Wake-on-LAN (WoL) is a useful technology that allows you to remotely turn on a computer over a network. With WoL, you can power up a computer that is located in another room, building, or even city without physically being there. This technology is ideal for IT administrators, home users, and professionals who need to access their computers remotely.
In this article, we will discuss what Wake-on-LAN is, how it works, and how you can enable it on your system.
What is Wake-on-LAN (WoL)?
Wake-on-LAN is a technology that enables a computer to be remotely turned on or woken up from a sleeping state or a powered-off state using a network message. The network message is typically sent from another device on the same network, such as a computer or a mobile device.
Wake-on-LAN works by using a network protocol called the Magic Packet. The Magic Packet is a network message that contains the MAC address of the computer that needs to be woken up. The MAC address is a unique identifier for the network adapter of the computer. When the Magic Packet is received by the network adapter of the computer, it triggers the computer to wake up.
How Does Wake-on-LAN Work?
Wake-on-LAN requires three things to work:
- A computer that supports Wake-on-LAN: Not all computers support Wake-on-LAN. To determine if your computer supports WoL, check the computer’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.
- A network adapter that supports Wake-on-LAN: The network adapter must support WoL as well. Most modern network adapters support WoL, but you should check the adapter’s documentation to confirm.
- A Wake-on-LAN client: A Wake-on-LAN client is an application or a utility that sends the Magic Packet to the computer. There are many Wake-on-LAN clients available for different operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
How to Enable Wake-on-LAN on Your System
Enabling Wake-on-LAN on your system requires several steps. Here’s a general outline of the process:
- Check if your computer supports Wake-on-LAN: Check the computer’s manual or the manufacturer’s website to determine if the computer supports WoL.
- Check if your network adapter supports Wake-on-LAN: Check the network adapter’s documentation to determine if it supports WoL.
- Enable Wake-on-LAN in the BIOS: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS setup. Look for an option to enable Wake-on-LAN, which may be located in different places depending on the computer’s manufacturer.
- Enable Wake-on-LAN in the operating system: After enabling Wake-on-LAN in the BIOS, you also need to enable it in the operating system. The process varies depending on the operating system.
- Set up your router: You need to set up your router to forward the Magic Packet to the computer that needs to be woken up. This process also varies depending on the router’s manufacturer.
- Install a Wake-on-LAN client: Install a Wake-on-LAN client on the device that you will use to send the Magic Packet. There are many Wake-on-LAN clients available for different operating systems.
Once you have enabled Wake-on-LAN on your system, you can use a Wake-on-LAN client to wake up the computer from sleep or powered-off state by sending the Magic Packet to the computer’s MAC address.
Conclusion
Wake-on-LAN is a useful technology that enables you to remotely turn on a computer over a network. It can save you time and effort, especially if you need to access your computer remotely. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily enable Wake-on-LAN on your system and