Wake on LAN: What is it, what is it for and how should you use WoL to your advantage? step by step guide

Wake on LAN (WoL), is a tool with which can you wake up a computer remotely. In this article we will show you the route you must follow to take advantage of the benefits of this protocol, which undoubtedly becomes a great solution when you are looking for the best performance of your work team. And, as you will see later, it will be of great help to you on more than one occasion.

Users have always wanted have remote access to your computer, and even more so when it is not turned on. Currently, there are various instruments that are used to remotely connect and manage computers when they are turned on, however these are not generally very common.

When you need to use your computer remotely, all you have to do is have access to the Internet or an internal network and access the “Wake on LAN” technology.

What is the Wake on LAN protocol and how does it work?

This is a technology that emerged through an alliance of IBM and Intel, where its essence is to remotely or automatically turn on the computer that is connected to a network, no matter if it is “Ethernet” or “Token Ring”.

One of the fundamental characteristics of this technology is that it can currently be used with the computer in sleep mode, when it is hibernating or when it is completely turned off. But for this to happen, it must be turned on at least once, after being used and turned off, suspended or hibernated, so here WoL mode can be activated and thus remotely turn on the equipment when required.

This method works to start a computer remotely through a protocolwhich is known by the name of “magic packet”, which is made up of a link of 6 bytes with a value of 255 in hexadecimal (“FF FF FF FF FF FF”), where it also has about 16 repetitions of the MAC address of the computer you want to turn on remotely.

It should be noted that the interface that is generally used for this program is “7 and 9 in UDP”.

Now, the network card of the computer gets this type of protocol and accepts it, it sends an electrical signal to the motherboard, so that it starts to work. For this to be used you have to know the equipment brand well, as well as the IP address from where you are going to turn it on.

What are the main benefits of setting up WOL on my computer?

Using the Wake-On-LAN (WOL) protocol provides endless benefits and advantages, within which we can get the following:

Turn on the equipment

In order to start this technology, the equipment must be turned on, in addition to having a “remote control software” such as “Chrome Remote Desktop”. Once I do this, equipment can be used anywhere where we are being able to turn it on and off when required.

You do not require cables

To connect remotely it is not necessary for the computer to use cables, since you can have a computer that serves as a Plex serverwhich can be turned on and off remotely when you need to, which is an advantage since it does not have to be turned on 24 hours a day.

You can turn it on or off whenever you want

The best thing about this technology is that you have the choice to turn your equipment on and off when you need it and wherever you are.

In short, WOL or Wake on LAN technology gives you the benefit of being able to turn it on remotely. using a modem or other equipment that is connected to the same network. Whichever way you choose, you can configure any of these options to guarantee the best development of this program.

What should I keep in mind before using WOL on my computer?

With WOL or Wake on LAN technology we have the option of being able to turn on a computer that is compatible with this system and that is on the same network, without the need for it to be physically present. This is a possibility that gives us several options at the time we want connect multiple computers or servers that require them to be turned on remotely.

For this to work correctly, you must take into account the following:

• Have a physical link to Ethernet.
• Establish a link between 2 or more computers that are on the same network.
• The computer to be turned on must be in hibernation or sleep mode, with the intention that the network card is turned on.

Steps to configure Wake On LAN on my computer quickly and easily

The Wake on Lan can be configured via the BIOS, via Windows or via the operating system that we are using, and thus not have any inconvenience when using this protocol.

Now, first you must open the Windows computer administrator and go to the hardware option, and then open the list where the properties of the network card are found. The advanced option must be chosen, but first we will have to verify that the “Magic Packet” choice is enabled.

When we are using a Mac OS X, the power option must be enabled for later go to the option “Wake up the computer by Ethernet”. Unlike Linux, where you have to download and install an “ethtool package”which should enter “sudo -s ethtool etho wol g”; It should be noted that in order to activate this, you must have a compatible network card.

Once the aforementioned has been done in Windows 10, we must choose where it says: “Device Manager” in the start baror it can also be searched by clicking the right mouse button on start, and then go to the configuration part.

Then find the network card and select “Network Adapters”, where a list will open where several models are specified. The one that we are going to use must be chosen, and once it is selected, the right mouse button must be clicked and the option will open. “Properties”.

Afterwards, you must choose “Advanced Options” and give to “Wake up with LAN off” either “Wake-on-LAN”. It is necessary to indicate that depending on the manufacturer the property name may change.

Next, look for the option: “Reactivate in Magic Packet” either “Wake on magic packet, remote wake-up, power on by LAN, power up by LAN, resume by LAN or resume on LAN”. Do not forget that in each option you choose you must activate it so that all this can work.

Once all the options have been accepted, look for the tab “Power Management” where you will have to select the box “Allow this device to wake the computer” either “Allow only one Magic Packet to wake up the computer”. When this is marked, just hit accept and close everything. Done, with these simple steps you will have activated your Wake-On-LAN (WOL) in Windows 10 so that you can start using it.

List of the best tools to boot my computer from remotely with WOL

In addition to the method that we just taught you, There are other tools that you can use to boot the computer remotely with Wake on LAN:

BriWake

This is an instrument that you can use when you need to turn on your computer remotely. In order to use it, you only need to download and install the program on the computer you want to use, and then verify that when you do it appears “Wake up computer”.

In case you want to protect it, a file is sent to your email, which you can save on a pen drive or any other type of device. When you have everything at hand you must install the application, and once done turn off the computer you are going to use remotely. In addition, you will have to double click on the aforementioned file to be able to turn on your PC remotely in just minutes.

SolarWinds Wake On Lan

It is very useful, motivated by the fact that with it you can monitor the bandwidth of the network. It also has various tools that are freeand that meet the needs of network administrators, such as: the Kiwi Syslog server and the subnet calculator.

Apart from the aforementioned tools, it also provides the Wake-On-LAN application, so you can remotely turn on your computer, wherever and whenever you want. Accepts only a MAC address as inputso once it is active you will send a “magic package” for your computer to turn on.

Once your computer powers on, the SolarWinds Wake-on-LAN instrument opens immediately through a secondary windowwhere you will have to confirm that it was turned on.

ENGINEER’S TOOLSET

It is a package that offers various types of tools for use by network administrators. The tool to turn on computers remotely monitors them, and gives alerts on availability that they haveeven when there is any kind of problem.

So that you can test how it works, you can download it for a period of fourteen days and see if this is the tool you need when you need to turn on your computer remotely.

Depicus Wake on lan GUI

It is based on the web, this with the intention that you use your computer remotely anywhere on the web. It is mainly used on the computers you have at home, and must be configured via the Internet. This option can be used with iOS to be used on your iPhones and iPad. You can also use it with Android.

NIRSOFT Wake Me On Lan

Through this tool the network is scanned when the computer you need to use is on, so it will store the MAC address, apart from saving the information you have in a file. In case you need to use your computer and it is turned off, you can start it remotely.

It also has 2 user interfaces that are very easy to use, and a version found in the command linebeing available in version of 32 and 64 bits and in several languages.

Aquila Wake on LAN

There are endless options that you can use with this application, including remotely turning your computer on and off, as well as remotely pinging it. When you want to turn off your computer, apply this program from wherever you are, and apart connect to any server via remote desktop. It has a graphical interface, where you have the ease of using a command line interface.

HM Software Wake On LAN

This is an option that you can choose for free for Windows, get it in the app stores. Nevertheless, you can use it only with Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile versions.

this tool send a magic package to the hot you selectwhere you must configure it through a device “wakeable”, which is displayed in the main window of this instrument. When the created devices are added, these magic Wake-on-LAN packets are sent.

Emco Wake On Lan

It has many functions to remotely turn on your computer in a simple and effective way. It is compatible with various brands of computersand you can use it in large work networks.

your software offers the possibility of automating the operations you need to activate your device through a network scan, whereby it detects the computer that needs to be turned on.