Render machines going to sleep mid DR render

[tricky]

I have set up power saving features on some of our render machines whereby they will go to sleep (bless) after an hour or two of no activity. Unfortunately, even if they are involved in a lengthy DR job, they will go to sleep if this amount of time has passed. How do I tell Windows (version 7) not to put machines to sleep whose processors are flat out?

[vlado]

Is the DR server running as a Windows service? Perhaps Windows doesn't consider services as doing any useful work... maybe there's an option somewhere to change that.

Best regards,
Vlado

[tricky]

Yes - it is running as a service

[flino2004]

refamo has those features for power saving....if the proccesor is running less than x% the computer goes to sleep/restart after "y" minutes

[Morbid Angel]

why not just turn off that option in windows power management?

[plastic_]

I don't think Windows can handle this situation. Power saving features are linked to user activity. With a render server there is no user, so Windows doesn't get it. Also, how do you wake up the machine if it's hibernating? Manual Wake-on lan?
Render management software can handle this situation, ReFaMo is nice for sure, but it's too expensive for me.
I'm doing it like Morbid Angel suggests, turning off power management in Windows.