Stay connected to the internet while sleeping?

[Speedracer04]

So I was wondering if this is possible/why I cant figure this out myself:

When i go to sleep at night I am usually downloading something, however I dont want my computer on full blast, not to mention its bright in my room when i am trying to sleep.

All I want is for it to stay connected to the internet when I close the lid. Currently it signs out of my AIM, and halts any downloads currently going on. In System Pref's I set it so the computer goes to sleep "never", while the display goes to sleep after "15 mins". I would have thought that since I set the computer to never really go to sleep it would solve this issue...but i guess not.

Any suggestions? Do those sleeping "rules" not work when I close the lid or what?

 

[mkrishnan]

Normally your computer is configured to sleep when the lid is closed, unless you have external KVM hooked up.

There are a few options that basically prevent the computer from falling asleep at all. On any mac that was designed for clamshell mode, they should be safe, although you MUST be very careful that you turn them off when you want to transport the mac asleep -- do not turn this on and then throw the Mac in your backpack!

Look here on MR for threads about Sleepless, InsomniaX, etc.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/239412/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/213420/ in particular

Someone recently recommended another alternative that gives you a dock or widget or screen button of some kind that lets you very quickly turn sleeping on and off -- much better if you're going to move the Mac around a lot. I don't seem to be finding threads about that one, though.