8-bit color. However, -some visual components of the GNOME Desktop are designed for systems that -support 24-bit color.</para> - <para>The following display problems might occur on systems that support 8-bit -color:</para> - <itemizedlist> - <listitem> - <para>Windows, icons, and background images might appear grainy. - Many themes, background images, and icons use colors that are not in the -websafe color palette. The colors that are not in the palette are replaced -with the nearest equivalent or a dithered approximation. This use of replacement -colors causes the grainy appearance.</para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Applications that do not use the websafe color palette have -less colors available. Color errors might occur. Some colors might not appear -in the user interface of the application. Some applications might crash if -the application cannot allocate colors.</para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para>Color flashing might occur when users switch between applications -that use the websafe color palette, and applications that do not use this -palette. The applications that do not use the websafe color palette might -use a custom colormap. When the custom colormap is used, other visual components -might lose colors, then become unviewable.</para> - </listitem> - </itemizedlist> - <para>The following sections describe how to optimize the appearance of the -GNOME Desktop for systems that support 8-bit color. </para> - <sect2 id="performance-20"> - <title>To Use Theme Options That Use the Websafe Color Palette</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>themes</primary> - <secondary>window frame options</secondary> - <tertiary>and color usage</tertiary> - </indexterm> - <indexterm> - <primary>themes</primary> - <secondary>and color usage</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>Some window -frame theme options use colors that are in the websafe color palette. Bright -and Esco use colors from the websafe color palette. Bright and Esco do not -have the grainy appearance of other window frame options on 8-bit color displays. -Use Bright or Esco for the best color display on 8-bit visual modes. </para> - <para>For information on how to change theme options, see <xref linkend="performance-3"/>.</para> - </sect2> - <sect2 id="performance-21"> - <title>To Reduce Color Usage by Turning Off Display of Icons in Menus</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>menu icons</primary> - <secondary>and color usage</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>Some items in menus display an icon beside the item. If -the icon contains colors that are not in the websafe color palette, this feature -can increase the number of colors used.</para> - <para>For information on how to turn off this feature, see <xref linkend="performance-2"/>.</para> - </sect2> - <sect2 id="performance-18"> - <title>To Reduce Color Usage by Turning Off the Splash Screen</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>splash screen</primary> - <secondary>and color usage</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>You can turn off the splash screen to make more colors available -for the GNOME Desktop and for applications.</para> - <para>For information on how to turn off the splash screen, see <xref linkend="performance-6"/>.</para> - </sect2> - <sect2 id="performance-19"> - <title>To Reduce Color Usage by Using a Solid Color for the Background</title> - <indexterm> - <primary>background</primary> - <secondary>using solid color</secondary> - </indexterm> - <para>Use a solid color for the desktop background. Use of a solid -color reduces the number of colors used by the GNOME Desktop. </para> - <para>To set a solid color for the background, run the following commands: </para> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type string \ ---set /desktop/gnome/background/picture_options none</userinput></screen> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type string \ ---set /desktop/gnome/background/color_shading_type solid</userinput></screen> - <screen><userinput>gconftool-2 \ ---type string \ ---set /desktop/gnome/background/primary_color #<replaceable>hexadecimal-color</replaceable></userinput></screen> - <para>Alternatively, users can use the <application>Background</application> -preference tool to choose a solid color for the background.</para> - </sect2> - </sect1> -</chapter> |