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April 23, 2011
Remotely Turn on Computer with 'Wake On LAN'
So, I've know for some time that the network cards have a "Wake On LAN" capability. Somehow, they can be used to turn on a computer remotely. The trick is that the computer has to support the WOL request, the LAN card has to support the WOL request, and you have to have another computer on the same network that's powered up. But, given all of these conditions, you can use one computer to turn on another computer remotely.
Now, why would you want to do this? Well, it's a fair question. But the reason I want to is because a) I live in the mountains and the power grid up here is about as stable as any other 3rd world country and b) I have several computer that I like to keep running and c) I only have a very limited UPS capability and I use that to try to keep my Peenie Wallie server up and running. So, if the power blips, all of my computers go down except for my Peenie Wallie server. So, in theory, I could buy more UPS units, but it would be cheaper if I could just use my one server that's still operating to turn on the other computers. To Wake up the other computers on the LAN (Wake on LAN).
This miracle occurs using something called Magic Packets. Essentially, you broadcast sixteen repetitions of the target computer's MAC Address. In theory, this will wake up the computer. Now, to see if I can get it to work. Hmmmm.
I decided to install this software: WOL - Magic Packet Sender
But it said it required a certain version of the .NET framework. Of course, it's nearly impossible to tell for certain what version of the .NET framework is installed, so I installed this .NET Framework detector software.
Once I had the right .NET Framework version on both computers, I installed the WOL Magic Packet Sender software on each PC, as you run the WOL Magic Packet Sender software on both computers.
First, I set it up on the PC that will stay on and attempt to wake the other computer (the 'Dead PC'). I looked up the MAC address, IP address, and Subnet mask of the 'Dead PC' with the DOS ipconfig command. I entered this information into the Magic Packet Sender settings and saved the profile.
I opened up a port in the firewall for each computer on Port 9, UDP and named it WOL.
On the 'Dead PC', I went into Device Manager and opened up the properties for the network card. Click Configure - Advanced. My network card has a "Wake on Settings". I can choose from the following:
('Disabled' , 'OS Controlled' , 'Wake on directed packet' , 'Wake on Magic & Directed' , 'Wake on Magic Packet'). I went with 'Wake on Magic & Directed'.
Rebooted the 'Dead PC' and hit F2 to go into the BIOS.
I was surprised to find in the BIOS an "Auto Power On Mode". It was Disabled. I set it to Enabled and to turn on every day at 8:00 a.m.
BIOS Settings:
Power Management: Suspend Mode: (S1/S3) ==============> S3
Power Management: AC Power Recovery: (On/Last/Off) ======> On
Power Management: Low Power Mode: (Disabled/Endabled) ===> Enabled
Fast Boot: (On/Off)=========> Off
Save Changes and Exit
I'm able to get the software test to work. So, I transmit a WOL request from the 'Living PC' to the 'Dead PC'. But when I try to wake it up, it doesn't wake up. I'm not clear why.
So, I can't get the Wake On LAN to work, but it would be nice it it turned itself back on at least once a day. Let's see if it comes on at 11:25 a.m. Nope. That didn't work either. Sucks.
Update: I retested it, and it will turn itself on automagically, so long as I turn it off using the Start - Shutdown method. So, this might work for me. Now, I'll retest it, but I'll shut it off by removing the power cable temporarily. This should simulate a power loss at the house fairly well.
Posted by Rob Kiser on April 23, 2011 at 9:47 PM
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