Keep Extra! Sessions Connected in Standby/Sleep Mode

  • Document ID:7021708
  • Creation Date:01-Mar-2012
  • Modified Date:02-Mar-2018
    • Micro Focus Products:
      Extra!

Environment

EXTRA! X-treme version 9.2 or higher

Situation

This technical note describes methods for keeping sessions connected when the computer encounters a low-power state.

By default, host sessions are disconnected when the computer enters a low-power state, such as Standby or Sleep. Even though the session reconnects when the computer "wakes," this process resets the connection and host session, possibly losing data as a result.

Resolution

You can either configure EXTRA! settings to prevent low power states and computer shutdowns or modify the registry to allow low-power states (optimal for laptops).

Choosing the Best Method for Your System

There are two ways you can prevent host sessions from disconnecting when the system enters a low-power state: You can prevent your computer from entering system Standby or Sleep mode (available beginning in EXTRA! 9.2); or you can keep the host connection alive even when it’s in standby mode (available beginning in EXTRA! 9.2 SP1). The second method is more suitable for laptops and other battery-operated devices. Instructions for these two methods are provided as follows.

Preventing the Computer from Entering Standby or Sleep Mode

Use the following procedure to prevent the system from entering system standby mode or causing the computer to shut down in a low-power situation. (For instructions on changing system power options, which can also cause the system to enter standby mode, see the Windows Help.)

  1. In the Accessory Manager, click Options > Global Preferences.
  2. Click the General tab.
  3. Click the Prevent System Sleep check box until a check mark appears, and then click OK to close the General Preferences dialog box.

Note: On Windows 7 or Vista, if the check box is colored or cleared, the computer can enter standby mode. On Windows XP, if the check box is colored (the default), the computer will prompt the user before entering standby mode with the message “Suspend request received. Okay to close all files and connections?”; if the check box is cleared, the computer will enter standby mode without a prompt.

Keeping Sessions Connected During Standby or Sleep Mode

Beginning in EXTRA! 9.2 SP1, follow the steps below to keep sessions connected when your computer enters a low-power state.

Note: On Windows 7, the effectiveness of this registry setting can vary, depending on the network interface controller (NIC) hardware and driver. Before you rely on this setting, thoroughly test the setting on the specific system that is intended for its use. In critical situations where connections must remain intact during periods of user inactivity, the global preference Prevent System Sleep is a more dependable option for this operating system.

  1. In the Windows Registry Editor, locate the following registry key
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Attachmate\EXTRA!\WorkStationUser\Preferences]
  1. From the Edit menu, click New > String Value.
  2. Name the string DisconnectWhenSleeping and in the Value Data box, type NO.
  3. Close the Registry Editor.
  4. From the Windows Start menu, open the Network and Internet control panel.
  5. Right-click your network connection and click Properties.
  6. In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, click Configure.
  7. In the <networkname> Network Connection Properties dialog box, click the Power Management tab.
  8. Deselect the setting "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" and click OK.

Additional Information

Legacy KB ID

This article was originally published as Attachmate Technical Note 2614.