Remote PC Wake-Up

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An Overview of Remote PC Wake-Up

The latest Madge and Olicom token ring adapters have the ability to wake a computer (switch it on from a low-power state) in response to an event such as the reception of a particular packet on the network.

Wake-on-LAN is a technology which allows an adapter to wake a machine when a special MAGIC PACKET (TM) frame is received on the network.

As well as supporting Wake-on-LAN, Windows 98/2000 supports the OnNow initiative, which provides support for general packet match wake-up plus wake-up on LAN cable removal/connection. Windows 2000 provides the NIC driver with templates of frames to match which will cause the NIC to wake the machine, for example an ARP request for the computer's IP address.

ACPI Power Management

The Advanced Configuration and Power Interface, a specification from Microsoft, Intel, and Toshiba (with support from many participating PC and networking industry vendors), is designed to extend and standardise the power management and Plug-and-Play capabilities on the PC platform. ACPI provides a standards-based platform that enables network managers to remotely administer and manage PCs through the network connection from a single network management console. For details, see the ACPI Advanced Configuration and Power Interface website http://www.acpi.info/index.html.

Wake-On-LAN

Wake-On-LAN is IBM's initial strategy for remotely powering on and configuring a PC through a network management application. Whereas ACPI's remote wake-up capability utilises the PCI bus to send the wake-up signal from the LAN connection to the PC system, Wake-On-LAN requires a cable connection inside the PC from the network adapter to the motherboard.

Wake-on-LAN uses a special 3-wire cable fitted to the adapter and the computer motherboard to supply the adapter with auxiliary power when the computer is shutdown and to enable the adapter to signal wake-up events to the computer. Computers which support the latest PCI power management specification support an extra PCI bus (PME) which the adapter can use to signal wake-up events rather than requiring a Wake-on-LAN cable.

OnNow

OnNow is a Microsoft initiative designed to enable the instant availability of the PC, regardless of its current power state. ACPI-compliance in the PC is a requisite capability for OnNow. To achieve this functionality in a networked environment, the PC's network adapter must also be ACPI-compliant.

MAGIC PACKET™

MAGIC PACKET™ is a protocol devised by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) to trigger the remote wake-up of the PC via the network connection. Wake-On-LAN's remote wake-up function relies on the MAGIC PACKET™ being transmitted over the network connection to initiate the system wake-up sequence; ACPI can also utilise the MAGIC PACKET™, as well as other Power Management techniques.

Supported Environments and Adapters

Remote PC Wake-Up is supported by LSS in the following environments:

See Configuring CMDGODI.LAN under Novell Netware and DOS for more details of this parameter.

The following adapters support both the Wake-On-LAN and ACPI remote wake-up strategy:

See Also: