Disable screen blanking on text console

You can verify what timeout the kernel uses for virtual console blanking via:

$ cat /sys/module/kernel/parameters/consoleblank
600

This file is read-only and the timeout is specified in seconds. The current default seems to be 10 minutes.

You can change that value with entering the following command on a virtual console (if you are inside an xterm you have to change to a virtual console via hitting e.g. Ctrl+Alt+F1).

$ setterm -blank VALUE

Where the new VALUE is specified in minutes. A value of 0 disables blanking:

$ cat /sys/module/kernel/parameters/consoleblank
600
$ setterm -blank 0
$ cat /sys/module/kernel/parameters/consoleblank
0

setterm has other powersaving related options, the most useful combination seems to be:

$ setterm -blank 0 -powersave off

Thus to permanently/automatically disable virtual console blanking on startup you can either:

1. add consoleblank=0 to the kernel parameters (edit grub configuration)
2. add the setterm -blank 0 command to an rc-local or equivalent startup script

3. add the setterm output to /etc/issue since /etc/issue is output on every virtual console:

   # setterm -blank 0 >> /etc/issue

Choose one alternative from the above.

Try using this:

setterm -blank

According to : https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Display_Power_Management_Signaling#DPMS_Interaction_in_a_console_with_setterm

Prevent screen from turning off (in console)

$ setterm -blank 0 -powerdown 0

Alternatively you can disable console blanking permanently using the following command:

# echo -ne "\033[9;0]" >> /etc/issue