Wake-on-LAN configuration in campus network

[Vesnog]

Greetings,

I have a desktop PC(running Windows 7 Professional 64-bit) connected to the internet via an ethernet cable in my office at my university. I use Teamviewer to remotely access this PC and I would also like to turn the computer on remotely by sending a Wake-on-LAN package. I have VPN access to campus network, yet I do not know how to configure WoL, as far as I know there are various methods for this and Teamviewer also offers some. Does anyone have experience with a similar configuration? I have a few questions such as:

1. How should I proceed, do I need specific ports open for WoL to work?
2. Do I need a static IP address?
3. Should I be in the same network and/or connected to the same gateway?
4. I enabled WoL from BIOS and Windows 7 settings. How can I check if it is really enabled?
5. We also have a high performance computer grids running Linux which are always switched on inside the campus. Can we send the WoL package via these computers easily?

Please do not hesitate to ask for further information if needed.

Thanks in advance

 

[GokAy]

Hey Vesnog,

WoL may work through UDP ports 0, 7 or 9. You can read about WoL here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake-on-LAN.
I guess your success depend on the subnets used in the university. Do you have another PC to check if your PC is waking up correctly from the same subnet? PC in the next room perhaps.

I use a server (Windows 10 Home) in my home (remote managed with TeamViewer) to wake both laptop and desktop (laptop needs to be hibernated or it won't wake). But they are in the same subnet of course. You may need a service/proxy to relay the WoL packets to your PC in a setting like a university though.

You can use any OS that can send a magic packet to wake a PC (not even IP addresses are available when shutdown, why MAC address is used). Personally I am planning to get something like a Raspberry Pi/Banana Pi to manage my UPSs and also to wake any PCs (eliminating the need to keep the server on all times) but that's still a month away at least so can't say if it will work knowingly. Perhaps you can get one as well and TeamView to it and execute the WoL from it if everything else fails.

Edit: I use WakeMeOnLan - Turn on computers on your network with Wake-on-LAN packet for waking the PCs

 

[Vesnog]

Hey Vesnog,

WoL may work through UDP ports 0, 7 or 9. You can read about WoL here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake-on-LAN.
I guess your success depend on the subnets used in the university. Do you have another PC to check if your PC is waking up correctly from the same subnet? PC in the next room perhaps.

I use a server (Windows 10 Home) in my home (remote managed with TeamViewer) to wake both laptop and desktop (laptop needs to be hibernated or it won't wake). But they are in the same subnet of course. You may need a service/proxy to relay the WoL packets to your PC in a setting like a university though.

You can use any OS that can send a magic packet to wake a PC (not even IP addresses are available when shutdown, why MAC address is used). Personally I am planning to get something like a Raspberry Pi/Banana Pi to manage my UPSs and also to wake any PCs (eliminating the need to keep the server on all times) but that's still a month away at least so can't say if it will work knowingly. Perhaps you can get one as well and TeamView to it and execute the WoL from it if everything else fails.

Edit: I use WakeMeOnLan - Turn on computers on your network with Wake-on-LAN packet for waking the PCs

Well thanks for the answer, I connect to the university network from my laptop and the gateway is different when connecting via VPN outside the campus or connecting to WiFi inside the campus. Therefore the program I use cannot ping the desktop computer and see if it is on or not. Since we have several PCs in the office I will try your first recommendation and let you know. However, these computers are usually turned off by their owners. By the way if these ports are not open some port forwarding may be needed, am I right? What information should I supply to the IT department of my university?

 

[GokAy]

Well, I doubt IT will open the ports just for you but maybe they already have a relay/proxy for such tasks, best is to first get their opinion. Update us on how it goes please, as I am curious about the subject myself.

 

[Vesnog]

Well, I doubt IT will open the ports just for you but maybe they already have a relay/proxy for such tasks, best is to first get their opinion. Update us on how it goes please, as I am curious about the subject myself.

The IT did not open the ports and just told me that the other computer waking my desktop computer should have the IP assigned from the same IP segment by the DHCP(same subnet mask I guess). They also told me that I can use another PC from the office which actually beats the purpose of this whole thing. I think the UDP ports 7 and 9 should be open and forwarded for this configuration to work or DHCP might me reconfigured for the MAC address of my devices to assign an IP in that range, but I doubt that the IT will assist in that manner. Does any other solution come to your mind?

 

[Layback Bear]

I'm no expert on such matters but because your I.T. department is not willing to work with you on this matter you will just have to do things their way.

It's not nice to tinker with a system the I.T. department has control over without their permission.

 

[Vesnog]

Yes you have your point actually they told me that they are not that experienced in WoL and have never tried it before. Also their suggestion was to leave the computer on for extended periods of time, would it pose a problem in your opinion? Heating, wear of system components etc.

 

[GokAy]

Since they are alright with another PC from the office waking your own, you can consider getting yourself a Raspberry Pi (or perhaps Banana Pi) -they can run Linux- and use VNC to remote into it and wake up the PC from it?

Raspberry Pi is still in my to-do list so can't be certain it will work...

 

[Vesnog]

Since they are alright with another PC from the office waking your own, you can consider getting yourself a Raspberry Pi (or perhaps Banana Pi) -they can run Linux- and use VNC to remote into it and wake up the PC from it?

Raspberry Pi is still in my to-do list so can't be certain it will work...

Yes that is a viable option but if I do that I will have to let Raspberry Pi be switched on indefinitely. By the way I have no experience with Raspberry Pi (or Banana Pi) although I know Linux. You also told me that you are not sure that they will work. Furthermore, is it possible to use a splitter hub like ethernet in two ethernet out? I only have access to one data port(ethernet) in the office. I do not know the IPs assigned by these other ports anyway.

 

[GokAy]

You can find some local info on Raspberry Pi and Banana Pi here - Raspberry Pi Türkiye Topluluğu | Ahududu'nun tadını çıkartmak için!