Power on over network

[Angus]

Here's one for the knowledge database that is Hexus Forums...

With my desktop I can put it into standby mode. The difference between it being off and standby is that I have an orange light on the front of the case AND, I can resurrect it by pressing a "wake-up" button on the keyboard.

Presumably this means that it's listening on the port that listens to the keyboard.

Is it possible to get it to listen to the network card so that I can leave it in standby; and if I'm using my laptop and try to access a file on the desktop it'll wake up and provide me with said file?

I'm a bit pessimistic about this one - but any help/knowledge/advice would, as always be greatly received

[Allen]

It will, but I think your mobo needs to be compatible. The feature is called something like Wake On Lan.

[Agent]

Your mobo and network card both need to support it

[Angus]

How could I find out if they do?

[Byatt]

Manuals are good, if you've got an onboard NIC then there should be an option in the bios. Seperate NICs (in PCI slots) generally need a WOL cable, which your motherboard needs to have a connection for. either way, I've a funny feeling you have to have a decent PSU as well, my mobo manual says something about it being able to provide something or other on some voltage rail.

As I said...manuals are good

[Angus]

Mobo is Asus A7N266 - couldn't find anything on the ASUS site mentioning the motherboard - so not much help there.

I can't tell what network card it's got. System is a straight out of the box jobby from Sony; so the manuals aren't really much help where the techie stuff is concerned.

Best bet I guess to contact Sony??

What's a WOL cable?

[Jonny M]

I'll place a large of money on Sony not even knowing what a WOL header is.

Assuming that it is enabled, how do you wake up the systems?

[Angus]

I'll place a large of money on Sony not even knowing what a WOL header is.

Assuming that it is enabled, how do you wake up the systems?

I'm lost

what's a WOL header?

[Jiff Lemon]

a WOL header is the plug on the Mobo that the WOL cable plugs into.

Is there a little 3 wire cable, running from the NIC into the Mobo?

[Angus]

No; and there's a big plastic box covering the NIC.

Guesss I haven't much hope

[Nimrod]

a WOL header is a little plug on the mobo (3 pins, smaller than a fan header) into which you plug a cable from your NIC.

Then to use WOL you have to:

1) Make sure the BIOS is set to support WOL or Power from Network Event
2) Make sure the WOL option in the network settings on the OS is enabled.
3) Find some software that can load and store the MAC of the target machine and issue the WOL packet.

[glyndwr]

Further to what Nimrod said, I'd like to add that if you get all that done, you can actually turn the machine on altogether over the LAN, as WOL hooks into the ATX 5V standby line. As long as the wall plug is physically switched on, you can turn the machine on remotely.

It sounds cool -- heck, it *is* cool -- but I've never actually have even the smallest shred of use for it, so I've never tried it. I do have at least several WOL compatible boards and network cards; it's a common feature, although the dinky little cable can be a bit hard to find. Slightly higher class (i.e. £15 instead of £5) network cards often bundle them.

[Jonny M]

Some can do WOL through the PCI slot as well.