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Using Wake on LAN (WOL) Across the Internet (2010)

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Re: Using Wake on LAN (WOL) Across the Internet (2010)

#11

Post by actionfromafar »

myself248 wrote: post #6
anilr wrote: post #2

Is Wake on Lan still actively used? I created WOL software, but didn't do a good job of maintaining it. :|

I use it to wake my NAS a few minutes before a backup job. I've also built a reset-on-LAN card using an old wake-on-LAN-capable NIC and some simple circuitry to shape the pulse so it's suitable for the motherboard's reset signal. I send a WOL packet to the otherwise-unused address, and kapow, the presumably-wedged machine is no longer wedged! Writeup here: https://www.i3detroit.org/reset-on-lan-an-ethernet-aware-rem.…

Very clever! I suppose the modern take would be one of the MCUs with Wifi (ESP8266-like) wire that to the power signal on a PC.

Re: Using Wake on LAN (WOL) Across the Internet (2010)

#13

Post by planede »

anilr wrote: post #2

Is Wake on Lan still actively used? I created WOL software, but didn't do a good job of maintaining it. :|

I use it for my desktop computer from my laptop. I also use sunshine/moonlight to stream games in the living room, and moonlight also supports waking the PC up, so apparently there is demand for the feature.

Re: Using Wake on LAN (WOL) Across the Internet (2010)

#14

Post by MayeulC »

actionfromafar wrote: post #11
myself248 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use it to wake my NAS a few minutes before a backup job. I've also built a reset-on-LAN card using an old wake-on-LAN-capable NIC and some simple circuitry to shape the pulse so it's suitable for the motherboard's reset signal. I send a WOL packet to the otherwise-unused address, and kapow, the presumably-wedged machine is no longer wedged! Writeup here: https://www.i3detroit.org/reset-on-lan-an-ethernet-aware-rem.…

Very clever! I suppose the modern take would be one of the MCUs with Wifi (ESP8266-like) wire that to the power signal on a PC.

interesting, one could probably power it from the motherboard itself pretty easily, too!

One of the pins of the power switch is probably 5V (though possibly high impedance if a pull-up is used, so not much power).

But I think I'll rather look into one of these Pi-based "ilo" with HDMI in and USB gadget support to get remote access to the BIOS as well. It may also be useful for remotely debugging computers of family members :)

Re: Using Wake on LAN (WOL) Across the Internet (2010)

#15

Post by fluoridation »

sourcecodeplz wrote: post #7

Damn, wake on LAN, the memories. Used to disable this all the time back in the early 2000s when everyone was scanning ports.

Back then people hooked up their desktops directly to the Internet like it was nothing. It used to be, you could scan open ports on your IP range and find exposed SMB shares to rummage around in.

Re: Using Wake on LAN (WOL) Across the Internet (2010)

#16

Post by fluoridation »

anilr wrote: post #2

Is Wake on Lan still actively used? I created WOL software, but didn't do a good job of maintaining it. :|

I have a VPN between my home and work networks and I often leave my desktop in stand-by, so when I want to use my desktop for something, I SSH into one of my home servers and send a WOL packet to wake it up.

Re: Using Wake on LAN (WOL) Across the Internet (2010)

#17

Post by vageli »

unrealhoang wrote: post #5
neilv wrote: post #3

An alternative with simpler networking is to to rig up a little Web server on your home OpenWrt router, listening on the WAN interface. When the URL is requested (with authentication of some kind), it runs `etherwake` with the hardcoded MAC address and the hardcoded interface (e.g., `eth1.1`). Then your UI to wake up your machine, from anywhere in the world, would be to access that URL via a Web browser or `curl` scr…

My very simple solution is to use a smart plug and config the mainboard to wake on power.

This is such a simple, fantastic idea. I went to enable it but unfortunately it does not appear to be an option available in all BIOSes.

Re: Using Wake on LAN (WOL) Across the Internet (2010)

#18

Post by sourcecodeplz »

fluoridation wrote: post #15
sourcecodeplz wrote: post #7

Damn, wake on LAN, the memories. Used to disable this all the time back in the early 2000s when everyone was scanning ports.

Back then people hooked up their desktops directly to the Internet like it was nothing. It used to be, you could scan open ports on your IP range and find exposed SMB shares to rummage around in.

There was also a time where seconds after installing Windows XP and plugging the Ethernet, your PC would get infected. No browsing, no nothing.

Re: Using Wake on LAN (WOL) Across the Internet (2010)

#19

Post by fluoridation »

sourcecodeplz wrote: post #18
fluoridation wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Back then people hooked up their desktops directly to the Internet like it was nothing. It used to be, you could scan open ports on your IP range and find exposed SMB shares to rummage around in.

There was also a time where seconds after installing Windows XP and plugging the Ethernet, your PC would get infected. No browsing, no nothing.

I don't really believe that was ever a common occurrence. It wouldn't take mere seconds to detect a new device connected to the Internet. I can see it happening in a small LAN where one of the other computers is already infected, though.

Re: Using Wake on LAN (WOL) Across the Internet (2010)

#20

Post by fluoridation »

unrealhoang wrote: post #5
neilv wrote: post #3

An alternative with simpler networking is to to rig up a little Web server on your home OpenWrt router, listening on the WAN interface. When the URL is requested (with authentication of some kind), it runs `etherwake` with the hardcoded MAC address and the hardcoded interface (e.g., `eth1.1`). Then your UI to wake up your machine, from anywhere in the world, would be to access that URL via a Web browser or `curl` scr…

My very simple solution is to use a smart plug and config the mainboard to wake on power.

But then you're draining your RTC battery. I used to have to replace my mother's PC's battery every 1-2 years before I understood she was leaving it unplugged for most of the day and told her to just leave it plugged in all the time.
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