How to make configuration changes without a reboot?

[Jay O'Brien]

Eric Kjeldergaard wrote:

>>I learned that in order to make changes to the screen saver,
>>I had to reboot the computer. Those changes, made by
>>sysinstall, appear in /etc/rc.conf.
>>
>>Is there a way to make such changes take effect without
>>rebooting?  (Version 5.3 RELEASE, i386)
> 
> 
> Of course there are.  Reboots are only really necessary for switching
> kernels.  Unfortunately, this often takes a bit more knowledge.  In
> the case of screensavers, a combination of kldload (to load the
> desired screensaver) and vidcontrol (to set timeouts and such).  man
> kldload and man vidcontrol should get you going on this.
> 

Eric, 
Thanks for the vidcontrol reference. I didn't realize that screensaver 
timeout was in vidcontrol; that will give me easy control of screensaver 
on/off when I want it.
Jay O'Brien