Wake-on-LAN

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Wake on LAN (WOL, sometimes WoL) is an Ethernet computer networking standard that allows a computer to be turned on or woken up remotely by a network message.

Contents

[edit] Technical details

[edit] System requirements - IBM PC Compatible

Wake-on-LAN cable connectors.
Wake-on-LAN cable connectors.

Wake on LAN (WoL) support is implemented on the motherboard of a computer. Most modern motherboards with an embedded Ethernet controller support WoL without the need for an external cable. Older motherboards must have a WAKEUP-LINK header onboard and connected to the network card via a special 3-pin cable; however, systems supporting the PCI 2.2 standard coupled with a PCI 2.2 compliant network adapter typically do not require a WoL cable as the required standby power is relayed through the PCI bus.

Wake on LAN must be enabled in the Power Management section of the motherboard's BIOS. It may also be necessary to configure the computer to reserve power for the network card when the system is shut down.

In addition, in order to get WoL to work it is sometimes required to enable this feature on the card. This can be done in Microsoft Windows from the properties of the network card in the device manager, on the "Power Management" tab. Check "Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby" and then "Only allow management stations to bring the computer out of standby" to make sure it does not wake up on every single network activity that occurs. For Linux there is a FAQ available concerning this issue.

[edit] How it works

Wake-on-LAN is not restricted to LAN (Local area network) traffic. It works with all network traffic, including Internet traffic.

The general process of waking a computer up remotely over a network connection can be explained thus:

The target computer is shut down (Sleeping, Hibernating or Soft Off, i.e. ACPI state G1 or G2), with power reserved for the network card. The network card listens for a specific packet, called the "Magic Packet." The Magic Packet is broadcast on the broadcast address for that particular subnet (or an entire LAN, though this requires special hardware and/or configuration). When the listening computer receives this packet, it checks it for the correct information, and then switches on and boots if the Magic Packet is valid.

The magic packet is sent on the data link or OSI-2 layer and broadcast to all NICs (within the network of the broadcast address). Therefore, it does not matter whether the remote host has a fixed or dynamic IP-address (OSI-3 layer).

In order for Wake on LAN to work, parts of the network interface need to stay on. This increases the standby power used by the computer. If Wake on LAN is not needed, turning it off may reduce power consumption while the computer is off but still plugged in.[1]

[edit] Magic Packet

The Magic Packet is a broadcast frame containing anywhere within its payload 6 bytes of ones FF FF FF FF FF FF followed by sixteen repetitions of the target computer's MAC address.

Since the Magic Packet is only scanned for the string above, and not actually parsed by a full protocol stack, it may be sent as a broadcast packet of any network- and transport-layer protocol. It is typically sent as a UDP datagram to port 0, 7 or 9, or, in former times, as an IPX packet.

[edit] Security

Magic packets are sent via the data link or OSI-2 layer, which is not secure and can be used or abused by anyone on the same LAN.

Firewalls may prevent clients within the public WAN to access the broadcast address of the private LAN.

Certain NIC's support a security feature called "SecureOn". It allows users to store within the NIC a hexadecimal password of 6 bytes. Clients have to append/ postfix this password to the magic packet. The NIC's awakes the system, only if the MAC address and password are correct. This security measure significantly decreases the risk of successful brute force attacks: 2 values per bit ^ ((6 bytes for remote host's mac_address + 6 bytes for password) * 8 bit per byte). Still, only a few NICs and router manufacturers seem to support such security features.

[edit] Wake-on-LAN programs

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There are a number of programs available that make use of Wake-on-LAN. Below is a partial list.

[edit] Scripts

[edit] Internet-based

[edit] Hardware-based

[edit] Source code

Here you can find source code about WOL functionality for different languages and platforms

[edit] Microsoft Windows

  • PacketTrap pt360 Wake On LAN - A complete network management tool which includes Wake On LAN capability as part of the free version of the software.
  • WOL - Magic Packet Sender 2007 – A free Windows Wake-on-LAN application that can store multiple WOL profiles and send magic packets.
  • wol - Wake On LAN client - A Windows command-line util for WOL.
  • SolarWinds Wake-On-LAN - a full-featured tool to remotely power on network PCs, included in the free version of the SolarWinds network toolkit.
  • WakeOnLan (AquilaTech) - A free Windows WakeOnLan program that is full featured. WakeUp, Shutdown, Ping, global shutdown all in one. Requires .NET runtime
  • FUSION WakeUp on Lan - A free Windows application. Using FUSION WakeUp on Lan you can take advantage of turning on a remote PC through the net interface.
  • Intellipool Network Monitor - Network and Server monitoring software that can start computers with WOL on a schedule.
  • AMD PCnet Magic Packet Utility - WOL application by AMD. It has a simple interface and features group announcements and scheduling.
  • Wake-on-LAN - Free commandline wake-on-lan for Windows. Can wakeup a computer from over the internet.
  • WakeUp - Free commandline wake-on-lan application for Windows.
  • PowerState - Free GUI wake-on-lan application for Windows that also includes Windows WMI shutdown. Build and save lists of PCs for repeated use.
  • WakeOnLan (Dipisoft) - A French freeware for wakeup, ping, restart, shutdown, close/lock session or hibernate distant computers. Works now in both GUI and commandline modes, last version is multilingual. Does not require .NET runtime.
  • WOL 1.0.3 - A freeware Wake-On-Lan tool for all Windows versions.
  • RSHUT PRO - A shareware tool for Wake-On-Lan and remote shutdown for all Windows versions.
  • WakeOnLAN Packet Sniffer - Free troubleshooting tool.
  • Depicus Wake On Lan Tools - Standard alone WOL tools including magic packet sender and monitor for various platforms, no installation required.

[edit] Mac OS X

[edit] Linux

[edit] PalmOS

[edit] Microsoft Windows Mobile

  • RB|WakeOnLan - A free utility for PocketPC and Smartphone devices

[edit] See also

[edit] Additional resources

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.lesswatts.org/tips/ethernet.php Less Watts: Ethernet Tips & Tricks