MuttleyJR

Q: RE - com.apple.PowerManagement.plist File

Hello,

 

I like many many people are having problems with either setting the iMac to sleep or getting it to wake up via the Lan (when using AppleTV, iPhone, iPad etc when Home Sharing is switched on). I am of the Latter group. It frustrates me that Apple spend so much effort getting their devices to communicate with each other and yet they overlook such a fundamental element as allowing Home Sharing devices to wake the hard drive. It makes home sharing seem redundant if I have to go down stairs and wake my iMac up just to go back upstairs to watch or listen to the required content. I might as well stay down stairs and watch/listen to it on my iMac and save myself all the effort!

The problem seems even annoying that Mountain Lion (which is installed) has not fixed these problems and there has been no Patch either!

 

Rant over and done with!

 

The key problem are settings located within the com.apple.PowerManagement.plist file. The full Terminal path is shown below:

 

/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist

 

the specific key that needs to be changed is :

 

PrioritizeNetworkReachabilityOverSleep

 

from value 0 and change to 1

 

I open the file using vi and make the change but when I come to saving the file it refuses stating read-only use the ! to overwrite.

I enter the :wq! and it reports - unable to save file.

 

I have tried using the App TextFile to edit file and again on saving Permission denied!

 

My knowledge of unix, Terminal, vi etc is very limited.

 

Can someone give me an idiots step-by-step guide of how to change this file or APPLE PLEASE SORT THIS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL!

 

Many thanks for all your help

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Oct 14, 2012 12:03 AM

Close

Q: RE - com.apple.PowerManagement.plist File

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by softwater,

    softwater softwater Oct 14, 2012 12:13 AM in response to MuttleyJR
    Level 5 (5,392 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 14, 2012 12:13 AM in response to MuttleyJR

    You have to log into terminal as sudo first, before opening the plist file in vi

     

    To do so, just type

     

    su

     

    at the Terminal prompt and enter your admin password. After that proceed as you did before and you should be able to save.

     

    Message was edited by: softwater

  • by MuttleyJR,

    MuttleyJR MuttleyJR Oct 14, 2012 1:01 AM in response to softwater
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2012 1:01 AM in response to softwater

    Hello,

     

    Thank you for the response.

     

    This is really stupid but is the Admin password the same as the one I log onto Mountain Lion (as Supervisor) with or is it different. if different how do I locate it?

     

    Many thanks

  • by softwater,

    softwater softwater Oct 14, 2012 1:47 AM in response to MuttleyJR
    Level 5 (5,392 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 14, 2012 1:47 AM in response to MuttleyJR

    Yes, try your admin password. That should work. But do it by pasting this entire line into the Terminal prompt, rather than the way I said before:

     

     

    sudo vi /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist

     

    You should then see a prompt that says

     

    Password:

     

    Type in the password you log on with, assuming that you log onto an account with Admin privileges. Note that when you type there'll be be no echo to the screen, so type carefully and press 'return' when you're done. If you typed the password correctly, and if its the right password, your vi editor should open and you should be able to save after making the changes.

     


  • by MuttleyJR,

    MuttleyJR MuttleyJR Oct 14, 2012 2:09 AM in response to softwater
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2012 2:09 AM in response to softwater

    The first just typing su kept saying Sorry!

     

    The last post worked a treat!

     

    Thank you for helping a complete novice get their head round the problem.

     

    I think I will write this up as an idiots guide and repost as a complete solution to this problem (with credits to you)

    what do you think?

  • by softwater,

    softwater softwater Oct 15, 2012 7:34 AM in response to MuttleyJR
    Level 5 (5,392 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 15, 2012 7:34 AM in response to MuttleyJR


    MuttleyJR wrote:

     

    The first just typing su kept saying Sorry!

     

     

    Yes, sorry, the 'su' command only works if you've already enabled the root user password whereas 'sudo' lets you pretend to be a root user with your normal admin password. I only realised you probably wouldn't have set up the root password after the editing time for the first post timed out.

     

     

    I think I will write this up as an idiots guide and repost as a complete solution to this problem (with credits to you)

    what do you think?

     

    Anything that helps other users solve their problems is a good thing.

  • by bratman91,

    bratman91 bratman91 Oct 15, 2012 9:05 AM in response to MuttleyJR
    Level 2 (203 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 15, 2012 9:05 AM in response to MuttleyJR

    There are numerous threads in this and other forums which all seem to be related to Mountain Lion's aggressive sleep mode. I have the same issue as MuttleyJR in that various apps on iPhone and iPad no longer wake up my iMac once it has gone into sleep mode and the hard discs have stopped spinning. You say, MuttleyJR, that you are a novice so are you certain that changing the PowerManagement.plist file will not cause any issues? If it is safe then it could be the solution that many are looking for. Right now, I have set Energy Saving preferences to "Computer to never sleep", but I would rather have a "Wake on Network Access" that actually works for my apps. My apprehension is that there are some apps (Hippo LITE, for example) that WILL wake my iMac from sleep, others (such as Netawake) that will wake it partially so that some apps can connect but others not, and other apps that seem unable to wake the iMac at all. The "culprit" PowerManagement.plist parameter that you mention should have the same effect on all the apps, shouldn't it? However, that's a question from a fellow novice so maybe someone more expert can answer it.

  • by MuttleyJR,

    MuttleyJR MuttleyJR Oct 15, 2012 1:41 PM in response to bratman91
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 1:41 PM in response to bratman91

    Hello,

     

    It works a treat, my Iphone, Ipad and appleTV now work seemlessly with my mac that sits there asleep until any of these devices needs it.

     

    if your not sure how to do the change coz its a protected file, search forums :

    "How to edit com.apple.PowerManagement.plist File"

     

    I wrote it to help fellow out beginners like myself.

     

    Put your computer back to sleep and chill!

     

    Oh i should mention that in my guide at the end when you type the :wq! or :q! commands on the editor, you need to press the enter button afterwards! - a slight omission

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Oct 15, 2012 3:03 PM in response to MuttleyJR
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 3:03 PM in response to MuttleyJR

    MuttleyJR wrote:\

    Oh i should mention that in my guide at the end when you type the :wq! or :q! commands on the editor, you need to press the enter button afterwards! - a slight omission

    You should do that in the thread that contains your hint. Rather than suggesting others search for your hint, just link your thread: "How to edit com.apple.PowerManagement.plist File" I still maintain that it's overly complicated.

  • by bratman91,

    bratman91 bratman91 Oct 15, 2012 4:29 PM in response to baltwo
    Level 2 (203 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 15, 2012 4:29 PM in response to baltwo

    As MuttleyJR says, many people have a problem with Wake on Network Access with MountainnLion so I am puzzled that, if changing the PowerManagement parameter is all that is needed to fix it, Apple hasn't provided an update. Also, shouldn't setting the Energy Saving option of "Wake on Network Access"  set the PowerManagement parameter properly? It seems strange that Apple have apparently introduced an easy-fixable problem and then have simply allowed users to find and implement the solution.

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Oct 15, 2012 4:38 PM in response to bratman91
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 4:38 PM in response to bratman91

    I haven't a clue as to what Apple's up to, nor do I use the Wake on Network Access feature. That said, however, all I'm trying to do is bring to his attention a simpler way to accomplish the change he wants to make. There's no need, IMO, to edit the plist with a CLI test editor or go through the Terminal gyrations he's advocating. If his solution fixes the problem, then the steps i provided follow the KISS principle.  

  • by Charliepr1,

    Charliepr1 Charliepr1 Oct 22, 2012 9:06 AM in response to baltwo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2012 9:06 AM in response to baltwo

    Since upgrading to Mountain Lion (now running 10.8.2) I have had this problem. I have tried every solution posted on the various threads on this issue, ( messing about with plist files in Terminal etc. etc., and including installing SmartSleep which admittedly is more relevant to laptops)) from but my Mac Pro refuses to wake for network access. Never had a problem using Lion. On normal wake (i.e. not specifically network access) I have a frozen Mac for about 40 seconds, so even if I solved the "wake for network access" problem I would not be able to achieve a trouble free connection. My only suggestion is to encourage others to file a bug report as I have just done. Apple should sort this out. They keep tellling us how all their devices work seemlessly together. Let's see it in action.

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Oct 22, 2012 1:03 PM in response to Charliepr1
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Oct 22, 2012 1:03 PM in response to Charliepr1

    Charliepr1 wrote:

    My only suggestion is to encourage others to file a bug report as I have just done. Apple should sort this out. They keep tellling us how all their devices work seemlessly together. Let's see it in action.

    Totally agree. Two ways are available. Using feedback, which most likely goes through marketing and sales, eventually reaching engineering. Or, going directly to engineering, via Apple's Bug Reporter system. To do this, register as an Apple Developer—it's free and available for all Mac users and gets you a look at some development software. Since you already have an Apple username/ID, use that. Once a member, go to Apple BugReporter and file your bug report or enhancement request. You'll get a response and a follow-up number; thus, starting a dialog with engineering and you'll be able to track its status.

  • by Charliepr1,

    Charliepr1 Charliepr1 Oct 22, 2012 2:43 PM in response to baltwo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2012 2:43 PM in response to baltwo

    Thanks Baltwo, I have filed a bug report with the Apple Developer site.

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Oct 22, 2012 4:07 PM in response to Charliepr1
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Oct 22, 2012 4:07 PM in response to Charliepr1

    thumbsup.gif