Has it ever happened to you that you urgently need a file from your home or office computer and you realize that It is completely offIt's a huge nuisance, especially if you don't have anyone who can physically go and press the power button. Luckily, there's a technology called Wake on LAN (WoL) that lets us solve this problem without having to leave the couch.
Basically, this system allows a team to awaken from your state of resthibernation or even a complete shutdown can be triggered by a signal sent over the network. While it may sound like magic, it's a very useful technical standard for both home users and system administrators managing dozens of machines who don't want to leave them running 24/7. save energy and costs operational.
What exactly is Wake on LAN and how does it work?
Wake on LAN is a network protocol that allows you to turn on a remote computer by sending a special message known as Magic PacketThis packet consists of a data frame containing a string of bytes followed by the MAC address of the device The destination packet is repeated 16 times. When the network card of the powered-off computer detects this packet, it sends an electrical signal to the motherboard to initiate the boot process.
For this to be possible, the computer cannot be completely disconnected from the power supply; the network card must remain connected. receiving minimal nutrition para estar «escuchando» el tráfico de red. Por lo general, esto funciona sin problemas en redes locales (LAN), pero si queremos encender el PC desde Internet, la cosa se complica un poco porque Routers often block These transmissions are for security reasons.
Fundamental technical requirements
- Supported hardware: Both the motherboard and the network interface card (NIC) must support Wake-on-LAN (WoL). Almost all modern hardware does, but it needs to be enabled.
- Constant feeding: The PC must be plugged into a power outlet. For laptops, it is highly recommended that they be connected to the charger.
- stable connection: The ideal is to use Ethernet wired connectionsAlthough some Wi-Fi cards support it, it is much less reliable and often only works in sleep mode.
Step-by-step configuration in the BIOS or UEFI
El primer paso es entrar en el «cerebro» del ordenador. Para acceder a la BIOS/UEFI en Windows 10 o 11, puedes ir a Configuración, Actualización y Seguridad, Recuperación y elegir Restart now in advanced startupFrom there, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI firmware settings.
Once inside, look for the section Power Management or Advanced Settings. The names vary by manufacturer; look for terms like «Wake on LAN», «Power On by LAN», «Allow PCI Wake Up Event» o «Wake by PCIe Device». Cambia el estado de Disabled a EnabledSave the changes and restart your computer.
Enabling in the Windows operating system
Now that the motherboard is ready, we need to tell Windows to allow remote power-on. First, open the Device administrator and expand the Network Adapters section. Right-click on your Ethernet card and go to Properties.
In the tab Power managementYou must tick the box "Allow this device to reactivate the equipment"To prevent the PC from turning on by itself due to any noise on the network, it is highly advisable to also select the option to "Allow only one Magic Packet"Next, go to the Advanced Options tab and make sure the property "Wake on Magic Packet" is set to Enabled.
An important detail for Windows users: in some cases, the "Quick start" This can interfere with Wake-on-LAN (WoL). If you find that your PC won't boot from a complete shutdown, try disabling this feature in the Power Options of the Control Panel to improve performance. Windows performance optimization.
Configure Wake on LAN in Linux
If you're an Ubuntu user or use another distribution, the process is different. First, you need to install the tool. ethtool using the command sudo apt-get install ethtoolTo check if your card supports the feature, run sudo ethtool eth0 (replacing eth0 with the name of your interface). If in the section «Supports Wake-on» the letter appears gThis means it is compatible with the Magic Pack.
To activate the functionality in the controller, simply run the command sudo ethtool -s eth0 wol gThis will leave the network card ready to receive the power signal.
How to turn on your PC from the Internet (Outside of the local network)
If you want to wake up your machine from another city, you have three main options. The most manual is to configure the router to do so. port forwardingThis typically involves opening UDP port 9 and pointing it to the computer's local IP address. However, this can pose a security risk if not done carefully.
A more secure alternative is to first connect to the remote network using a VPN And, once inside, send the Magic Package as if you were physically there. However, the simplest option nowadays is to use remote control software that already handles WoL natively.
Recommended software for managing remote power-on
There are very powerful tools that simplify the whole process. Iperius RemoteFor example, it allows you to send the magic packet automatically. If you have another device turned on in the same network, it can act as a... "bridge" to awaken others. Similarly, TeamViewer and AnyDesk They offer WoL options; TeamViewer can use a public IP or a device on the LAN, while AnyDesk requires another active client on the remote network to act as an intermediary.
On the other hand, Splashtop It's a very robust business solution that allows you to wake Windows PCs and Macs (the latter generally only from sleep mode). From its web console or app, you simply select the computer that appears as offline and click the button. «Wake» so that the machine starts up, thus facilitating the remote desktop connection.
For those who prefer simple mobile apps, there are free options on the Play Store or Microsoft Store such as Easy WOL or Wake on LAN (Magic Packet)You will only need to enter the MAC address and static IP of the computer you want to turn on.
Having complete control of your hardware regardless of distance is possible thanks to a combination of proper BIOS configuration, adjustment of network properties in the operating system, and the use of remote management tools. Whether by using a bridge device in the office or opening specific ports on the router, the Wake-on-LAN protocol transforms the availability of your digital resources, enabling a The perfect balance between energy savings and immediate accessibility.
